Rugby has been played at LWC since 1943 when a new Headmaster, Mr Henderson, arrived from Gordonstoun and decreed that the oval ball game should be played, not the round ball game. Legend has it that the first posts were cut by boys from the surrounding woodland. Since then, the game has flourished at LWC and, although we are proud of our heritage and of players we have helped to produce – including Jonny Wilkinson, Ugo Monye, Peter Richards and Charlie Amesbury – we are very much concerned with developing a player’s enjoyment for playing the game no matter what their level.

Prioritising the core skills such as catch/pass and tackling ensures that at Lord Wandsworth the game is inclusive of all. If every player from the 1st XV to the U12 Bs can do these things, they can all participate, playing together as a team and putting the team ethos first. Finally, we see Rugby as an ideal platform to develop the character of our pupils. A rugby pitch is a classroom without a roof.

We can put out 13 teams and play fixtures ranging from traditional derbies with PGS and Pangbourne to teams further afield such as Dauntsey’s and St Georges Weybridge. LWC enter the NatWest Cup competitions and Rosslyn Park 7s tournaments at U18, U16 and U13 levels. Previous tours have visited Amsterdam, South Africa, Namibia, Argentina and Australia. Junior teams also have the opportunity to tour with an annual U13 Tour to Hereford which has been a massive success over the last three years.

We have an experienced coaching staff, which includes four staff who have coached public school 1st XVs. The Head of rugby is an RFU coach educator and one of the  1st XV coaches have played at a professional level, achieving national honours. LWC hosts RFU Level 1 and 2 coaching courses. The College regularly hosts ELRA courses, helping to develop referees. Pupils also have the chance to attend refereeing courses and participate in coaching courses led by the head of rugby and the RFU.

LWC respects the values of rugby, respects the spirit of rugby and respects that there is more to be taken from the game than seeking to win. It is an opportunity for our pupils to be challenged and learn about themselves, have fun and achieve. In many ways it is a game at one with the ethos of LWC.

Our main aims

To encourage all to take part and have fun on and off the field

To arrange coaching and fixtures for all teams ages and ability levels

To encourage a sporting ethos and culture of success through hard work and enjoyment

To offer avenues to those who are keen to develop their skills at local clubs and county level, with 7 of our U15s being put forward to County trials and a number of students as members of academies

What we do

We play rugby 15s in the first term and 7s in the second term

LWC puts out 13 teams in the first term and has a 7s team in U13s, U15s, U16s and U18s

We play in the NatWest cup and county cups on Wednesday afternoons and have full block fixtures every Saturday of the first term

The 7s programme runs excellently alongside the hockey programme in the second term so the boys can play both with the U16s and U18s taking part in competitions across the county and further afield. The 7s season is rounded off every year with the U13s, U16s and U18s participating at the Rosslyn Park National Schools 7s

Each team has a dedicated coach, with continuous support from the head of rugby. The U12s, U13s, U14s and U15s have sessions throughout the year led by coaches from London Irish RFC

The U14s, U16s and U18s are represented at the Hampshire Cup

There is a pre-season tour of Bath each year for senior boys

There is a Junior Boys’ Rugby and Girls’ Hockey Tour to Hereford each year in the October half term.