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Sedbergh School Football Club (now known more commonly as Sedbergh School Rugby Football Club) was founded in 1879 and celebrates its 125th anniversary in 2004.

Over the last 125 years Sedbergh rugby has had many highs -- with 32 Old Sedberghians gaining international caps with England, Scotland and Ireland and many more obtaining schoolboy caps. Sedbergh sides have had many unbeaten seasons and the last decade has brought much success with increasing numbers being selected for their counties and their country.

In the junior years at Sedbergh, boys are taught a full range of skills, with the emphasis being plcaed on safety and mastering the basics. In each year group we have three teams and everybody wanting to play is given a chance to do so. Emphasis is placed on enjoying the game and each session is planned to challenge the players and have a large element of fun.

As the boys move up the School their basic skills are gradually supplemented with more complex concepts as their own understanding of the game grows. Boys are encouraged to practise skills specific to their position both in their own time and in organised positional clinics held by a coach who is an expert in that position. For instance, three times a term all the scrum halves in the club will meet for a clinic with the coach and the older boys helping the younger boys. In the sixth form we run 6 senior teams -- the first four regularly playing every week.

The Michaelmas term is now composed of the strongest fixture list the school has ever had -- with the best teams in the North being played along with the best schools in Scotland and the Midlands. In the last week of this term we travel to a different area of Britain with our 1st XV to test ourselves against the best in the UK. Previous trips have gone to Millfield, Wellington College (Berkshire) and LLandovery. At the same time our junior teams also go on tour -- recent trips to Scotland and the South West have ben very successful.

After Christmas a Development team is run until half term, from which it is expected the core of the following season's 1st XV will be drawn. From half term all years play sevens, preparing for regional and national tournaments. The sevens season comes to a head when we take our U16 and 1st VII to the Nationals at Rosslyn Park. In 2000 our 1st VII became National Champions in winning the prestigious Open Tournament. The season concludes with the Sedbergh Super Tens -- a 10-a-side tournament featuring the best schools in Britain and sponsored by the Army.

At Sedbergh we play a very open fluid style of rugby -- players are encouraged to keep the ball in hand and develop their attacking skills. This style is found throughout the school along with other values such as fair play, respect for traditions and the opposition and, above all else, enjoyment.

Major Tournaments won since 2000
2003
Mount St Mary's Sevens
Birkenhead School Invitation Sevens

2002
Mount St Mary's Sevens
Cumbria U18 Sevens

2001
Mount St Mary's Sevens
North of England Sevens

2000
Mount St Mary's Sevens
Rosslyn Park National Sevens (Open)
Stonyhurst Sevens
North of England Sevens
The Super Tens (ten-a-side)

Full International Caps:

Stevenson
Hodges
Shaw
McIldowie
Scott
Pickering
Turner
Scholfield
Bruce Lockhart J
Maxwell
Wavell Wakefield
Atkinson
Douty
Waide
Forrest
Watherston
Wright
Melville
Dorward TF
Bruce Lockhart L
Braithwaite-Exley
Kininmonth
Dorward A
McClung
Peart
Sangwin
Biggar A
Spencer
Biggar M
Carling
Greenwood
Simpson-Daniel