Five Royal Hospital School U14s re-selected for Northampton Saints EPDG

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EPDG, northamton saints elite players development group, RHS, RHS Rugby, rhs sport, rugby, the royal hospital school, U14 Rugby

Five pupils from the Royal Hospital School have been reselected by the U14 Northampton Saints Elite Players Development Group for the next rugby season.

Tom Cornock	Year 9	Raleigh
Elliot Rayment	Year 9	St Vincent
Kev Tavainavesi	Year 9	St Vincent
Harry Pugh	Year 9	Raleigh
Zac Puckey	Year 9	Raleigh

The Elite Player Development Groups identify and develop players in the Under-14, Under-15 and Under-16 age groups. Based in two centres – Northampton (East Midlands) and Stowmarket (Eastern Counties) – the EPDGs are managed by a head coach along with three support coaches.

The coaching curriculum at these centres will ensure that players who are aspiring to play for the Saints 1st XV are suitably educated and equipped with the essential physical foundations for being a professional sportsman. Players are then selected from the EPDG to attend the Junior Saints Academy sessions which are based at Franklin’s Gardens, home of the Saints. The EPDG programme is a major step onto the elite player development pathway.

U13 Sevens Rugby Squad meet Dylan Hartley at Franklin Gardens

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7s, Dylan Hartley, Elite Insurance, Franklin Gardens, Northampton Saints, RHS Rugby, rhs sport, royal hospital school, rugby, Sevens, the royal hospital school

The Royal Hospital School U13s Sevens Rugby squad went to Franklin Gardens, home of Northampton Saints, on Thursday 24 April. This was as a result of their success in the Suffolk 7’s tournament taking them through to the Elite Insurance 7s regional finals.

The tournament consisted of the top two U13s teams from each of the five East of England counties. The RHS boys were placed in a tough group with much-fancied Northampton School for Boys first up in their group. After a promising start they went down in the end showing some signs of the form that saw them progress at Rosslyn Park. Further games against Linton School and Cherwell resulted in well fought victories. The final game saw a comfortable victory against Ousedale School 29-10.

This meant the team finished 2^nd and qualified for the knockout stages where they met The Royal Latin School. The boys played some wonderful rugby, showing real determination and desire in defence, but unfortunately they missed out on the final against Northampton School for Boys, who went onto win the tournament in the main stadium.

Mr Chadwick, U13s coach, said, “The squad should be congratulated on their efforts throughout the day and they have been complimented on their brand of rugby and team spirit throughout the 7’s season. After the hard work on field, the boys were delighted with the opportunity to meet current England hooker, Dylan Hartley”.

The Squad

• Chilvers
• Ponsonby
• Braybrooke
• Jordan
• Orr
• Wells
• Daunakamakama
• Ogunlesi
• Craft

 

Two England Caps for Ben Kelland

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Ben Kelland, BMW Wellington International Festival, England Rugby, junior england rugby, Northampton Saints, RFU, RHS, RHS Rugby, rugby, the royal hospital school

Over the Easter break Ben Kelland, Year 11, played rugby for London and South East U16 division at the BMW Wellington International Festival. This event was an opportunity for the young players to take on their first challenges in international rugby following a selection process that started in March. 100 players from four divisional groups – Midlands, North, London and South East and South West – played in a series of development matches leading to the final selection of 23 players for the England U16 squad.

On the first day, Ben played the whole game in second row against Italy and scored in the second half, contributing to a 38-5 win. The second game was against Wales Celts, the strongest of the two Welsh divisions, but due to competition rules, Ben could not play in the first half. He did however play in the second, helping London to win 29-21.

As a result of Ben’s excellent performances, he was one of the squad of 23 selected to play for the England U16 against Scotland on the final day of the tournament at Wellington College. The England team started slow conceding 8 points and 12 penalties but they then went onto score 32 unchallenged points. Ben was replaced after 10 minutes of the second half but, due to injuries in the back row, he re-joined the game to play blind side flanker for 10 minutes and finished the last 15 minutes at number 8. England comfortably won the game 32-22. After the game, Ben was awarded his England Cap by Rob Andrew, RFU Director of Elite Rugby.

Having played so well, in what were in essence trail games, Ben was also selected to play for the England U16 side against Wales on Sunday 27 April at Neath RFC. Despite a close fought game that could have gone either way, the result was a victory for England U16 24–22. Unfortunately, Ben suffered a rib injury but played the majority of the game to gain his second Cap.

Director of Sport, Paul Hardman, said “This is a fantastic achievement for Ben who is also part of Northampton Saints Junior academy”.

RHS U18s meet one of rugby’s brightest prospects

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RHS, RHS Rugby, rhs sport, Rosslyn Park, royal hospital school, RPNS7, rugby, Sevens, the royal hospital school

The Royal Hospital School U18s Sevens Rugby team were delighted to meet rugby hero, Manu Samoa Tuilagi, at the Rosslyn Park National Schools Sevens tournament today.

Manu is the Samoan-born professional rugby union player who currently plays for Leicester Tigers and England. He plays as a centre or on the wing and is well known for his big hits, sheer force… and surprising speed for a man of nearly 18 stone. He is considered to be one of the brightest prospects and best outside centres in world rugby. He was selected to play for the British and Irish Lions on their 2013 tour to Australia.

RHS U18s meet Manu

 

A great performance by RHS rugby players at the Rosslyn Park National Schools Sevens

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RHS, rhs sport, Rosslyn Park, royal hospital school, RPNS7, rugby, the royal hospital school

The Royal Hospital School Junior (U13s) and Senior (U18s) 7s rugby teams both gained places the quarter finals of the prestigious Rosslyn Park National Schools Sevens Tournament as a result of some outstanding performances.

The Rosslyn Park National Schools Sevens is the world’s largest school rugby tournament with some 7,000 boys and girls aged 13 – 18 competing annually. The Junior team competed with 128 schools from across the UK and abroad for a place amongst the last eight teams in the tournament and the Seniors amongst 130 schools in the Festival Tournament open to schools playing just one term of rugby.

Director of Sport, Paul Hardman, took a squad of 10 boys from Years 7 and 8 to Rosslyn Park in Wandsworth, London, on Monday 24 March, and recounted the day:

“The boys travelled with high hopes on the back of a successful run in the Suffolk Schools tournament run by Northampton Saints. They progressed through the group stages winning all their games against King Henry V111 Coventry, Hinchley Wood and Llangynnwyd. This success qualified them for the knockout stages; firstly playing stern opposition, Torquay Grammar, but resulting in a 40-7 win for RHS and the final game of the day against Bristol Grammar. A strong start and committed defence saw RHS power to victory 29-0 with Apakuki Daunakamakama, Toyo Ogunlesi and, Captain, Elliot Chilvers really coming to the fore scoring some wonderfully worked 7`s tries in the process.

This meant that the boys returned to Rosslyn Park on Tuesday 25 March to play on the Grandstand Pitch against a much-fancied Crypt Grammar School from Gloucester. In the end, Crypt ran out winners playing some very strong 7`s but for the RHS boys to achieve a quarter-final place in this prestigious national competition is a special achievement.”

Paul Hardman goes on to report on the Senior boys experience on Wednesday 26 March:

“The Senior Boys gave a fantastic team effort and hearty display to come joint top winners of the group, but on points difference they went through ahead of Bedford Modern to the knock out stage. Conditions deteriorated throughout the day in a group that could have gone three ways but RHS’ gutsy and tenacious defence never gave the other teams a chance to settle.

Highlights of the group stages were hard fought-games against The Kings School Worcester with a score of 35-22 and against Monmouth resulting in 21-7 as well as a comfortable win over St Edwards Oxford resulting in 33-0 to RHS.

A qualification knock-out phase followed against a physical Sir Joseph Williamson’s Mathematical School from Rochester. RHS’ harrying and hustling in defence and decisive in attack resulted in a 20-7 win. Standout performances were seen from, Captain, Dan Smith who was physical in both his attack and defence leading by example and scoring six tries which were matched by Toby Eaton. Other top performers were Alex Rayment, Matt Cantelo, George Butt and Dan Jones”.

Today the Senior boys return to Rosslyn Park as group winners with a place in the quarter finals with 15 other teams. They face stern opposition from Bedford School and Kingswood School.

Josh Allday, Toby Eaton and Sean Cuddihy with the Easigrass Rhino!

U13s win a place in the final at Suffolk Schools 7s Rugby Tournament

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Northampton Saints, RHS, RHS Rugby, rhs sport, rugby, suffolk schools rugby tournament, the royal hospital school

On Tuesday 18 March a squad of Year 8 rugby players travelled to Stowmarket Rugby Club to take part in the Suffolk Schools Sevens Rugby Tournament.

The boys played well winning all of their first round matches against Coplestone High School, St Felix School, St Josephs and Stowmarket. They also beat Colchester Royal Grammar School in the Semi-final 7-5 putting them through to the final against St Josephs College.

Unfortunately they could not hold on to their winning streak and lost 10-15. While this was a disappointing outcome, having beaten the team earlier in the day, the RHS team are still through to the regional finals that take place at Northampton Rugby Club. The final of this will be played on the Northampton Saints 1st XV pitch.

Ben Kelland Selected for London and South East Division U16

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international u16 rugby, northampton saints junior academy, RHS, RHS Rugby, rhs sport, rugby, rugby trials, the royal hospital school

Ben Kelland, Year 11 at the Royal Hospital School, took part in the London and South East Division U16 rugby trails at Haileybury School in December.

Ben performed extremely well in difficult conditions against some of the best U16s in the country to secure his place in the squad. This term he will attend a series of Divisional training weekends culminating in an International Festival at Wellington College in April. If he is then selected into the England U16 group, he will play against Italy and Wales.

This honour finished a busy rugby term for the 1st XV player as he was also carried forward into Northampton Saints Junior Academy. Congratulations to Ben on his achievement and good luck.

Inter House Rugby Results

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Collingwood, Macarthur, Raleigh, RHS Rugby, rhs sport, royal hospital school, rugby, St Vincent, the royal hospital school

Year Group	Winners
Juniors	Macarthur
Year 9	Raleigh
Year 10	Collingwood
Seniors	St.Vincent

 

Sixteen RHS boys with Representative Honours for rugby this season

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Sixteen RHS boys with Representative Honours for rugby this season:

Name	Year group	Honour
Apakuki Daunakamakama	8	Id Northampton Saints EPDG
Cameron Jordan	8	Id Northampton Saints EPDG
Alex Oxley	8	Id Northampton Saints EPDG
Toyo Ogunlesi	8	Id Northampton Saints EPDG
Kevueli Tavianavesi	9	Northampton Saints EPDG
Harry Pugh	9	Northampton Saints EPDG
Elliot Rayment	9	Northampton Saints EPDG Suffolk U14
Zac Puckey	9	Northampton Saints EPDG Suffolk U14 National ISRFC U14 Lambs
Toby Allday	10	Suffolk U15
Sam Cantelo	10	Suffolk U15
Francois Rossouw	10	Northampton Saints EPDG
Toby Buckland	10	Northampton Saints EPDG
Lyam Thorpe	11	Northampton Saints EPDG Eastern Counties
Alex Rayment	11	Northampton Saints Junior Academy Midlands Academies Skills development   group Eastern Counties London Divisional trialist
Ben Kelland	11	Northampton Saints Junior Academy Midlands Academies Skills development   group Eastern Counties London Divisional trialist
Dan Smith	13	Midlands ISRFC U18 Lambs

Rugby Report Week 11

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RHS Rugby, royal hospital school, rugby, the royal hospital school

Congratulations to Dan Smith on his selection for the Midlands Independent Schools U18 Lambs side to play The North after Christmas.

Midweek the U16Bs played St. Felix 1^st XV. In a `try fest’ the B’s ran out deserved winners 47-33 and finished their season unbeaten against other B teams.

Tuesday 3 December

There was an international flavour to two other senior games on Tuesday as RHS hosted a visiting school from South Africa, Bredasdorp High School, Cape Town. Before the game both teams lined up for their respective national anthems.

The U16s played very well to dominate the first half but then let the visitors back into the game finishing with a deserved 29-29 draw.

The senior squad played very well and won 31-7. Countering the physicality of the visitors, RHS demonstrated some fast flowing attacking rugby. Toby Eaton performed well on the wing and hooker, George Butt, was seemingly everywhere.

Saturday 7 December

At home the U12s won one and lost one against Wymondham. Away, the U13s found the going tough and could not stop Wymondham’s key outstanding players in either the A or B matches. John Wells was man-of-the-match in the A game.

Against Framlingham the U14sboth lost in poor games. The A team 12-0 and the Bs 27-15. A disappointing end to a good season for the A team.

The U15s overwhelmed Framlingham at B level by 70 points. Rouxhan De Nysschen was man of the match and was led off the field on the shoulders of his team mates as he leaves for South Africa this weekend.

The A team also won 43-22. Fly half Toby Buckland running the show.

The U16A cruised past Framlingham with a score of 31-15 despite having several players missing. The team ended the season on a real high!

The 3rds completed the double over Framlingham wining 26-12 and a pleasing end to their season.

At the top, the exploits of midweek seemed to have taken its toll and the 2nds stuttered to a 12-10 loss and with some missed chances.

The 1^st also finished disappointingly. A loss 29-21 to the visitors was a tough way to finish what has been a successful season.