1st XV: Team photo of the 1st XV 2007-08

Director of Rugby: Mr Jon Scourfield  

Rugby at R.G.S

Rugby has traditionally been very strong at R.G.S, a school which has an outstanding Daily Mail Cup record and that has produced some exceptional internationals, the lastest of which, Tom Rees, represented England at the  2007 World Cup. Others include World Champion Matt Dawson, Nick Duncombe and Nick Beal. R.G.S maintains and expects an extremly high standard of rugby throughout the age groups, from U12's through to the 1st XV. A team of excellent coaches provides the guidence and skills necessary to become the best.

South America Tour

 The 2006 senior rugby tour involved 42 boys and 5 staff and just under three weeks in South America. After a gruelling flight via Madrid and Buenos Aires we arrived 36 hours after we left RGS at Vina Del Mar on the coast of Chile, all be it without some of our luggage.  

In Chile the 1st XV lost by a point to The Grange School (Santiago) and beat Universidad Catolica by 40 points. The biggest loss though was to be Richard Sturla the 1st XV hooker who was to miss the entire season with a serious knee injury. The 2nd XV smashed The Grange and at altitude in Santiago proved to be the fitter side in coming from behind to beat Country Club U18s .

After Chile the party headed to Argentina to the region of Tucaman. This was an amazing experience the rugby was tough as was the experience of many of our touring squad. Many of our hosts in Argentina spoke only Spanish and were it not for our Spanish A level students we would have struggled. Alex Cheesman, Matt Seager, Alex Mair and Seamus McKimm did The RGS  Language College proud. They ordered food for everyone, sorted out our lost luggage and compensation and took turns to make after dinner speeches to thank our hosts.

In Tucuman the 1sts won a physical encounter set up after a massive hit by Nathan Lambden and the 2nds lost narrowly. Salta next and a great time had by all white water rafting. The 1sts won convincingly against Salta and in Buenos Aires, the 2nds lost narrowly to Salta but bounced back to win their last game on tour.

The tour finished with a fantastic trip to The Iguazu  Falls on the border of Brazil and  Argentina. An amazing site and few will forget the helicopter ride over the falls as well as getting much closer to the falls themselves on foot.

This was a hugely successful tour made so by the group of boys and staff that travelled. Several boys cemented their first team positions particularly James Young at No8 and Luke Power at scrum half. The tour was a unique experience and a strong bond was formed amongst those lucky to tour.

The next Tour is to South Africa in 2008.

JIS

For Rugby Team Photos click here

For Results and Fixtures click here

For age group Rugby Match Reports, click here