9 December 2019
With over 350 pupils playing rugby this term across 19 teams these past few months have experienced much drama and success. Across the Rugby Club there has been so much improvement within coaching structures, curriculum and team progressions and many excellent performances both on the training field and the playing paddock with challenging fixtures every week.
The atmosphere amongst pupils, staff and parents has been exceptional creating many wonderful memories over the term and tremendous bonds. Age groups coming together for combined training sessions during the term and huge crowds of Abingdon pupils watching midweek matches have really underlined the Rugby Club culture and ethos. Rugby at Abingdon is all about inclusion and passion for a sport which is embedded in our school traditions. Our Rugby Club has been superbly supported by our unique Touchliners Committee who ran another hugely successful fundraising dinner and a parent/pupil Lower School trip to watch Wasps.
The summer saw 51 senior pupils head to Chile and Argentina for a three week rugby tour that catapulted positive momentum and good feeling at the start of the season. This positivity has carried on throughout the season hitting highs with 95 sixth form pupils alone playing rugby against Radley. Half term saw tours to Loughborough, Leicester and Rutland for the U14s and a new tour to Dublin for our under 15s and 16s was launched. All half term tours were undefeated and hugely valuable for our boys.
So much has happened on the field with massive progress made in the U14 age group. A year group that is always challenging to get right every year when over 120 pupils join our lower school teams in a melting pot of enthusiasm and success. The half term rugby tour helped move things on and in recent weeks we have seen tremendous success including being crowned the Oxfordshire County Champions.
The Seniors have been terrific leading from the front. Our 2nd XV won the Oxfordshire County Cup. And the 1st XV only lost two regular block fixtures, but most impressively reached the Quarter-Final of the National Schools Cup for the first time in eight seasons.
A proud moment this term was when the Rugby Club help facilitate an extra-curricular rugby programme by linking with Wasps Community team. The growing Abingdon School Partnership programme launched an outreach and partnership project to help support and organise Fitzharrys Year 7 and 8 rugby programme with Wasps, which culminated in a schools’ festival.
The end of term brings with it the annual Varsity trip for our middle school rugby players as well as the end of season awards evenings held in the final week of term to celebrate every team’s success. We look forward to a Christmas rest before we pick up rugby sevens in the Lent term.
Mr M Gold
Director of Rugby
