Best Boarding Schools for Rugby
Our shortlist — 20 schools
Ranked by the strength of each school's genuine, evidenced specialism — not by fee or popularity.
Campbell College Belfast
Campbell has rightly gained national recognition for the strength and success of its teams
Dollar Academy
Dollar has one of the best rugby programmes in the UK with teams playing in the top national conference (tied 1st in 2018)
Merchiston Castle
Merchiston has produced 24 international cricket players, 60 international rugby players and Olympians too.
Rishworth
Elite academies in Rugby, Football and Badminton sit alongside international success in fencing, equestrianism and pentathlon.
Sedbergh
Will Carling; International Rugby player...former captain of England...Will Greenwood;...member of the 2003 World Cup-winning squad
St Joseph's College
Each year the College hosts the most prestigious boys rugby festival in the UK, being streamed online by over 55,000 people
Stonyhurst College
Stonyhurst is famous for its rugby and has long been a sporting option at Stonyhurst
Barnard Castle
Highlights from Barney's amazing Rugby cup run all the way to the final in London, 2023.
Bloxham
We regularly progress to the latter stages of national competitions in hockey and rugby, winning the U18 Schools Plate in 2019
Blundell's
the post-war years produced a clutch of internationals, most notably the rugby players Richard Sharp and Clem Thomas
Cheltenham College
When it comes to cricket and rugby, Cheltenham College is one of the oldest playing schools in the world
Christ College Brecon
Former Welsh and British & Irish Lions star Jonathan Davies joins the team as 'Coach of Elite Performance'
Denstone College
I joined Denstone College in Lower 6th as a weekly boarder after joining the Leicester Tigers Academy... selected to the U17's England rugby camp
Ellesmere College
a individually tailored academy and player pathway. Football Academy Golf Academy Swimming Academy Cricket Academy Tennis Academy Rugby Academy
Our shortlist is independent and based on each school's dedicated programmes, facilities and results — not paid placement. We'll always match your child's needs first: talk to us.
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