SPORT
RUBGY
Michael Bacon (Year 13)
P erhaps I am a little biased, but I have always perceived Rugby to be Dulwich’s proudest tradition. Even those who don’t actively participate in the sport are interested and that following is what fuels the prestige surrounding Rugby at the school in my mind. You can gauge all you need to know from watching Year 9 preseason in any given year. A mass of humanity is assembled, with each individual desperate for the chance to represent his school. For these boys, such unfaltering commitment to the sport survives right through their time at the College, and I can say with confidence that my year group is testament to that fact. For many, as it was for me, the August prior to Year 9 was also the start of my Dulwich Rugby journey – and what a journey it has turned out to be for so many of us. It speaks volumes that, on every Saturday in the Michaelmas term, approximately 30 teams will be out battling in black and blue, doing right by Dulwich. That’s what people comment on most frequently: that Rugby at the College encourages unity and cohesion and that younger boys gradually learn what it means to be an Alleynian Rugby player via the example set by the older boys. In this way, Rugby has been a massive part of so many boys’ education here at Dulwich because it teaches things above and beyond what happens in the classroom. While this year’s 1st XV haven’t quite managed to hit the heights of recent years, Rugby hasn’t ceased growing as a sport within the school and its spirit remains as strong as ever within the community. That being said, there has been no shortage of quality Rugby played by those in black and blue on the 1st XV pitch this year. A record win over local rivals John Fisher saw at least half a dozen line breaks from Chris Annous, and the three best individual tries of the season undoubtedly came from Sam Fetherston for his efforts against Epsom, QEGS Wakefield and St. Joseph’s respectively. Meanwhile, despite our pack being consistently less bulky than the opposition, Year 13 boys Finn Hanrahan, Cameron Forbes, Rohan Mistry, Odi Oladuji and Jon Davies were relentless in their physicality, possibly following the example of inspirational fly half Adam Beese, who, at least in his last year of Dulwich Rugby, was never one to shy away from a hefty collision or two. It is this fighting mentality, so evident throughout the school, that assures me that we can undertake the toughest fixture list in the country and do more than just compete
week in week out across the board. It is also why I predict that Dulwich Rugby will continue to be successful in the future and I hope to be able to come back and see my prediction take shape as an OA. Finally, on behalf of all Rugby players at the school, enormous thanks must go to Mr Hanks, Mr Greenaway and the rest of the Rugby department for another thoroughly enjoyable year.
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