Norwich School has a long and proud tradition of playing rugby at all levels. Rugby is a dedicated timetabled sport for all junior pupils (Year 7 and Year 8) and becomes optional moving higher up the school. Touch rugby is also an option at all ages. In the Lent Term we shift to an optional Rugby 7’s programme for Year 9 and above. We have dedicated pitches at the Lower Close and our Redmayne Playing Fields on the Norwich Walsham Road. We also have 2 performance gymnasiums.

 

The fixtures circuit varies year on year but in the 2024 season, there are currently 163 Senior School rugby fixtures scheduled. Our teams play regular fixtures against local schools including Gresham’s School, Beeston Hall School, Glebe House Prep School, Town Close Prep School and Wymondham College. In addition, we have a busy schedule of wider regional and national fixtures against opponents including The Leys, The Perse, Royal Hospital School, St Joseph’s School, Ipswich School, Finborough School, Framlingham College, Felsted School, Gravesend Grammar School and Samual Whitbread Academy.

 

During the 2023/24 rugby season players went on tour to Denstone College, the Merchiston Rugby Festival in Edinburgh and the Rosslyn Park 7’s Tournament. Notable successes included pupils playing for local and national clubs including Norwich Rugby Club, North Walsham Rugby Club and the Leicester Tigers Training Academy. Although we don’t currently play girls rugby, Year 13 pupil, Ava deCooper Wride was also selected to represent Saracens U18 Rugby.

Sports News

Football Focus - An End of Term Report from 1st XI Captain, Lizzie Henson

By Eleanor Lewis • March 25, 2026
The Girls 1st XI have worked hard this term, in both training and matches, and this has shown through the immense improvement from everyone throughout. Targeting the basics in training enabled the girls to play an attractive style of football during fixtures, with some great chances created from the team working well together. The season started with a game away to a physical Gresham's side, that was tightly contested. Unfortunately, with a few key chances missed, the score ended 2-0 to them. Next up was Wymondham at home. A goal from Poppy Francis sent us into the last 10 at 1-1. The girls managed to score a second, but this was ruled offside. With Wymondham somehow sneaking in a winner in the closing minutes, the game concluded at 2-1 to them. On the return leg at their place the following week, the girls fought well on a difficult pitch, but were unlucky and lost 2-0, despite playing the better football. A special mention must go to India Coupland who stepped up as goalkeeper, playing against girls 4 years her senior, and held her own. The final game of the season was played at home against a mixed side from St Felix, with arguably the best performance of the season from the team. It was an exciting game from start to finish, and despite good pressure on the St Felix defence towards the end, the girls were unable to find an equaliser, with the game ending 3-2. Goals from Chloe Holmes and Lizzie Henson. Despite not getting the results the team deserved, they should be very proud of themselves and their performances. Hopefully this season has provided useful foundations for the Lower 6 and Upper 5 to build on for next year. Lizzie Henson (U6V) 1st XI Captain

Keeping Track of Cross Country - the East Anglian League

By Eleanor Lewis • March 10, 2026
Saturday 7 March saw the final race in the East Anglian League against runners from Gresham’s, Ipswich and RHS. The team travelled to RHS and the conditions were reasonably dry and still on a flat, fast course. Our only competing Junior, Jonas Tam, improved upon last week’s third place to come 2nd this week, while in the Intermediate Boys, Kit Rudling came 4th. In the Senior Boys we had excellent strength in depth, as we have had all season, with eight runners competing. First to finish was Ethan Buskell who came 2nd overall. Jeremy Lo came through the field strongly to take 5th place, capping off another consistent season. Leon Liu, Kort Tsui and Leo Pitt were next over the line, followed shortly by Tom Copley, Edward Lott and George Yiasimi. The Senior Boys, having showed such consistent quality and excellent camaraderie throughout the season, deservedly took home the East Anglian League Team Trophy. Well done to everyone who has represented the Cross Country team this season.

A Drizzly Afternoon in Ipswich for the Cross Country Team

By Eleanor Lewis • February 28, 2026
The Cross-Country team enjoyed a drizzly afternoon of racing in Ipswich on Saturday 28 February. The course was extremely muddy making for challenging, slippery conditions. But the Junior Boys managed to stay upright and perform well with Jonas Tam finishing 3rd, Jonty Croskell in 4th and Oscar Parker-Wright in 11th. All season the Senior Girls have dominated the front end of the field and again we had 3 of the top six finishers. On this occasion, it was Amelie Ivie who timed her finish best to take 3rd place ahead of Bea Green in 4th and Olivia Allen in 6th. The team was completed by Simran Chawla coming in 12th. With 8 Senior Boys running, the team prize seems sewn up this year and we had 3 of the top 5 finishers. Over the 7.6km route, Ethan Buskell was fastest on the day, coming 2nd, just ahead of Arthur Dannatt in 3rd and Leon Liu 5th. Leo Pitt was 8th, Jeremy Lo 9 th and Tom Copley, George Yiasimi and Edward Lott completed the dominating team performance all in the top 14. The final race in the series is next Saturday at RHS. Congratulations to all involved!
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