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St Edward’s:
150 Years
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the boys’ skills, decision making and tactical awareness. Now
we train to beat the opposition at the basic skills. With the
advent of professionalism in the game the Rugby Club has
also moved with the times. A large number of the coaches
within the School are professionally qualified at one level
or another and there is a very high level of enthusiasm and
dedication amongst the teachers involved. Physiotherapists and
strength and conditioning coaches monitor the physical side
of the game, and video analysis helps players reflect on their
performances long after the final whistle has gone.
Rugby flourishes beyond the School for St Edward’s
pupils. In 1884 the OSE Rugby Club (later the Martyrs)
formed and ever since has been providing rugby for OSE.
Upper 1 has been the backdrop for numerous epic games
that have illustrated the bravery, courage and passion of
Teddies boys. For many the thrill of playing on Upper 1 to
a packed crowd is still their proudest and most exhilarating
rugby moment. The pitch, cared for by Bob Bowerman for
nearly 40 years, is the envy of many schools, and when
England trained here under Martin Johnson, Jonny Wilkinson
remarked, ‘This is a good pitch.’
Rugby offers the pupils of St Edward’s more than just a
game. It provides them with an opportunity to experience
leadership, camaraderie, team work, pride and passion in the
long-standing tradition of rugby at Teddies.
Mark Hanslip
Master in Charge of Rugby
in the School’s history, 1968–98 with some gaps, and as such
he was the School’s longest-serving coach, much admired
and appreciated by his players and a wonderful writer in
the
Chronicle
. Likewise Arthur Tilly was a long-serving, very
emotional coach often at odds with his captain and needing
the tactful intervention of his No 2, George Mallaby, to calm
things down. Derek Henderson and Brian ‘Gusty’ Gale were
also a very well-respected double act and successful in their
own right as well. Each generation has its own favourites.
There have been 30 young men who have either trialled
for England, played for England or been capped internationally
at rugby. The most recent, James Forrester (A, 1994–9), also
known as ‘Jango’, won two caps in the 2002–3 season and
probably only injury prevented him from going to the 2003
World Cup and winning more caps. This is a far cry from H.M.
Ingledew (1877–94), who played for Cardiff and Wales. There
was no World Cup in his day, though he was the first Teddies’
International rugby player. There has for a long time been a very
favourable and amicable relationship with Oxford University
Rugby Club and its light blue rival. Even to this day the Common
Room has four former Blues and St Edward’s’ has contributed 33
players to the Varsity Rugby game at Twickenham over the years.
As time has passed the ethos has changed from one of
organisation and planned moves to developing and enhancing
Right (above): Rugby XV vs Wellington College, Upper One, 2000.
Right (below): Oliver Hargreaves steering the Teddies XV driving maul on
Upper One vs Stowe, 2007.
Below right: J. Forrester playing for Gloucester.
Below left: The second unbeaten XV, 1975.
SOME RUGBY FACTS
1875: School XV adopted red andblue hooped shirts – caps with
tassels to match!
1884: First OSE Rugby Club (later the Martyrs) formed. Based in
London.
1893: First Senior Rugby Football Cup presented by Warden
Hobson and his sisters to be competed for by senior boys in
the Tutorial Sets.
1902: First Junior Rugby Football CuppresentedbyH.K. Richards
KC for junior boys in the Tutorial Sets.
1911: Upper 1 procured for the School (freehold)
1913: Five OSE played for the all-conquering Harlequins XV
including the captain Noel Hudson. In a match against the
London Irish, the whole back line and the full back were OSE.
1924: First Oxford OSE Rugby Club formed.
1925:BoardingHousesreplaceTutorialSetsandbeginmanyeras
of keenly contested House matches.
1936:FoundationofStEdward’sMartyrs,amalgamatingallsports
under one banner.
1940: Adoption of Blue shirts, black shorts and yellow socks as
1st XV colours.
1960: Both 1st and 2nd XV go through a season undefeated –
a record never surpassed.
1975: 1st XV undefeated.
1980: 1st XV win Douai Tournament for the first time.
Gabriel Lowe passing the ball while playing for the XV vs Rugby
School, 2006.
Chapter 7 / Sport and Outdoors