Rugby remains the main sport for boys at College during the Autumn Term and we are currently able to field 16 teams on a match day afternoon. There are five teams at U18 level, three sides at U16 level and four sides at both U15 and U14 levels. The fixture list continues to provide the boys at College with the opportunity to compete at the highest level with many of the traditional school fixtures still remaining. It is a testament to the place of the game here that a school with 380 boys can still compete with much a number of larger all boys schools. The U15 side also take part in the Daily Mail Cup competition.

College sides have a reputation for free flowing and skilful rugby that harks back to the original ideals of the sides in the late 1800s. Indeed the 2008 season saw the College XV record it’s first unbeaten season for 51 years playing an exciting brand of 15 man rugby. The highlight of the 2010 season was the 50-24 victory at Radley.

There is a real emphasis on skill development throughout the age groups enabling players to make the most the opportunities that arise. The College strongly supports the local district rugby structure and boys regularly represent the area sides and the full Gloucestershire county sides. Strong links have been developed with the regions Premiership clubs and there we currently have 8 College boys  in the Gloucester Rugby Academy. Three College boys were also selected to be part of the Independent School Barbarians tour to Zimbabwe at the end of the 2010 season.

The Spring Term sees the game of Sevens take over and College has an enviable record in the shortened form of the game. Tournaments take place throughout the term for all age groups culminating in the National Schools Sevens at the end of the term. The U18 Festival Tournament for one term rugby schools is keenly contested and College teams regularly appear in the latter stages with the most recent victories coming in 2003 and 2004. The 2010 squad reached the last eight of a tournament with over 100 teams entered at the start.

For an insight into the history of rugby at Cheltenham College click here