The Abingdonian 2019

25 www.abingdon.org.uk Michaelmas Term for years to come. I would love to tell you about how my years playing rugby here were scattered in glory with many famous victories against the likes of Radley and Eton.. But, unfortunately, for my year group, that hasn’t been the case. We were not the most successful year group on the pitch, but we became one of the closest teams. Off the back of our rugby, we developed resilience and realised that rugby is really about creating long-lasting friendships and understanding team values rather than the winning and the losing, and, like all sports, was just a game (although a great one). For us, it was less about the outcomes, but what was subsequently taken from each game. I found beginning the Michaelmas Term each year playing rugby a great way to start the year. In the first and third year with influxes of boys from a wide variety of primary and prep schools, the rugby acts as a catalyst for friendships, breaking the ice with the game taking over break-time conversations. Rugby in the Middle School was certainly a highlight for me. It gives you the opportunity to play with your mates at a variety of standards as there are usually up to 5 teams. This means anyone who wants to be part of the Rugby Club can be, regardless of ability. The intensity of training tends to vary, although come weekend matches there tends to be an ambitious feeling amongst all sides. I know that weekend matches playing with your school mates is certainly something that I will miss when I leave school. In the Seniors, I found that there was definitely a step up in terms of a more competitive atmosphere and a more physical environment. For me, the culmination of my time at school was representing the Pink and White in both my Lower and Upper Sixth and, for my last year, being the captain of the team. It had always been an ambition of mine as I moved through the school. The opportunity to play in national scale tournaments and challenge top level sides weekly at school boy level can be daunting, but also very rewarding. The fixture card is challenging but with it comes high rewards knowing you are competing at the top. It also offers the chance of recognition for successes for teams and individuals alike. A special moment from this year’s season was to draw away at Eton. Torrential rain suited our game plan but not our vice captain, Oliver Dickson, who was on cameraman duties that day and wearing a white shirt. To be behind the entire game, until a try in the last play by Charlie Atkinson, demonstrated the characteristics of resilience and determination that had been developed throughout our rugby careers at Abingdon. A proud day for the team and coaches (and Dicko’s hairy chest). Trying to unpick highlights from many great memories from the past seven years is a difficult task. However a memory that I will never forget and one which sums up rugby at Abingdon (and perhaps the sport in general) was the tour I went on to Japan. My year, combined with the year above, toured Japan for 15 days staying in five different locations, including a short stay being billeted with Japanese host families. We were fortunate to play in cities, on mountains and in a stadium, winning almost all our games. Despite being a rugby tour, off the field was of parallel importance during our time there. We were fortunate to spend time eating great food, attempting to speak Japanese (with limited success), and visiting temples and shrines along with the urban landscape of Tokyo. The most crucial part of the tour occurred both on and off the field. Going on an adventure like this resulted in team bonding and great friendships being formed off the back of this. Everything that was learnt on the tour was taken into the following season and, I imagine, will stay with us all well into the future. The 15 day trip demonstrated why rugby is such a great game in every sense and that’s why it is such an integral component to life at Abingdon School for so many boys that pass through the school. Ed Hayes, 7APW