Rugby

Rugby was first played at St Paul’s in 1850. We are one of the founder members of the Rugby Football Union, marking the occasion by changing our colours to all-white.

Rugby was first played at St Paul’s in 1850. We are one of the founder members of the Rugby Football Union, marking the occasion by changing our colours to all-white.

St Paul’s School’s success on the rugby fields has been built through an intensive and comprehensive development programme. This programme looks to develop both talented and highly skilled rugby players and an enjoyment of the game across all levels.

The coaching is delivered by staff who have vast amounts of playing and coaching experiences at the very highest levels of the game.

Matches take place each Saturday in the autumn term: we field up to 22 teams against traditional rivals such as Eton, Dulwich, Harrow, Radley and Tonbridge. Pupils also get the chance to travel the world on rugby tours, most recently visiting South Africa and Japan.

Our sides meet with regular success in the National Schools Cup, the U15s reaching the final at Twickenham in 2005 and 2007, and more recently the final of the plate competition in 2017. In both Rugby 7s and 10s we perform well, too, with the 1st X winning the Powder Byrne Schools’ Six Nations trophy in 2013. The 1st XV compete in the biennial AJ Dingle Cup in the Veterrimi IV, a tournament between the world’s four oldest rugby-playing schools.

Pupils and former pupils have made a reputation at international level, amongst them Chris Berry, Will East, Archie Faulks, Richard Mathieson, Lars Heidrich and Jasper Green.

For the most recent fixtures and results, please view the SOCS website.