It was another superb outing for our rugby teams this week at the County 7s tournament.

The U16 7s side were crowned County Champions after an outstanding performance, clinching a hard-fought 14–12 victory over Berkhamsted in the final. Having finished second in their group, the team battled through several close contests to lift the trophy – a fantastic achievement!

The U18s, fielding a relatively young squad with our Year 13 players unavailable due to exams, also showed great spirit and determination, finishing sixth overall.

It has been a very promising 7s season across the board, and the boys now look ahead with excitement to next week’s Mudlarks game.

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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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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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Haileybury’s South Africa Rugby Tour got off to a flying start, with the boys delivering strong performances on the pitch and embracing every opportunity off it.

Friday Night Lights with the Harlequins

The tour began with an unforgettable evening match against the Harlequins under the lights. Players from both teams ran out through a tunnel of applause, creating an electric atmosphere. Haileybury rose to the occasion with a fast and physical start. Captain George J opened the scoring with an outstanding try, followed by a touchline conversion from Blake. Chris danced through the defence for the second try, and Milne calmly added the extras.

A powerful performance from the front row, led by George B, dominated the scrum, with strong carries from Josh and Sam. George J crossed the line after great support from Elwood. Harlequins responded with a try, but Haileybury extended their lead with a superb team try finished by Dylan after a pinpoint pass from Tommy.

George J completed his hat-trick after more excellent work from the pack, while Reuben’s line-out presence helped set the tone throughout. Despite a strong comeback from the hosts, Haileybury secured a well-earned 33–19 victory.

A host of players made their mark: Teddy impressed in both attack and defence, David was solid in the back row, and Ollie, Rhys, Will, Freddie, and Cormac all contributed with big tackles and powerful carries. It was a complete team performance, confident in attack and full of spirit in defence.

Exploring South Africa

The team’s time off the pitch has been just as special. Saturday saw the boys take on the breath-taking Cape Canopy Tour, an adventure that challenged and thrilled in equal measure. A traditional Braai followed, filled with laughter and great food. Sunday included two spectacular game drives at a local reserve, where pupils spotted an array of wildlife. Comfortable, welcoming accommodation added to the memorable experience.

Festival of Unity: A Dominant Display

Haileybury’s second match took place in Cape Town against Edgemead High School as part of the new Festival of Unity. The South African side started brightly, but Haileybury’s defence stood strong. A turnover on their own line led to a length-of-the-field try by Tom, converted by the dependable Milne. Scrum-half Jack continued his fine form with a clever blindside break, supported by outstanding performances from George B and George J. Tries followed from Chris and Archie as Haileybury stormed to a 31–0 lead at half-time.

In the second half, Haileybury maintained their intensity. Reuben and Jim led the forward effort with powerful carries, and Tom added another solo try after great link-up play with Archie. The final score was a convincing 48–7. Jack shone once again, and Elwood earned Man of the Match honours.

Match Three: Heart and Grit in Testing Conditions

Haileybury’s third fixture brought their toughest test yet: a physical, skilled opponent in wet weather. Captain Tommy delivered a commanding performance at fly-half, combining tactical control with excellent leadership. Rhys earned Man of the Match with a superb all-round display, including a brilliant try. Max added another score on behalf of the tireless front row, and Dylan impressed at full-back, making a game-saving tackle. Freddie, David, Miles, and Teddy all contributed significantly, while Lewis was imperious at scrum-half.

It was a tremendous team effort, showcasing the commitment, resilience, and unity that have defined this tour.

Beyond the Rugby

The tour has offered so much more than rugby. Pupils have surfed, climbed Table Mountain, experienced the Cape Canopy tour, and visited a game reserve. Cultural highlights included a visit to an apartheid museum and meaningful outreach work with the local community.

Staff praised the boys for their impeccable conduct, team spirit, and enthusiasm throughout the trip. The South Africa Tour has been a rich blend of sporting excellence, cultural exploration, and personal growth, a truly unforgettable experience for all involved.

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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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Michael joined Haileybury after a distinguished professional rugby career. As an international player, he played for Wales from 2002 to 2007, captaining the team to its first Grand Slam in 27 years during the 2005 Six Nations. Michael also captained the British & Irish Lions for their 2005 New Zealand tour in the test against Argentina, and played for Pontypridd, Dragons and Saracens.

We were delighted when Michael decided to join Haileybury after retraining as a teacher. Rugby was already strong here, but his role has given it added and renewed focus. Michael’s leadership has undoubtedly played a considerable part in Haileybury Rugby’s significant achievements and victories, including County Champions four years in a row.

When asked what his proudest moments of the last ten years were, Michael responded: “Whenever a first-team has achieved more than they thought was possible in a game or season. The boys are able to lift themselves to a level they didn’t think was possible at times.”

On behalf of the pupils and staff, thank you, Michael, for your continued passion and commitment; we look forward to seeing what the next ten years bring!

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On the Hockey pitch, the girls 1st XI team played against Repton in the second round of the Independent Schools Hockey Cup and claimed their place in the next round with a fantastic 5-2 win.

Meanwhile, on Terrace, we saw some stunning backplay and wonder tries from the 1st XV boys rugby team, who played a cracking fixture against Bedford School in the first round of the Continental Tyres School Cup, steaming through to the next round with a terrific 36-14 result.

Finally, the girls football XI won their way to the second round of the U18 IFSA Cup, winning 7-0 against Chigwell. The Haileybury team started their away game brightly, keeping the ball well, and continued to grow in confidence as they stretched the opposition’s defence. Chigwell battled hard, making the game a real contest for the entire 70 minutes but the girls’ determination prevailed and they are now excited to see who they will draw in the next round.

“It was a really impressive performance from the girls. The result today is a testament to our hard work in training and the commitment we brought to the pitch. The attacking threat from our forwards was exemplary and the defence was strong and organised. We look forward to the next round of the cup!” – Martha, Upper Sixth & Football XI Captain

SPORTS AT HAILEYBURY

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The game was a fiercely contested battle in strong winds and heavy rain. Both sides, however, showed incredible skill, determination and sportsmanship, with the game going right down to the wire and Stamford taking a 24-19 win. What an encounter to remember!

The Haileybury rugby team were also delighted to be joined for the evening by pupils from The Beacon, Clare’s Court, Caldicott and St John’s prep schools, who enjoyed playing friendly matches against each other and meeting Aled Davies, current Saracens player and Haileybury coach, and Kapeli Pifeleti, current Saracens player and Old Haileyburian.

Find out more about rugby at Haileybury

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