Schools roundup
MOUNT St Mary's College head of rugby Dylan Campbell believes school rugby in the UK is in a great place and has changed for the better in recent years.
Campbell's Derbyshire side are undefeated so far this season, with 13 wins from 13 and sit at the top of the Performance League.
However, Campbell is willing to put their undefeated run on the line to play the toughest schools out there, so his side can develop even further.
He said: “I never chase going undefeated in a season, undefeated is great but you're going to lose at some point.
“I always look to find harder games, so the more we win, the harder opposition I look for.
We'll try and challenge ourselves by picking up one or two more games after half term and hopefully against the top two or three sides in the country.
“You learn a hell of a lot more from losing a game against real top opposition.”
Campbell says his group isn't the most talented he's coached but it's the best team, in terms of their commitment.
The South African said: “No superstars but a bunch of kids that really buy into the system and are 100 per cent committed to what we are trying to do. This year's group of players are without a doubt the best team I've ever coached.”
Campbell believes he is coaching players that can go all the way in the sport.
He said: “Loose forward Flynn Jones is in my year 12s and in the Leicester Tigers programme. He's a kid who I've mentored a lot and someone I really believe can kick on and go far.
“My first team captain Josh Briggs is a hooker who plays for Yorkshire's U18s. He is massively dedicated and committed to the game and someone I definitely believe has the opportunity to make a career out of the game.”
Campbell believes schools rugby in the UK has changed for the better over the last few years.
He said: “It has changed massively since I've been in the UK. There's a huge amount of emphasis around schools being driven by sport and rugby specifically.
“Conditioning has become a huge part. A lot of private schools have been putting a lot of emphasis on rugby and strength and conditioning, so the collisions in schoolboy rugby have become a lot bigger and heavier.
“A lot of schools are investing quite heavily on ex-professionals leading their programmes or professional coaches like myself to come into their programmes.
“As a South African coming over to the UK four years ago I would probably say there was a massive divide between South African schoolboy rugby and UK rugby, but I genuinely believe the gap is closing rapidly between the two.”
Last month Berkhamsted School lifted the 2021 SOCS Daily Mail Schools Trophy after completing a magnificent unbeaten run last autumn.
Eight wins and a draw saw the Hertfordshire school become the fifth team to win the national competition since it was launched in 2013.
Berkhamsted achieved an average of 6.44 merit points per match which was marginally above Sedbergh's 6.22.
Completing the top five were third place St Benedict's of Ealing (6.20), prestigious rugby school Millfield (6.13) and fifth-placed Clifton (5.90).
