Rugby at Berkhamsted
Providing a pathway from playing at school, to the local club, to national rugby & a lifelong love of the sport
We strive to help students engage in rugby throughout their journey across the Berkhamsted Schools. We provide a rugby pathway from Prep to Sixth, and many pupils continue to pursue the sport after they have left Berkhamsted.
Scholars Programme
Berkhamsted scholars receive:
- One to one Mentoring by one of the Sport specialist coaches
- Talks and Lectures by professional athletes and Berkhamsted Sports department
- Athletic Development lessons appropriate to their age and development
- Mentoring in Sport Psychology, Nutrition, Goal setting and Lifestyle Planning
Coaches
Berkhamsted boasts a highly experienced rugby coaching team. Pupils benefit from the expertise of RFU Level 4 staff within the PE department (Richard Pryor and Tom Pierce). Also, in addition to our full-time PE teachers, we also have a rugby coach who works across the age groups 2 days a week focusing on the development of students and teachers alike
Fixtures
Berkhamsted boasts a strong rugby fixture card that allows pupils to test themselves against the top schools in the area. Matches take place against Warwick, Harrow, Haileybury, Dulwich, Stowe, Eton, Wellington and many more. Also at 1st XV level, we take play an annual match at The StoneX Stadium playing the likes of Clifton, Denstone and welcoming Kirkham this year for the first time.
Berkhamsted regularly fields up to 16 teams on a Saturday in the Michaelmas Term and 8 teams in the Lent term when our Year 7 & 8 students play. This allows every student to play and enjoy the game at a level suitable to their ability.
Saracens Rugby Partnership
We are proud of our partnership with Saracens Rugby franchise. The partnership gives our pupils the opportunity to interact with high-achieving professional players in masterclasses, as well as developing our pupils’ confidence and encouraging them to become more engaged in rugby.
This partnership will not only continue to accelerate the development of our performance athletes, but it will also inspire those not yet on a performance pathway to pursue their playing potential.
Competitions
Berkhamsted Rugby celebrated an outstanding year in 2025, marked by historic victories and individual honours across all age groups. The U12s triumphed at the Reigate 7s, while the U13s lifted the Summerfield Prep Sevens trophy and the U14s reached the quarter final of the QEB 7s. The U15s were crowned winners of the Merchant Taylors’ 7s, and the U16s made history by winning the QEB 7s for the first time, adding further success with victory in the Hertfordshire County Cup Sevens. At senior level, the U18s claimed the Schools Championship 7s Plate and finished runners-up to Millfield in the prestigious Surrey 7s Cup. The U18 Girls Rugby team returned to the Rosslyn Park 7s for the first time in eight years, earning the Fair Play Award for their age category. Individual honours included Logan, Charlie and Oli being selected for the U17 England Rugby Training Camp, while Alex secured a senior academy contract with Saracens. To cap the year, Oxford University coaches visited Berkhamsted to deliver a Prep to Senior Masterclass, providing inspiration and development for players across the school.
Our Playing Fields
Berkhamsted’s fantastic facilities include 7 pitches at Chesham Road, 5 pitches at Kitchener’s and a further 5 at Haslam. This allows a large number of students to take rugby but also to benefit by playing matches on well-kept fields.
Sport plays a significant part in the school life of any Berkhamsted pupil and the school has had significant success in recent years. Berkhamsted were recently named as the tenth best UK Sports School in a recent edition of the ‘School Sport Magazine’. The national publication ranked each school based on 20 different sports and 120 national competitions throughout 2022-2023. For more information please visit this LINK.
Contact us
If you would like any further information, please don’t hesitate to contact the Sports Department on sport@berkhamsted.com or the school admissions team admissions@berkhamsted.com / 01442 358001 for more information.
News
Relive the adrenaline of the rugby match at StoneX stadium!
Hear from first XV rugby captain Sam K as he reflects on his experience of playing rugby at the StoneX stadium.
Watch the video here:
Big Stadium, great experience | Rugby fixture at the StoneX
Watch the video here:
England’s most capped rugby sevens player and Berkhamsted rugby coach, James Rodwell
In this podcast episode we speak to James Rodwell, pupil at the school from 1991 to 2002 who after leaving the school stepped into professional rugby. He’s England’s most capped rugby sevens player, an Olympic silver medallist and he was the Head Coach for the England women’s sevens team.
He cam back as a rugby coach at Berkhamsted in 2023.
We find out about his experience being a boy at school, where he went to university but also all about his professional career, travelling the world and we ask him what it’s like to play rugby in front of 85,000 people.
Listen to the episode here:
La Manga Women’s T20 Classic joint champions 🏆
@lmtccspain @teamtravelmanagement
@berkhamstedschools @berkhamstedgirls
@hertscricket @hertswomenscricket
An historic step – The senior girl’s cricket squad have just returned from their pre-season trip to La Manga, Spain. The first ever girls cricket tour.
The five day trip saw the girls play in the La Manga Women’s T20 Classic tournament. They played four group games, including victories against Streatham & Marlborough CC, Switzerland and Spain, before meeting Hursley Park CC in the final. With Hursley Park 97/4 off 13.1 overs, rain meant the game was abandoned and trophy shared, whilst captain Amelia also brought home the bowling award for the most wickets in the tournament (10 @ 5.0).
Thank you to everyone @lmtccspain & @teamtravelmanagement for a great week.
@berkhamstedschools @berkhamstedgirls @hertswomenscricket @hertscricket
After a brilliant performance in the final, our U15 netball team were crowned champions in the School Sport Magazine National Cup. A huge well done to them all at the end of a very successful season. 🏆 🤩🔥#teamberko @berkhamstedschools @berkhamstedgirls
Today saw the final session of our winter programme:
From masterclasses, age group sessions, batting and spin bowling 121’s, wicket keeping club and fast bowling group – We’ve hit, bowled, caught and thrown more balls than ever before. We can’t wait for the season to start! 🏏 #TeamBerko
@berkhamstedschools @berkhamstedboys @berkhamstedgirls
We love introducing our @berkhamstedprep girls to one of our favourite sports! With so many opportunities for everyone to learn new skills while having loads of fun with friends means that they are ready to hit the ground running when they join @berkhamstedgirls 🤩🥍🙌☀️
Well done to our U13 and U15 girls cricket teams who, after coming through the qualifying rounds, were today crowned Hertfordshire indoor champions and progress onto the @englandcricket regional competition.
Thank you to @hertscricket for organising another great day of cricket.
@berkhamstedschools @berkhamstedgirls 🏏 🏆
Congratulations to our 1VII who finished runners up at the Surrey 7s. The players showed outstanding determination and worked really well as a team. A fantastic achievement with some of the very best schools around on the 7s circuit. We look forward to Rosslyn Park 7s @nextgenxv @berkhamstedschools
Huge congratulations to our U19 squad on their silver medal at the 2025 National Schools Netball Finals. An incredible achievement for this squad, their families and the coaching team after a gruelling day of competition. Well done to @hartpurynetball on their brilliant performance in the final and a massive thank you to @englandnetball for the quality event at EIS – Sheffield. #teamberko @berkhamstedschools
Staff Training with Tamsin Greenway! 🏐
This week, our sports staff had the incredible opportunity to learn from former @englandnetball player and @ldnmavericksnetball Director of Netball, @tamsingreenway !
Tamsin led an engaging CPD session at our Knox-Johnston Sports Centre, putting our teachers through their paces with drills and games designed to enhance netball performance. But it wasn’t just about netball—our staff developed transferable skills in movement, space awareness, communication, and coordination, benefitting all sports across our curriculum.
A huge thank you to Tamsin for sharing her expertise! 👏 Our partnership with @ldnmavericksnetball is invaluable in supporting both our staff and pupils, inspiring future athletes and growing confidence in sport. 💪
U13 National Schools Lacrosse Champions 🏆🥇 despite it being the first time attending the National tournament, the team’s maturity, composure and teamwork was outstanding! After topping their pool in the morning, the squad convincingly made their way to the final after scoring a plethora of excellent goals. During the final, the girls demonstrated their flare, fitness and fantastic finishing which led them to a 5-2 win! Congratulations to everyone involved! 👏🏼👏🏼 #teamberko @berkhamstedgirls @berkhamstedschools
U15 National Schools Lacrosse Champions! 🥇🏆After an incredible Lacrosse season, the girls were prepared to battle hard at the tournament. As the day progressed out of the pool stages, the girls pulled together as a team to produce some excellent, composed performances which saw them through to the final against Putney. After 3 periods of overtime, a yellow card for each team and many shots on goal, the girls came out victorious! Huge congratulations to the whole squad! 👏🏼 #teamberko @berkhamstedgirls @berkhamstedschools @englandlacrosse
Thank you @mpsportsphoto for the incredible photos!
International Watch!
Huge congratulations to Logan, Charlie and Oli, who have been included in an England U17 training camp today!
Well done all of you and good luck!
Old Berkhamstedian
Sam Brabazon
During school, old Berkhamstedian, doctor, and rugby enthusiast Sam Brabazon never imagined he’d go on to play for England Deaf Rugby in matches across the globe.
After discovering he had hearing loss during university, Sam has travelled across the world to represent England, taking on the England Deaf Rugby World Championships in Argentina. Later this year, Sam looks forward to heading on tour to South Africa.
During his time at Berkhamsted, Sam was involved in all aspects of School life, from CCF to charity work, and even a little Eton Fives. These opportunities taught Sam the importance of getting out and serving others- a value he often draws upon in his career as a full-time doctor.
When asked what his advice would be for current pupils interested in pursuing sports after their school years, Sam says “I’d encourage anyone to keep going with sports as long as they can. Playing sports is such a great way to meet so many different people and make friends!”
Scholarships
There are a full range of scholarships available at for 11+ (Yr.7), 13+ (Yr.9) and 16+ (Sixth Form) entry and these can be supported by independent means tested bursaries.
Who can apply?
Sports Scholarships are awarded to pupils in recognition of sporting excellence, talent, and future potential. Pupils must have attained the entrance criteria for the School. Pupils who are in Year 11 at Berkhamsted are not eligible to apply for a scholarship for Berkhamsted Sixth.
All awards may be varied at the absolute discretion of the Principal.
After our published deadlines we may be able to consider truly exceptional candidates for a scholarship, on an individual basis, during the Lent term. This will be at the absolute discretion of the Principal.
How do I apply?
Registered pupils should complete the relevant application form on the School website, and provide any additional information requested. Year 7 and 9 applicants are expected to be stand out performers in their current sporting environment and show potential in the school’s main representative sports. Year 12 applicants are expected to have representative experience or its equivalent at county level or above and provide evidence of commitment to school sport. The Director of Sport will invite successful pupils for an assessment day. Pupils are assessed on the basis of their Sport CV and a practical assessment. In addition, there will be a panel interview, which will include the Director of Sport.
More information about Scholarships may be obtained from the Admissions Manager on the contact details below:
- Telephone: 01442 358001
- Email: admissions@Berkhamsted.com
Read more about our Scholarships and how to apply here
