The Six Nations Championship is an annual international men's rugby tournament that runs in February and March. The competing teams are England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland, France and Italy. As a UK-based company, we're proud that England and Wales have won the most titles so far. Rugby fans across the country look forward to the Six Nations games every year as well as other monumental rugby competitions like the Men's Rugby World Cup and the Women's Rugby World Cup.
With so much love for the sport in the UK, it's only natural that British boarding schools provide the perfect training grounds for aspiring rugby stars.
Rugby has long been an integral part of British boarding school life, with many schools producing professional and international rugby players while helping students develop teamwork, resilience, leadership, and confidence. For international students, boarding schools can also provide an excellent introduction to the sport, regardless of previous experience.
If you're wondering what boarding schools Six Nations rugby players went to, we've highlighted some of the best UK boarding schools for rugby players, showcasing schools known for their strong rugby traditions, facilities, coaching, and commitment to student development both on and off the pitch in this guide.
The ten schools we listed below are in alphabetical order - we like to play fair!
Bedford School has a great deal of success when it comes to their ruby teams. The school regularly plays against other top teams across the UK. Rugby is the major game for the autumn term and the school employs professional coaches to assist with training. Students also have the opportunity to compete in rugby tours taking them around the country, over to Europe, or even as far as Australia.
This College has a strong rugby tradition with 20 teams for players of all abilities. England player Marcus Smith attended Brighton College and credits the supportive environment of the school and its coaches for his success. Smith notes that the experiences at Brighton College "gave me a massive opportunity to succeed in professional sport and beyond."
Located in the UK capital city of London, Dulwich College has a longstanding history of producing professional rugby players. The all-boys school has a packed programme, with 400 fixtures every year against top rugby playing schools. Their first international rugby tour took place over 100 years ago in Paris, and now the College ventures as far as South America and Australia to play against the best rugby teams.
Merchiston Castle School in Edinburgh has fantastic opportunities for students who want to get involved in rugby. The school has a host of alumni who have had great professional success. For example, English rugby player Zach Mercer attended the Scottish school and said that Merchiston "instilled the perfect ethos and culture in preparing me for a professional rugby career. The standard of coaching on the field and the support in video analysis, and strength and conditioning in the classroom allowed me to shape my game to a different level and provided me with the pathway to professional sport."
A number of Millfield School alumni have gone on to play for international rugby teams, giving Millfield its reputation as one of the best rugby schools in the UK. Beyond rugby, Millfield holds a reputation as the number one school in the UK for sport more widely. Students receive elite coaching from top rugby players - the current Director of Rugby is former Bath and England player John Mallett who is supported by a team of no less than 18 coaches. Millfield School offers talented players the opportunity to develop their skills and uncover their full potential.
Oakham School offers students of all abilities the opportunity to get involved in a rugby programme that fits their skill level. Talented students may undertake more intensive and specialised coaching, including strength and conditioning sessions, athlete performance monitoring and video analysis. As one of the best schools for rugby in the UK, Oakham's teams often play against many of the other schools on this list. Over 400 boys at Oakham take part in rugby across 22 teams. Former Six Nations Scotland player Hamish Watson was a student at Oakham School. A number of other alumni have also gone on to play professionally.
This one couldn't be missed out, as it's generally thought that this school is where the sport originated in 1823. It's believed that during a game of football, one pupil decided to change the rules and run with the ball! To this day, rugby remains one of the school's five major sports. Rugby School has close links with professional teams, inspiring students to progress to the next level. The year 2020 saw three students awarded professional contracts with premiership rugby clubs.
Sedbergh School has an impressive success rate for producing professional rugby players. Most famously, former England stars Will Greenwood and Will Carling attended Sedbergh. A number of other alumni went on to play professional rugby, most notably Phil Dowson, Carl Fearns and James Simpson Daniel. Sedbergh’s rugby success is a testament to their intensive and comprehensive development programme. They pride themselves on top level coaching from staff who have vast amounts of playing and coaching experience. Their rugby programme also takes them all over the UK to allow them to play against talented teams from other schools.
Strathallan School's Rugby Academy provides students with the best coaching, facilities and support. Pupils in the Academy can also benefit from access to physiotherapists, nutritionists and sports psychologists. The school also has a fantastic partnership with Scottish Rugby. Many Strathallan alumni have gone on to play internationally and on the Scotland Six Nations team. The professional athletes produced are a testament to the time and effort the school dedicates to nurturing young talent.
With 16 rugby and football pitches, Wellington College has exceptional sports facilities. Indeed, the school has a reputation as one of the best schools for sport in the UK. Furthermore, in recent years, Wellington College teams have achieved national renown and titles not only in rugby but in a variety of other sports including hockey, golf, squash and triathlon.
From historic rugby traditions to state-of-the-art training facilities, these British schools continue to nurture the next generation of players. Whichever boarding school you choose, a strong rugby programme can provide unforgettable experiences, lifelong friendships, and valuable skills both on and off the pitch.
This article appears in the following categories Best of..., Boarding School Life, Students
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