The first three schools that will take part in this years Powder Byrne Schools Six Nations have been announced.
London Scottish are pleased to reveal three of the schools who will be taking part in this years Powder Byrne Schools Six Nations tournament. The first three schools are Lycee De Borda Dax from France, Scotland's famous Fettes College and the Royal Grammar School from Guildford.
Lycee De Borda Dax
The school’s name comes from 'The Knight' Jean Charles de Borda (born in Dax in 1733 and died in Paris in 1799). He was a mathematician, a meteorologist and a surveyor but he was mostly interested in navigation and made several trips around the world by boat. His research between sea and sky led him to imagine the famous 'circle of reflexion' called 'circle de Borda' to calculate longitude and latitude and to measure angles of 180 degrees. The School’s emblem represents a ship, a symbol of this Broda’s progress which revolutionized the French Navy.
The titles of being French School Rugby Champions are part of the Lycée de Borda’s history, remembered in particular by the first one won by the school’s first 15 a-side team on April 14th 1918. To present, the school has been French School Champions 22 times ( and twice with the girls team), the last one coming last year. In 2009, the school was invited to participate in the Sanix World Rugby Tournament in Japan and were delighted to win the tournament, becoming school world champions. Some famous international French rugby players have played for our school rugby team including André Boniface, Thierry Lacroix, Raphaël Ibanez and Richard Dourthe.
Fettes College
Fettes College has a proud rugby tradition with a wealth of players competing for club, university, district and national teams. The College give all their players the opportunity to develop their natural potential, empowering them to compete at the highest level possible. As well as expert, enthusiastic coaching, they organise a range of competitive fixtures played against both independent, state schools and local clubs. Their state of the art indoor training facilities and extensive playing fields are augmented by innovative monitoring techniques, specialist sports psychology and nutritional expertise in order to provide a holistic training programme.
An ambitious tour to Australia took place in July 2011 with other recent tours including Chile, Argentina and South Africa. The 1st XV compete in the Scottish Schools U18 Cup (which they won at Murrayfield in 2008 in front of 5,500 very noisy and colourful spectators). Seven-a-side continues to grow in popularity with teams entering a range of high profile competitions. Recent wins include Merchiston in 2007, 2001 and 2000, CCF in 2006 and Goldenacre 2006. Former students include Christopher Kinloch (Scotland U18, U19 Glasgow Warriors), Mungo Strachan (Scotland U17), Ross Turner (Scotland under 18), Sam Hunt (Cambridge) and Tommy Spinks (Scotland U20 and London Scottish).
RGS Guildford
The Royal Grammar School Guildford has a strong and proud rugby tradition. The school were the inaugural winners of the U15 Daily Mail Cup and can often be found competing well into the second day of the Rosslyn Park Sevens Festival. Recent old boys Mark Lambert and Jack Clifford play professional rugby at Harlequins with Jack now also captaining the England U20’s side. RGS Rugby is as much about participation as it is performance and the school is proud to field upwards of 20 teams each Saturday in the Michaelmas Term.
Three more teams will be announced tomorrow. For further information on this years tournament, please visit www.schools6nations.co.uk.
