Rugby

Rugby is the School’s major game for boys in the Michaelmas term. All of the boys, whether they are experienced or inexperienced, have the chance to take part and represent the school – our intention is to meet the needs of all.

Gresham’s enjoys an enviable reputation on the rugby field. We regularly host both County and Regional Tournaments and have seven high quality pitches. In 2023 our U14’s, U16’s and U18’s were all crowned County Champions. The coaching is delivered by staff who are supplemented by external specialist coaches.  

Our list of Old Boys who have achieved international recognition is long and illustrious; from A.A.Mulligan, Captain of the British Lions in 1955 to England’s most capped male player Ben Youngs and his brother Tom Youngs (British Lions 2013), they all started their rugby journeys at Gresham’s.

The School teams play a wide variety of fixtures against other local schools such as Royal Hospital School, The Leys and Norwich School, as well as National competitions. 

We run a busy programme all year round with one-on-one and group sessions taking place weekly. In the Lent Term, those boys without major Hockey commitments play Rugby Sevens. Gresham’s enters a wide range of tournaments including the National Schools Sevens at Rosslyn Park.

Gresham’s pupils continue to be selected for representative rugby. They frequently achieve regional selection and are often involved with professional rugby clubs. We enjoy strong links with Leicester Tigers Rugby Club and have pupils representing the Tigers Academy as well as pupils representing Northampton Saints. 

The school has developed and installed a fantastic Performance Gym with newly appointed Strength and Conditioning Coach giving the pupils access to expert advice to develop their fitness, strength and agility adding to the rugby programme.

The school is rightly proud of its rugby tradition. The game is played with the right attitude and enjoyed by the pupils.

For any further information please contact Director of Rugby, Ben Pienaar by email [email protected]

Alumni

TOM AND BEN YOUNGS
Tallis, 2003 and 2005 respectively

Brothers Tom and Ben Youngs, Rugby Union players for England. Both play for Leicester Tigers, Ben as scrum-half and Tom as hooker. Although both have, at different times, played for England, they made their first joint appearance on 24th November 2012, as part of the line-up against South Africa at Twickenham. Talent for the sport runs in the family: the brothers’ father, Nick Youngs, played for both Leicester and England as scrum-half.  

In February 2022, Ben Youngs became England’s most capped male rugby player.