Haileybury’s sports teams continue to impress on the national stage, with both the U16 netball and U18 rugby squads celebrating outstanding victories.

Haileybury’s sports teams continue to impress on the national stage, with both the U16 netball and U18 rugby squads celebrating outstanding victories. The U16 netball girls are in fine form, their well-grooved combinations coming to life on the court in impressive style. Their fluid and confident play carried them through to the last eight of the Sisters n Sport Cup, following a superb 45–21 win against St Helen & St Katharine in a thrilling encounter.

Meanwhile, the U18 Sevens rugby team built on their excellent performance from the Easter Series with another strong showing at the Habs Sevens. The boys defeated several strong sides, including Mill Hill, before securing a convincing win against Brighton College in the final. Sam (U6) delivered a standout performance, crossing the line multiple times with dazzling footwork and electric acceleration.

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Over the Christmas break, Haileybury pupils took part in two exciting overseas sports tours, combining intensive training with valuable cultural experiences.

Netball Teams in Barbados:

Two Haileybury netball teams, one U14 and one U16, travelled to Barbados for a tour that offered outstanding opportunities for sporting development and cultural enrichment.

Across eight competitive fixtures, the teams recorded seven wins, adapting impressively to the fast-paced and physical Bajan style of play. A particular highlight was an inspiring coaching session led by former Barbados National Coach Denise Alleyne, which encouraged the girls to refine their technical and tactical understanding.

Beyond the court, the players explored the island, enjoyed a taste of Caribbean culture and some well-earned sunshine, and represented Haileybury with enthusiasm and team spirit throughout.

Senior Boys Hockey in Barcelona:

Meanwhile, the senior boys’ hockey squad travelled to Barcelona for a three-night pre-season tour, preparing for the upcoming term through a series of high-quality training sessions at the prestigious Polo Club.

The team secured a 6–4 victory against local side Linia 22 in a match played at a stadium originally used for the Olympic Games, an experience that will live long in the memory. The boys also enjoyed sightseeing time in the city, visiting the Sagrada Familia, Olympic Park, and the Gothic Quarter.

The tour provided the perfect start to the season, and we look forward to seeing the squad build on their progress in the matches ahead.

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County Success for Haileybury Netball Teams

On Saturday, our U19, U16 and U14 Netball squads competed in the County Round of the National Schools Tournament, braving challenging high winds to deliver outstanding performances. Each team demonstrated impressive resilience, positivity, and determination throughout a busy day of fixtures – and what a day it was!

U14s – 3rd place in the Shield

U16s – Plate Winners

U19s – Cup Runners-up after a thrilling final vs Berkhamsted

Our U19s now head to the Regional Round on Saturday 7 February.

Congratulations to all players and coaches on an excellent day of competition and a proud representation of Haileybury sport.

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It was a weekend to remember for Haileybury sport, with our showcase teams delivering thrilling performances across rugby, hockey, netball and lacrosse – and strong results coming through from swimming, golf and several other squads.

The 1st XV rugby match against Berkhamsted in the Daily Mail Cup will go down as one of the great games of recent years. In front of a big crowd on a sun‐drenched day, the team showed extraordinary spirit and resolve against formidable opposition. Tries from Upper Sixth pupils George J, Emilio, Elwood, George B and finally Reuben had the crowd on their feet, while Blake’s unerring conversions edged Haileybury to a dramatic 37–34 win. A performance full of determination, teamwork and heart – and a result that will be remembered for a long time.

The 1st XI hockey team also shone in their opening England Hockey Tier 1 match versus Sevenoaks. After a cagey start, they struck just before half‐time through a slick short‐corner goal from Freya (U6). The second half saw Haileybury dominate, with Lettie (U6) and Florrie (Vths) each scoring twice in a blistering ten‐minute spell. A 5–1 victory was the perfect way to launch their IHSC campaign.

Netballers in the 1st VII were equally impressive in the first round of the Sisters n Sport Cup against Samuel Whitbread Academy. Playing with speed, precision and consistency across all four quarters, the team powered to a 60–27 win. Alex (Vths) was clinical in the shooting circle, while Charlotte’s (U6) defensive brilliance earned her Player of the Match. A fantastic start to their knockout run.

Our 1st X lacrosse team opened their season in style with a commanding 9–3 victory over King’s Canterbury, showing great cohesion and attacking flair from the outset.

Across the school, our swimmers, golfers and many other teams also delivered excellent performances, highlighting the depth of sporting talent and commitment throughout Haileybury. From the drama of the rugby field to the precision of the hockey pitch, the speed of the netball court to the skill on the lacrosse field, last weekend was a resounding celebration of teamwork, resilience and the joy of sport.

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A Year of National Finals and Unforgettable Achievements. The academic year 2024–25 has been truly remarkable for Haileybury sport, marked by exceptional performances, teamwork, and resilience across a wide range of disciplines. Our pupils have represented the School at the very highest level, reaching 12 national finals in 9 different sports, a testament to their dedication and the strength of our sporting programme.

National Champions and Noteworthy Triumphs

This year, Haileybury teams have brought home four national titles:

• Foster Cup for Rackets
• U16 Girls’ Indoor Hockey
• U13 Girls’ Indoor Hockey
• U13 Lacrosse Division 1

In addition, our talented Golf team were crowned National Plate Champions, an achievement that places them among the elite schools in the country.

Sporting Highlights

U16 indoor hockey

The girls performed with extraordinary composure and self-belief, beating Repton, Sevenoaks and King’s Chester, and then producing a fabulous crescendo in the final to win 7-2 against Clifton. Laura was ruthless in front of goal, scoring 18, and Lois and Cate shone down the spine of the defence and midfield. It was fitting that the girls also won the Tony Nunn Fidelitas Shield at Speech Day for performance levels but also for the sportsmanlike manner in which they went about their business.

Rackets

Flynn is the first Haileyburian to win the Foster Cup for over 40 years. He was a man with a target on his back from the start of the tournament and to achieve championship victory with so many top players looking to raise their game against the favourite was a great example of composure and quality combined. He backs up his U16 success therefore with this superb national triumph.

U13 girls

In both indoor hockey and lacrosse the U13 girls’ sporting squads showed what character and what depth of quality they have. Two magnificent wins in different sports in highly competitive tournaments was a stunning achievement. What a future!

Netball

The senior netball squad were superb – securing qualification from the extremely competitive Hertfordshire rounds, then again through the East Region. At the national finals at Sheffield the girls were excellent, winning all bar their last crucial game to make it to the semi-final, missing out by just the one goal. The competition was fierce and the top 16 schools in the land made it a highly competitive experience, but the girls showed that they are right up there with the very best there is.

Swimming

The girls’ squad made it to the national final for the second year in a row to defend their title from 2024! It was a tense affair and finishing 8th in the land is superb. The boys had never qualified for the final before and to finish 4th was incredible, albeit tough to just be pipped to the podium.

Boys’ hockey

U18 boys backed up their U16 title from last year by making it to Nottingham again. The day was tough and with a squad all bar one of whom return next year makes it a mouthwatering prospect in 2026.

Girls’ Cricket: National Podium Success

• U17 National T20 Cup Finals:
  Our U17 girls’ cricket team made history by reaching the finals at the stunning Arundel Castle, competing as one of the last four schools standing nationwide. After a challenging cup run with victories over Framlingham and Marlborough, the girls finished with bronze medals and are now officially ranked 3rd in the country—a phenomenal accomplishment.
• U18 Girls’ Cricket Hundred Nationals Plate:
  The girls added to their accolades with a silver medal in the U18 Hundred nationals plate, demonstrating their prowess and consistency at the highest level.

Boys’ Cricket: Unbeaten Champions

• 2nd XI Boys’ Cricket:
  The boys’ 2nd XI capped off a perfect season, finishing top of the national rankings for school 2nd XI cricket teams after an unbroken run of 11 wins from 11 matches against other schools.

Golf: National Plate Champions

• National Finals, Oxfordshire:
  Out of 92 schools, only 8 reached the finals, and Haileybury’s team—Matt, Rohit, Tejas, Arjun, Fin, and JJ rose to the occasion. They delivered a series of outstanding performances, only losing to the eventual champions Reeds by the thinnest of margins on the final green, and going on to defeat, Eton, and Wellington to become National Plate Champions and secure a 5th place national ranking.

“I could not be prouder of everything our pupils have achieved in sport over the past 12 months. From individual milestones to team triumphs, it has been a year filled with dedication, passion and true Haileybury spirit. Just as crucial as national trophies has been the amazing depth of opportunities for all, with over 1250 fixtures over 20+ sports during the year.

I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to everyone who has taken part in sport this year. I am also grateful to our outstanding team of coaches, whose hard work and support make these achievements possible. As we look ahead to the next 12 months, I do so with immense pride and excitement for what is to come.“

Andy Searson – Director of Sport

National Successes

A Message of Pride

These achievements are the result of hard work, commitment, and the unwavering support of our pupils, coaches, staff, and families. Every pupil who represented Haileybury this year should feel incredibly proud of their contribution to our sporting legacy.

Congratulations to all our athletes – your success inspires the whole school community. We look forward to building on these achievements and celebrating many more in the years ahead.

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Congratulations to the 1st VII Girls Netball team who competed in the England Netball National Schools Finals in Sheffield.

The team started the day brilliantly, winning their first four matches against Wrekin College, Wakefield, Cheadle Hulme, and Millfield, putting them at the top of the table. After lunch, the players faced their first setback, losing 9-10 to Gordon’s in a tough and closely fought game. However, they showed great resilience, regrouping to win their next two matches.

With a semi-final spot on the line, the final pool game against Hurst proved decisive. This result meant they narrowly missed out on the semi-finals (finishing 3rd), as only the top two teams from each pool progressed.

The team took away invaluable lessons and positives from the experience, finishing an impressive 5th in the country – an improvement on last year’s result and a testament to their continued growth and determination.

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Congratulations to the Boys’ Football 1st XI who have made it to the semi-final of the ISFA Shield, having beaten St Joseph’s Ipswich 3–0 in the quarter-final.

Fantastic victory for the U14A team over Bancrofts School winning 6–0, with a hat-trick from Noah (Removes).

Good form continues also for the Badminton 1st team with a 5–3 victory over St Edmunds College.

Congratulations to the following pupils:

• Lettie (L6), Lois (Fifths), and Florrie (Middles), on being selected for the England Hockey team.
• Flynn (U6), on becoming National Rackets Champion
• Daisy (L6), on being named Most Valuable Player at the finals of the Independent Schools’ Netball League.

Last but not least, On Saturday, our Netball 1st VII qualified for the National Schools Finals after an outstanding performance at the East Regional School Finals, finishing runners-up to Berkhamsted. This means the team will now compete at the National Finals on 15 March at the EIS in Sheffield – an incredible achievement! The squad is already looking forward to the challenge, with five weeks of preparation ahead before the big event.

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Here are some of the highlights and photos from the past five weeks of competition.

Rugby

The boys’ rugby season kicked off with a bang, the 1st XV scoring 43 points in victory over Felsted, with England international Fraser scoring an impressive five tries. The U15A team has been particularly noteworthy, amassing over 200 points in just seven matches and winning six of them. Their 24-12 triumph over Reeds marked a stunning reversal from last year’s 50-point defeat, and illustrates the progress they are making. U15C rugby are also in great form, winning in their final match before Half Term break.

Hockey

On the hockey pitch, the girls’ 1st XI remains unbeaten, proving themselves formidable opponents in both the national cup and England Tier 1 competitions. The team’s Tier 1 victories over Framlingham (4-0) and Ipswich (2-1) have been particularly impressive. Meanwhile, the U15A squad has been on fire in defence of their national crown, netting 55 goals in 12 games while conceding just three. The U12 girls showed that the future is in good hands too, with a county cup triumph.

Netball

Netball has seen its share of success, with the U19 squad qualifying for the regional stages of the national cup for the second consecutive year. Lucy and Charlotte have been ruthless in the shooting circle, while Daisy, Brogan, Charlotte and Alice have controlled the midcourt with aplomb.

Lacrosse

The lacrosse teams have been gaining valuable experience, notching wins against both Marlborough and Bedford. Fresh from representing Wales in the U20 World Championships, Maddie has been in particularly dynamic form.

Swimming

In the pool, swimming squads have performed admirably at the England Schools Championships and in friendly meets. The league galas are set to begin after Half Term, promising fierce competitive action in November.

Golf

The golf team has successfully navigated past St. Edmund’s and Brentwood in cup play despite challenging weather conditions. With one round still to play, they appear fully dialled in for upcoming challenges.

Football

The girls’ football squad, led by the galvanising Paisley, shows promise for the future as they train hard. Meanwhile, the boys’ 1st XI is through to the third round of the national cup after a strong 4-1 victory over Norwich, the next round of the cup for the boys is in early November.

Rackets

The rackets season got off to a fine start with Flynn and Benji achieving success during an away trip to Tonbridge. Darcey and Isla also played well as they hone their partnership. Queen’s beckons in December.

Badminton

Our badminton teams have travelled to Canterbury and Felsted. Minh particularly impressed in Kent as the girls came out on top 7-2 while the boys faced a closely fought battle ending 3-6. Their Essex away games saw them win all their encounters, and it is great to see the squad working so hard on court and in the gym and reaping the rewards in matchplay.

Basketball

Happily, our basketball squad has been re galvanised and several fixtures are in the diary. Our youthful team is gaining experience from the two encounters thus far and the future for the basketball club looks very exciting. 

Cricket

Only a tiny percentage of schools are able to play cricket in September, and we are privileged to be one of them. Flynn took a career-best 7-34 to etch his name on the honours board.

“Amidst sometimes glorious sunshine and torrential rain, often at the same time (literally!), our pupils have enjoyed plenty of opportunity for participation in competitive action across all our Autumn sports, with 62 teams having taken to the field across 10 sports, and 249 fixtures having been played in the opening six weeks of term,” shared Andrew Searson. Director of Sport. “There have been some stellar performances on the pitch at all ages and abilities and some ideally pitched block fixtures, with exactly half of the aforementioned matches resulting in victory. Just as importantly off the pitch there is a huge amount for Haileybury pupils to reflect proudly upon with sportsmanship having been consistently and unfailingly demonstrated,” he added.

As we head into half term, our athletes are already poised for the many super sporting challenges that lie ahead in November and December.

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The tour began with a fantastic technical session led by the Barbados Netball Association. The pupils quickly adjusted to the physicality and the tough Bajan style of play. Fixtures were played against Clapham Blitz, Unity Stars, Springer School, Christ Church Foundation School and Queens School.

The senior team won all of their matches, including a big 48-15 win against Christ Church, and the junior team enjoyed a nail-biting 14-14 draw against Clapham Blitz. Congratulations to Brogan, Lucy, Daisy, Fenella, Sasha and Annabelle on their Individual Player of the Match Awards.

On rest days, the pupils were able to relax by the beach, go on a Jeep Island tour, enjoy a catamaran cruise and have lunch at the Island’s favourite fast food restaurant, Chefette.

“We went to Barbados for one week but the memories I made will stick with me for the rest of my life. The opportunity to play against local teams was extraordinary and I have made friendships which I am grateful for. Once again I noticed how sport, especially netball, can unite teams from different parts of the world. The girls we played showed excellent sportsmanship and were as excited as we were to play the matches. Beyond the netball, visiting a new country and getting to know a new culture was astonishing. Our tour guide, Junior, was very kind and made this trip unforgettable as well as all the teachers who gave up their holidays to come along with us!” – Cecilia, Lower Sixth

“Barbados was a trip filled with lots of fun and laughter! We all enjoyed ourselves so much and really bonded with all the year groups and teachers. We met some amazing people and did some incredible things, like swimming with the turtles, a jeep safari and much more. The Bajan girls were so lovely and welcoming and it was amazing to see their day-to-day lives and play netball with them. I will never forget this incredible experience. I am beyond grateful for everyone that made this once-in-a-lifetime trip possible.” – Fenella, Lower Sixth

“The Barbados tour was such an amazing experience, it allowed us to play matches under different, tougher weather conditions which pushed us as a team and allowed us to develop further as players. The tour also involved activities such as the Jeep safari tour and a catamaran cruise which were both really enjoyable and great ways to relax in-between matches.” – Mahum, Lower Sixth

“Not only did I absolutely love playing the netball, the Barbados trip allowed me to meet and socialise with a range of new people. One of my favourite experiences was visiting the schools there and talking to the pupils. They were so welcoming and friendly; we talked for ages and exchanged numbers at the end.” – Annabelle, Lower Sixth

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