Rosslyn Park National Rugby Sevens

Abingdon School’s 1st VII rugby team has achieved a historic milestone this term, finishing in the top 20 at the prestigious Rosslyn Park National Schools Sevens tournament. As the largest and most renowned event in the school rugby calendar, Rosslyn Park attracts over 14,000 boys and girls from more than 300 schools, with participants ranging from 13 to 18 years old.

Abingdon’s U14 and U16 squads also took part, gaining valuable experience in this national competition. The U16 team performed admirably, winning two of their three group matches and laying a strong foundation for future senior teams.

The 1st VII’s journey was nothing short of extraordinary, advancing to the second day of the competition and ultimately securing a top-20 finish in the main Open Cup competition—marking the best-ever performance by an Abingdon team in the tournament’s history.

Their campaign began with a series of group matches on day one against Bedford School, Cardiff and Vale College, Hartpury College, and Clifton College. A dramatic final-play score against Clifton College in their fourth match secured Abingdon’s 1st VII a place in the Cup competition’s second day for the first time ever.

The following day brought tougher competition, with strong performances against Dulwich College and Woodhouse Grove, despite narrow defeats. However, the team demonstrated remarkable resilience, securing a standout victory over Trinity School. Their commitment to teamwork, improvement, and determination shone through, earning them third place in their knockout group and an impressive top-20 finish nationally.

The passion, dedication, and perseverance displayed by the 1st VII throughout the tournament are an inspiration to all involved in rugby at Abingdon School. This exceptional achievement sets a new benchmark for future 1st VII rugby teams and highlights the growing strength of the school’s rugby programme. With nine members of this year’s 1st VII squad in the Lower Sixth, the future of Rugby Sevens at Abingdon looks incredibly promising.