Coventry College prepare for huge tie in rugby competition debut

Coventry College’s young rugby stars are through to a national quarter-final after stringing together a five-match unbeaten run in their competition debut.

Coventry College have reached the last eight of the RFU Schools U18s Vase in their first appearance in the competition following four victories and a draw against regional opponents.

They will face Ipswich School at Broadstreet Rugby Club on Wednesday, December 15 after being drawn a home tie.

The team, which has scored 25 tries in its five cup fixtures so far, drew 10-10 against Oundle School from Peterborough in the RFU U18s Vase regional final held at Broadstreet Rugby Club, and progressed to the national quarter-final after scoring more tries than their Cambridgeshire opponents.

The result follows victories against King Edward VI School in Stratford-upon-Avon, Leicester Grammar School, Hereford College and Bishop Vesey’s Grammar School in Sutton Coldfield.

Coventry College’s Harry English has scored nine tries in the competition, including a hat trick against Bishop Vesey’s Grammar School in Round 4 to set up the tie against Oundle School.

The Coventry College Rugby Programme is run by Pete Glackin, who as well as being Head of Rugby at Coventry College, is also Head Coach of Birmingham Moseley Rugby Club in National League 1, and current England Counties Senior Assistant Coach.

Danny Wright, former Gloucester and England U20 player is also on the coaching staff and is a lecturer for Coventry College’s rugby programme, which is based at The Alan Higgs Centre in Coventry.

Pete said: “The competition has presented some great fixtures against a wide range of well-established rugby programmes and schools. Our players have really bought in to the competition and the games have been great contests.

“The current squad have not played a lot of rugby over the past two years and the cup has definitely rekindled their passion for the game and provided the players with a great experience.”

For more information about the Coventry College Rugby Programme visit https://www.coventrycollege.ac.uk/academy-of-sport/rugby/