Rugby

Hurst has played Rugby Union in the Michaelmas Term as a ‘Major Sport’ for over a hundred & fifty years and this tradition remains strong in both the Senior and Prep schools. The Senior School currently runs 11 sides: 1st XV, 2nd XV,3rd XV, U16A & B, U15A, B, & C and U14A, B & C. These teams play regular rugby from September through to December. Inter schools fixtures are principally on Saturdays, supplemented by occasional mid-week matches. The College enters both the Daily Mail Cup and the Sussex County cup at various levels There is an Inter-House Cup Competition for both XV and 7 -a-side teams.

During the Lent Term (when hockey is the major boys’ sport) our rugby focuses on the abbreviated game, entering 4 sevens competitions, culminating with the National Schools’ Sevens at Rosslyn Park RFC in London.

Results:
The results of the 1st XV for the past 7 years

Year     Played   Won    Drawn  Lost
2001       14         12          0         2
2002       13           6          1         6
2003       13         13          0         0
2004       13           9          1         3
2005       13         10          0         3
2006       13           7          0         6
2007       18         15          1         2

All sides are coached by qualified rugby coaches and the Coaching Team is headed by Master-in-Charge and Level Three R.F.U. Coach Rob Kift, along with John Green (Ex Saracens and England U21). Younger year-group sides in the Senior School each have two coaches.   

The College boasts excellent playing facilities with 7 pitches within 5 minutes’ walk of the main school buildings. The players are also given access to expert medical facilities and a Sports Therapist, Rob Smith, (holder of three world records for indoor rowing) who oversees the fitness gym as well as providing support and advice on to fitness regimes and rehabilitation from injury.

Hurst continues to supply a steady stream of players to Sussex County teams as well as Academy players to Harlequins. Some former pupils have gone on to play rugby at International level.

International honours include:
B. Broster - Wales – Saracens – Llanell i- Northampton            
A. Ozdemir - England U18 - Harlequins, Leeds, Exeter
Noah.Cato - England U19/U20 - Saracens
Ben Hampson - England U16/18 - Saracens
K. Maxwell - Scottish Exiles
Alex Battison - Welsh Exiles
Charlie Matthews - England U16 Divisional 2007
   
The rugby experience at the College is enhanced through regular opportunities to tour. At some stage during their school career, players in every year-group will have the chance to be considered for a place on a major school tour.

Previous Tours
1992     Australia/Singapore      
1995     Ireland                         
1996     Canada                        
1998     Spain                           
2001     Australia/NZ/Fiji           
2004     South Africa 
2007     South America
2008     Ireland                          

Forthcoming tour:
North America or Japan

Our regular tours abroad have enabled us to forge close links with the Central Coast Grammar in New South Wales, Australia and with Roncalli College, in Timaru, New Zealand. Both of these schools are now involved in an annual pupil exchange programme with Hurst.