Norwich School has a long and proud tradition of playing rugby at all levels. Rugby is a dedicated timetabled sport for all junior pupils (Year 7 and Year 8) and becomes optional moving higher up the school. Touch rugby is also an option at all ages. In the Lent Term we shift to an optional Rugby 7’s programme for Year 9 and above. We have dedicated pitches at the Lower Close and our Redmayne Playing Fields on the Norwich Walsham Road. We also have 2 performance gymnasiums.

 

The fixtures circuit varies year on year but in the 2024 season, there are currently 163 Senior School rugby fixtures scheduled. Our teams play regular fixtures against local schools including Gresham’s School, Beeston Hall School, Glebe House Prep School, Town Close Prep School and Wymondham College. In addition, we have a busy schedule of wider regional and national fixtures against opponents including The Leys, The Perse, Royal Hospital School, St Joseph’s School, Ipswich School, Finborough School, Framlingham College, Felsted School, Gravesend Grammar School and Samual Whitbread Academy.

 

During the 2023/24 rugby season players went on tour to Denstone College, the Merchiston Rugby Festival in Edinburgh and the Rosslyn Park 7’s Tournament. Notable successes included pupils playing for local and national clubs including Norwich Rugby Club, North Walsham Rugby Club and the Leicester Tigers Training Academy. Although we don’t currently play girls rugby, Year 13 pupil, Ava deCooper Wride was also selected to represent Saracens U18 Rugby.

Sports News

Cross Country Champion Emi Muntingh

By Eleanor Lewis • January 30, 2026
Following Emi's success at the Norfolk Country Cross Country Championships we decided to ask her a few questions about her love of running and her upcoming London Mini Marathon. How long have you been running?/How long have you been running with the school? I have now been running for 3 years, and I have been competing for the school since Upper 3. How often do you run outside of school? I run with a training group 2-3 times a week depending on the dates of various competitions. How do you train?/How do you prepare for a race? I think that mental preparation is the most important, I use visualization which can help me enter an open mindset. And I think it is mainly accepting that it will have painful aspects, but the aftermath feels phenomenal. And physically preparing, is a matter of being consistent at training in my case. How did you find the Cross Country championships? The Cross Country Championships was certainly nerve-racking before hand, but I think the race went very smoothly and I left it all out on the course. And attempted to compete to the best of my abilities! Can you tell us a bit about the London Mini Marathon in April? Fortunately because of my performance at the County Championships I have been accepted to run at the London Mini Marathon! How are you feeling about it? As much as I am excited, there is no doubt I will be feeling nervous. But I think that it is a great opportunity, also to be surrounded by excellent runners! Where do you hope your running will take you? As of my running, I would like to compete at a high level but most of all I would love to continue to enjoy it! Because I truly believe if it is bringing you no satisfaction or joy, there is not a point in perusing it. What piece of advice would you give to aspiring cross country runners? For people who are aspiring to do cross-country as a sport, I would advise them to just have a go and give it a chance. Because if you are willing to give it a chance, you might just find that you will like it!

Norfolk Schools’ Cross Country Championships

By Eleanor Lewis • January 20, 2026
On Tuesday morning, ten of our runners took part in the Norfolk Schools’ Cross Country Championships at Wymondham College against the strongest runners in the county who had all qualified to compete. The course consisted of flat and fast laps around the playing fields and through the woods with plenty of mud making for challenging conditions. The target for each runner was to finish in the top 12 to qualify to represent Norfolk and six of our athletes achieved this. In the Minor Boys race, Joshua Bevan finished in 17th place, while in the Junior Girls Nona Griffiths came 24th. Our solo Intermediate Boy, Noah Buchan, was up against some very strong competition and did well to finish in the middle of the field in 45th position. Our best placed finisher on the day was Emi Muntingh who came 4th in her Junior Girls race. Ruby Ivie also qualified for a county vest by coming 5th in the Inter Girls.  In the Senior Girls race we had 4 athletes all vying for a top 12 place. The girls paced it perfectly and all qualified, with Minnie Andrews coming 6th, Bea Green 8th, Izzy Last 10th and Olivia Allen 12th. Congratulations to all who took part and good luck to those who will be racing for Norfolk in the Anglian Schools Championships in Northampton this weekend.

East Anglian Cross Country League

By Eleanor Lewis • January 10, 2026
Saturday 10 January saw the first round of the East Anglian Cross Country League, where 15 of our runners took to Gresham's muddy woods and exposed fields to race runners from Ipswich School, RHS and Gresham's. In the Junior Boys' race Joshua Bevan was our first runner home, finishing in 3rd place, while Henry Drew came 6th. We had strength in numbers in the Senior Boys' race and took 3rd, 4th , 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th and 9th positions! Leon Liu was fastest on the day, followed by Ethan Buskell in 4th and Jeremy Lo in 5th. Leo Pitt, Edward Lott, George Yiasimi and Tom Copley completed the strong team performance. The performance of the day came in the Senior Girls' race where, after some very bunched racing in the first half, Ruby Ivie emerged from the woods with an unassailable lead to win outright despite racing girls many years her senior. We took the top 5 places with Bea Green coming 2nd, Minnie Andrews 3rd, Amelie Ivie 4th and Izzy Last 5th. An extremely strong team performance was completed by Olivia Allen who came home in 8th place. This season promises to bring some silverware and we look forward to our next fixture this Saturday at Mousehold Heath. Saturday's fixture is open to any runner, in any year group. You do not have to be doing cross country for games to compete. If you are keen and available to run at Mousehold this coming Saturday afternoon do get in touch with Mr Hudson for more details. Sixth Form helpers are needed so please consider volunteering if available.
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