Now the 2024-25 rugby season has concluded, Sam Fox, Head of Rugby at Pocklington School, shares insights on the achievements of Pocklington School’s rugby programme during the Lent term.
Delivering a positive experience for every player...
“As the Lent term ended, it offered an opportunity to reflect on what was a rollercoaster 12 weeks, and how we used them to develop our rugby provision.
Our main goal as rugby staff is always ‘impact’. How can we have the most positive impact on the players in our care, the parents on the sidelines and the wider community?
Throughout the Lent term, we strived to create this impact in numerous ways, including hosting five sevens and tens competitions, that featured over 500 players from 15 different schools.
We competed in more than 18 sevens competitions across Yorkshire and beyond, with pupils from Years 6 to 13 all competing.
We delivered a rugby programme that stretched far beyond our traditional two-hour games slot. This included strength and conditioning training, lunchtime and after-school rugby, multiple one-on-one player sessions, and much more.
Taking our provision further afield, we took players on trips to watch the England team train at the LNER stadium in York, followed by watching them compete against Italy in the Six Nations at Twickenham.
And, of course, we attended the Rosslyn Park National School Sevens tournament, which offered our pupils a brilliant opportunity to play against some of the best teams in the country.
Additionally, I’m proud of the four pupils who have represented Yorkshire Rugby Academy, those involved with the county’s developing players programme, and our pupils who represent their Colts teams on Sundays, with two recently earning trophies.
As always, I’m grateful for the opportunities we have to develop our players and the team of dedicated staff I work alongside. I hope we can continue to make choices that positively impact those around us and fingers crossed for continued good weather this Summer term!”
"Our goal is always to deliver a positive experience for every player, no matter their entry point into the game or their individual ambitions."
Sam Fox
- Head of Rugby, Pocklington School
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