Northampton School for Boys make history as three teams reach national schools finals
Northampton School for Boys has achieved what no other school in the country is believed to have done by having three age group rugby teams competing in the national finals.
Over the next 10 days, NSB teams will bid for glory in three National Schools Cup finals – the U14s, U15s and U18s. The U14s’ final against Ysgol Glantaf is today, Tuesday, at Oundle School, kicking off at noon.
This final is followed by the U15s on Wednesday March 18 against Whitgift School and then the U18s 1st XV against Epsom College at the home of rugby, Twickenham, on Thursday March 19.
The success has made the entire school incredibly proud, none more so than Phil Beaumont, director of rugby at NSB, who spoke to the Chronicle & Echo on the bus travelling to the U14s final.
It is no fluke that the school is enjoying the success it is currently experiencing. Seven years ago the school, with the support of the headteacher and the senior leadership team, redeveloped the rugby programme and the coaching strategy.
“We have a mix of high quality community club coaches that come to support our players and we have developed a very strong partnership with Northampton Saints,” Phil told the Chron. “Mike Hopley and Charlie Reed support us and some of our coaches work in the Foundation stage with Saints.
"Building a philosophy and curriculum with rugby, aligned with Northampton Saints, has been great – and this combined with the passion of our community coaches joining us to building and creating opportunities for players in the school has been the changing point,” he said.
There are now 14 teams across the school involving more than 420 boys and girls playing rugby, Phil added.
"The atmosphere around the school is electric. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for each of the teams involved - it is super special for all those involved,” he said.
It’s not just the players who are getting swept up in the excitement around the finals. As well as the travelling support, the games are being live-streamed back at school and for the U18s game, the entire sixth form has been given time off to support the team at Twickenham,
"We believe that those spectating and celebrating the teams’ success it will inspire the boys to be successful in the future, it has a huge impact on the academic success of the school as well and the feeling of being proud of their achievements,” Phil added.