[S]edbergh School 1st XV are the proud champions of the Daily Mail School’s Rugby Competition. The Cumbrian School won all of its 13 matches with a combined score of 617 points for and 101 points against.
Simon Mulholland, Director of Rugby at Sedbergh School and who previously coached at Kendal and Munster Academy said: “We have had a tremendous season. The boys have risen to every challenge and have worked for each other and the school every single minute of every single game. They are superbly talented, but beyond that they are a great team.”
Fourteen of the players have represented England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales & Canada at National under 17 or 18 training camps and Captain Cameron Redpath has already made his debut for Sale Sharks in the National Premier League. The talented inside centre said, “It’s been a great season and the team has come together so well, often under enormous pressure. They’re a great bunch of lads who enjoy playing and socialising together. It’s great to win the Daily Mail Trophy but sad that the season has come to an end, we’ll definitely stay closely in touch when we leave School.”
Highlights of the season were a big local derby win against Kirkham Grammar School and the much-anticipated encounter with Wellington College at Broadstreet RFC. Simon Mulholland reflected, “This year in particular our forwards gave us an outstanding platform on attack, they were simply relentless and incredibly physical. This continually gave our backs front foot ball to play from all areas of the field, something that we love to do at Sedbergh. Attacking rugby is what we are famous for. Defensively we were consistently outstanding all year, during a six match spell in September & October we only conceded one try. This is extremely impressive considering our strong fixture list.”
The team was presented with their Trophy by the Daily Mail team who are making a film of the team’s success. Nonetheless, the season isn’t over yet for the talented team who have six Seven’s tournaments to play in the next three months culminating in the National School’s Sevens championship at Rosslyn Park on 22nd & 23rd of March. “We have the speed and agility to be successful in Seven’s,” said Mulholland, “but Seven’s is a different game to fifteens. There are a lot of teams out there with masses of talent and we know that Sedbergh will be the team they want to beat more than any other. It will be a tough season.”
Headmaster, Andrew Fleck, said, “Our team have done incredibly well and we’re all pleased for them as well as proud of their success. Their win comes on the back of our 1XI winning the Twenty20 cricket championship and meanwhile our hockey players are doing well in their national competition and our runners look strong. These are the same pupils who have propelled the School into the top 15% of schools for value-added in the country.”
