Rugby
It is the best thing we did sending our sons to Barnard Castle School.They thoroughly enjoyed their time there making good friends.
Pat Pettler
Mr L D Monument - Head of Rugby
At Barnard Castle School we run thirteen rugby teams. The majority of our rugby is played during the Autumn Term, whilst during the Spring Term we concentrate on seven-a-side rugby. In years 7-11 we select A and B teams from approximately forty five boys and in the 6th form we run three senior teams, 1st, 2nd and 3rd XV.
Our 1st XV have had very successful seasons recently. They have reached the final of the Daily Mail Cup at Twickenham on three occasions and a semi final, to add to two appearances in the Rosslyn Park national sevens final. Our Under 15 XV also reached the semi-final of the Daily Mail Cup, which attracts annually over 650 entrants.
Many quality players have emerged, the most famous being Mathew Tait who made his debut for Newcastle Falcons whilst still at school, and won his first full cap for England a day before his nineteenth birthday. Rob Andrew and the Underwood brothers helped to put the School on the map.
The school can boast having had over twenty schoolboy international players in the last eight seasons, and ten former pupils who have gone on to represent their country after leaving school.
Barnard Castle School does have a strong link with Newcastle Falcons. We currently have nine pupils working within their Academy set up and five former pupils in that system. Several former pupils are in the 1st XV squad. Coaches from Falcons visit the school to check on players' progress regularly.
We play fixtures at all levels most Saturdays; that is the important ‘match day’. We attempt to play just cup matches during the week. Each player receives five forty minutes of Games each week and each team will have at least one separate practice per week with their coach. A major component of our success is the quality of our B teams. They have some of the best records in the school. We are regularly county champions at every level.
The strength of our rugby is the product of a lot of hard work and enthusiasm from a large number of dedicated coaches, including several who played first class and senior representative rugby.
