Rugby is the major boys sport played in the Michaelmas term. We regularly field 13 teams (U14D – 1st XV) each Saturday and our fixture card is reflective of the participation and strength of our programme. Our 1st XV attend the prestigious St Joseph’s National School Rugby Festival in the October Half-Term, alongside our 15A who attend the similarly formatted Langley Festival. In the Lent term we play U17 15-a-side development fixtures up until the 7s/10s season starts. At the end of the Lent term, we attend Rossyln Park National School 7s, alongside the selective Sedbergh National Schools 10s competition.
We also offer rugby to girls as a games activity during the Michaelmas term. Our senior girls rugby team have attended Rossyln Park 7s for the last two years in a row. We hope to continue and grow our girls participation of the sport at Hurst.
Rugby games sessions are split so that every boy has access to, and is coached by, our best coaches.
Performance Rugby
Hurst have produced a number of International Rugby Players in the past, most recently Ronan Daniell (England U18 2023) Ollie Das (Wales U18 2023). We have a number of players throughout our year groups that are attached to the Harlequins Academy. Though not exclusive to these players, they will receive additional strength and conditioning, specialised 1-1 skill sessions and individual player development plans in addition to the usual 3 team training sessions each week. This is open to all players who want to develop and upskill regardless of academy involvement.
Pre-season training takes place in the summer holidays to prepare for the full fixture programme that begins at the start of September. All U15 – U18’s are expected to attend, certainly those wanting to play A team rugby. Previous camps have been held in the Biarritz, Nottingham University and the last two years at Oakham School.
Fixtures and Tournaments
Matches are played every Saturday with National Cup Matches and others fixtures during the week.
Our 1st XV and U15A compete in the RFU Continental Tyres National Schools Cup, whilst our U16 and U14A teams take part in the School Magazine National Cups.
The 1st XV play at the prestigious St Joseph’s Rugby Festival during the October half-term. This is a renowned invitational tournament which attracts some of the best rugby schools in the country and internationally. The U15s play in the Festival’s sister tournament, the Langley Rugby Festival.
Rugby Sevens
In the Lent term we run an extensive Senior Sevens programme with training three times a week. The season comprises eight or more tournaments, including hosting the Sussex U18 Open, Surrey Sevens and Rosslyn Park National 7s. The season culminates at Sedbergh 10s.
The U14s, U15s and U16s have Sevens training twice a week and compete in four or five tournaments each year, including Rosslyn Park.
Facilities
Facilities include seven grass pitches as well as access to the Performance Gym, AstroTurfs, Performance Analysis software and floodlit facilities during the winter.
