Rugby is the performance sport in the Michaelmas term and we regularly field ten teams. Every boy is given the opportunity to represent St Lawrence College and has a valuable role in a robust and challenging environment irrespective of their age, ability or skill set.
In the younger years, boys are taught to master the basic skills, including tackle height safety. Emphasis is placed on enjoying the game and each session is planned to challenge the players and have a large element of fun. Students are given the opportunity to take part in our Junior Sports Excellence Rugby Programme on Saturday mornings in years 7 and 8.
As the boys move up the school their basic skills are gradually supplemented with more complex concepts as their own understanding of the game grows. We want pupils to practice and refine their individual skills in their own time and in organised positional clinics. We aim to give every boy the opportunity to play a rugby fixture every week. Students who demonstrate real potential in year 9 onwards have the opportunity to be invited to take part in our Senior Sports Excellence Programme where they will train with the best players in the school. Many of our best players progress onto the Kent pathway as well as some who move onto the Saracens Academy and beyond. Recent leavers Gabriel Hayden represented USA U20’s and Jonah Bagambe represented England Counties, both in 2023.
In 2019 and 2022 our U14 Rugby team made it to the semi-final of the main Kent Cup Competition and even more impressively our U15 Rugby boys have made it twice to the quarter finals of the Natwest Vase National Competition in recent years. We have a excellent coaching staff and have close links with local rugby club, Thanet Wanderers RFC.
Upon return in January, we focus on rugby 7’s and rugby 10’s, where we enter the Kent County Competitions as well as the prestigious Rosslyn Park 7’s. We also run rugby as a Games afternoon for Seniors in the summer term, allowing our pupils the opportunity to play rugby all year round!
