The school has performed superbly
the Player of the Year Award. All these boys have given so much to Dulwich College Rugby over the years and I hope they continue to play this great sport in the future. Other NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS Dulwich College v Bedford continues to be the longest continuous fixture in the schoolboy game. This year has seen the introduction of The Sharp-Beasley Cup named after the respective 1 st XV captains of the first ever fixture back in 1881, which ended in a dramatic draw. The Cup is de- cided by which school wins the most games from U14s upwards. The first winners of the cup are Bedford by one game – showing how every game matters. It was a memorable day for both schools, with another chapter written in this great fixture. The school has performed superbly overall, with Dulwich achieving block wins against Harrow, Brighton College, Wellington College, The John Fisher, Tonbridge, RGS High Wycombe, St Paul’s, and Berkhamsted. This shows the depth and va- riety of the College. The U14Bs had an unbeaten season, playing some superb attacking rugby; the foundation of their success was brilliant defence. The Year 7 and Year 8 boys have had some fantas-
After half term, the 1 st XV played some of their best rugby of the season, losing in dramatic fash- ion 38-33 away at Tonbridge. Next up was RGS High Wycombe, who came to Dulwich on a wet afternoon with both teams’ defences on top form. Dulwich won this 15-12, which was testament to this group, who worked hard for one another, being brave with the ball in testing conditions. This result was RGS High Wycombe’s only defeat in their Saturday fixtures, and only their second defeat of the season. The last home game of the season was against St Paul’s. This was by far the best performance of the season where everything clicked. The boys played superb rugby, scoring fantastic tries, but also using their physicality to win the game 59–5: Dulwich’s biggest ever win over St Paul’s ever. Huge congratulations to all Senior Rugby players. In particular, George Crowley, Amartya Beesen, Seth Davidson-Petch, Charlie Pickering, Henry Gooderham, Antoine Andrews, Daniel Lassman, Will Davies, Ali Mulley, Michael Ijeh. Monty Pedrini received the Players’ Player of the Year for his tireless work ethic and, Tristan Saunders led the 1 st XV in a truly inspiring manner, receiving
2024/25 has been a memorable year for everyone associated with Dulwich College Rugby, past and present The Rugby report
A ll pupils, staff, and parents can be immen- sely proud of this season. More than 700 pupils were involved; 25 teams on average were out every Saturday; on some weekends 32 teams represented the great black-and-blue shirt, competing arguably on one of the toughest circuits in the schoolboy game. 1 st XV The 1 st XV had a memorable day on Saturday 21 September. In their first home game of the sea- son, they were presented their 1 st XV Shirts by Graham Ward OA (1st XV 1968). In the National Schools Cup, they lost in heartbreak fashion in
the last play to Whitgift. Nevertheless, the boys dusted themselves off and went to Edinburgh to compete in the Merchiston Castle School Festival – the first time Dulwich College have entered this tournament. This group showed everything great about Dulwich College Rugby over the weekend, playing a great brand of rugby and losing by two points to eventual winners, Merchiston Castle School in the Trophy quarter-final. Some onlook- ers stated this was the unofficial final. The boys won the plate competition with a fantastic win against Seaford College. I am sure the memory will live with the boys, staff, and parents for a very long time.
by Joe Quinn, Head of Rugby
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