The U15 Rugby team playing in an earlier round against Wolfreton School

Pocklington School U15 Rugby team have reached the final stages of the National Schools Competition (formally the NatWest) North Group as one of the final 16 teams in the Schools Cup Vase Competition.

Last year’s team also had a great run in this competition, making it all the way to the final of the Bowl competition, held at Sixways Stadium, the home of Worcester Warriors.

Mr Wareham, teacher in charge of Rugby at Pocklington School said: “The boys have done exceedingly well so far and we are naturally delighted that the legacy is being handed down, from one team to another.”

This year's success has been a long journey, literally, as every fixture has been away, so the boys have seen all four corners of Yorkshire, from Pontefract and in the last round Stockton on Tees, where they beat Egglescliffe School 41-7.

The team have really played very well, with over ten different try scorers so far and everyone playing and making a significant contribution to each game. This shows the depth of the squad and the high skill level they all possess. 

Several of the players are engaged in the club and school nomination process trialling for places in the Yorkshire Carnegie Elite England Rugby Developing Player Programme. They will be looking to join other Pocklington School players who are already part of the academy system, including Upper Sixth Form student, Ben Carlile, who has graduated into the North U18 England Squad.

Mr Wareham commented: "This is great news for the School and the players and is due to the hard work of the staff and the players incorporating school work with the training, to become better players as well as better students.”

He continued: “The players who deserve a lot of the credit are the players they train against in the squad, who don't make it to the A team, as they are always challenging and pushing the players.”

“Each session is very similar to a full on A game for its intensity and quality. It is no surprise that the U15B team have a great record this season against other schools. It shows the direction the whole rugby program is taking. I have coached several England U16 teams and a lot of these Pocklington players show similar skills and abilities to those players, Owen Farrell and George Ford to name just two". 

Elite Director of U15 Rugby at Pocklington School, Gareth Hughes, commented: "It has been highly rewarding to once again be coaching a group of boys enjoying success in the National Schools Cup.  We have a number of players in this team who were U14 last year and enjoyed a taste of the run to the Bowl Final.  They are modelling the professional behaviours that we expect and thus providing leadership and standard-setting for the rest. This team is really that - a very promising TEAM - they play for each other."

Pocklington School’s Head of Athletic Coaching and Development and U15 rugby Head Coach, Jonathon Wheeler added: "Momentum is a key word this season.  This athletic, pace-laden group have gone on a great run recently whilst maintaining a commitment to progressive rugby.  All of it comes from them and we very much look forward to seeing what they can do in the New Year."

The U15s next challenge will be in the New Year, when they play the Northern Group B final against Worksop College, where a win will take them through to the quarter finals of the Vase Competition, as one of the last eight teams nationally.  We are all rooting for them! #courageandtruth