Schools Rugby
Rugby school gives grounds for hope
Sanjay Patra
At six years old Sanjay Patra was living on the streets of Calcutta. That was before he became one of the street children helped by the Future Hope charity set up by former Rugby School pupil, Tim Grandage. Future Hope has, over the years, used rugby union as a healthy outlet for former street children and their young players have achieved an impressive level of success. Now 25, Sanjay is in England for a year and currently refereeing and coaching at Rugby as a guest of Tim’s fellow old boy and current member of staff, Guy Steele-Bodger. Sanjay, ranked third among India’s referees, played international youth rugby for his country before taking up the whistle. He came over to England in September as coach to the Jungle Crows, an Indian Under 14 team who won the Touraid tournament. With Tim Grandage’s plans to create a sports ground for youngsters in Calcutta, which would save them having to train among the goats and cows, Sanjay is gaining invaluable insight on pitch management from Rugby School’s excellent groundsman James Mead. And the project will undoubtedly be helped by £75.000 raised by a sponsored walk at Rugby School. After his stint at Rugby, Sanjay will continue his working experience at Hartpury College in Gloucestershire in the New Year. If you would like to help Future Hope make a difference to children’s lives visit www.futurehope.net
Quins sign Epsom College players
Chris York, George Lowe and Joe Trayfoot make use of Epsom College's new fitness suite
Three members of the Epsom College 1st XV rugby squad have been awarded contracts by Guinness Premiership club Harlequins. Lower sixth former Joe Trayfoot and upper sixth formers Chris York and George Lowe have been signed up by the London club for next season.” It is a great honour to have secured this contract. I am looking forward to joining the club next September and the challenges it will offer,” said York. Flanker Trayfoot, No 8 York and centre Lowe, who is captain of the Epsom 1st XV, believe they owe much of their success to the high standard of rugby played at the College. Since returning from an undefeated tour to Ireland, the Epsom team has had an outstanding season, chalking up victories over top rugby schools RGS Guildford, Harrow, Eastbourne, Cranleigh, Tonbridge (ending the Kent school’s three year unbeaten record), local rivals St John’s and Sevenoaks by 63 – 0. Their only disappointment, at the time of writing, came in a nailbiting 16-13 away defeat at Wellington College. Off the rugby pitch, the players have been able to take advantage of the College’s new state-of-the-art fitness suite, a novel Pilates programme for general fitness and diet and nutrition advice from Harlequins’ nutritional consultant, Jane Griffin.
Looking good
The Mount House School 1st XV left Tavistock on its tour to Barcelona at half term with brand new kit, and a 100% record, having won all nine matches played. The new kit has been sponsored by the owner of Plymouth’s Kularoos Sports Bar, Iain Woodhead, and was a real reward for the team’s 298 points in nine matches, with only 49 conceded.
Youngsters enjoy Tag course
RFU Junior Vice President and Community Rugby Chairman, John Owen, recently presented certificates and England lapel badges to pupils from Lowther Endowed School, Hackthorpe. The youngsters had been on a six week tag rugby course, run by Roger Hackney, from the management committee of Cumbria RFU. Headteacher Mike Pincombe said, “We are very grateful to Roger Hackney for his time and dedication with the pupils. We are committed to promoting exercise and enjoyment of sport and the children thoroughly enjoyed this opportunity.”
Fine turn out for Tenneck
Bob Whittle, Fred Batchelor, Ray Milner, Chriss Kelly, Eric Blackman, Lesley, David Franklin, Michael Christie and Tom Stirk
The Trustees of the England Rugby Football Schools Union recently hosted a dinner for their long serving secretary, Ron Tennick and his wife Lesley, with Eric Blackman, President of the Schools Union, presenting Ron with an inscribed silver salver and Lesley with a silver rose brooch. The Trustees were supported by David Franklin, Past President of the Schools Union and Ray Milner, the former assistant secretary of the Schools Union. Shortly afterwards a dinner co-hosted by the RFU and the ERFSU saw Don Rutherford, former RFU Director of Rugby, outline Ron’s significant contribution to rugby.
Ahead by a nose
Linchfield Primary School held a red nose hunt to raise £1,000 for Comic Relief. The hunt involved pupils scouring the school for 20 hidden red noses, with all the correct entrants going into a prize draw. The winner was seven-year-old Olivia Jowett, whose prize was sponsored by Deepings Rugby Club and included lunch for Olivia and her family at the club’s Vice Presidents Lunch and Olivia being 1st XV mascot for the day.
