Rector’s eNews 09: 11 March 2026

We have enjoyed a very good start to the year in our summer sports, with a number of encouraging performances across our teams and of course this past week was the start of our winter sports season.

Sport is an important and valued part of life at our school. It teaches our boys commitment, resilience, teamwork, and respect for others. Our sports fixtures are milestones in the further development of the positive, respectful relationships we enjoy with our many opposition schools. They are also occasions where our broader community gathers in support of the boys, and we are grateful for the enthusiasm and encouragement that parents and Old Boys bring to these events.

 

As we move towards the winter sports season, we are mindful that these fixtures often carry a greater level of intensity and emotion for players and spectators alike. It is therefore a good moment to reflect on the expectations we have of all members of our community as concerns our conduct on the sidelines.

Our coaches give generously of their time and energy to develop the boys, often committing many hours each week beyond the normal school day. Match officials such as referees and umpires, perform an essential role in enabling fixtures to take place and, particularly at school level, are often developing their own experience and confidence in officiating.

We therefore ask all to ensure that our conduct at sports fixtures reflects the values we seek to instil in our boys. This means supporting the team positively, respecting the decisions of match officials, and allowing coaches to fulfil their roles without sideline commentary or criticism. Sport inevitably involves moments of disappointment and disagreement, but how adults respond in these moments is closely observed by the boys. We have a responsibility to model composure, respect, and sportsmanship, even when emotions run high.

As a school we are proud of the fact that our boys are coached by men and women who are involved in all aspects of their lives – as teachers, tutors, Housemasters etc. Our coaches know our boys at a personal level, and they know them beyond their abilities to scrum, kick, pass or drag-flick. We are also proud that so many of our staff are involved in coaching, managing and officiating at provincial and even national levels. While this involvement comes at a personal cost to their free time, their involvement further develops them and benefits the other coaches, the boys and the club as a whole. We take this opportunity to thank all of our coaches and managers for the opportunities they create for our boys to have fun while developing their skills.

If parents have concerns about any aspect of a sports programme, the appropriate approach is to raise these directly with the school through the proper channels rather than during or immediately after a fixture.

Thank you for the role you play in supporting the boys and helping to maintain the positive and respectful sporting environment that we value so highly.

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