Last week, King Edward’s School took on and stunned the world of school rugby by winning the Rosslyn Park National Schools Sevens Under 18 Vase: the largest school rugby tournament in the word and the pinnacle of the sport.
It was an extraordinary achievement to lift the trophy and a testament to the team of boys and what has been building inside the rugby programme at KES for years. The achievement rounded off an incredible year in which the same team ranked in the top 20 UK schools in the Daily Mail U18 Rugby Trophy.
As official commentators at Rosslyn Park Sevens, NextGenXV, were quick to applaud the team’s efforts over two days, “After a strong fifteen-a-side season it has felt as though something special has been brewing at KES Bath, last Tuesday at the Howden Rosslyn Park National Schools Sevens it came to fruition.
“It is a rare thing to be able to make people that don’t know you proud, but that was the overwhelming sensation from the touchlines – particularly in the final against Cheltenham College – as this group of young men showed not just tremendous skill and wonderful play, but also immense bravery, determination, and passion.
“Every single one of them deserves to be incredibly proud of themselves, and the wider school community should be as well, it is a remarkable achievement. School sport is about memory making, and these boys have made one that will last a lifetime.
“Hats off too to the coaching staff, not least Sean Lilley and John Tidball, who have poured their hearts and souls into this team. A fantastic achievement.”
