Coincidentally, rugby training began in Sports this week. For the boys, learning to be more physical, muddier, and adapting to a game with different expectations has meant they have needed to be flexible and open-minded. They have done incredibly well in only two sessions and made great progress. For us as teachers and coaches, dusting off our rugby games and drills has been a reminder of how good the game of rugby is as a teacher of these real-world skills:
- Collaboration – Success depends on coordinated effort; every player relies on teammates in attack and defence.
- Creativity – Improvising under pressure, finding gaps, and devising new attacking patterns.
- Connection – Applying learning from training and past experiences to new fixtures.
- Communication – Clear, concise calls and signals under pressure.
- Engagement – Rugby’s dynamic nature keeps every player involved and fosters inclusivity.
- Reasoning – Tactical decisions: when to kick, pass or run; spotting space and exploiting it.
- Reflection – Identifying strengths and areas for improvement promotes growth.
- Resilience – Coping with setbacks and bouncing back from mistakes builds perseverance.
We’re looking forward to reinforcing these skills as the term progresses, alongside the physical skills the game requires. We view these two areas as equally important in ensuring that the boys not only develop as players, but as individuals have the tools to succeed.
Next week provides a great opportunity to integrate skills in the training fixture against Bishopsgate School. These coached games allow the boys to experience playing opposition while learning the new rules and receiving plenty of feedback during play. Please note as these are training fixtures, we ask that parents do not spectate. You are, of course, welcome to collect your son from away fixtures. Have a great weekend.