Rugby World “Player of the Month”

College 1st  XV No 8 Rupert Cooper has been awarded “Player of the Month” for one of rugby’s leading magazines, Rugby World. Described as “the most impressive player I’ve seen in 36 years of coaching” by his school coach, Bob Kisby, the 18 year old team captain is highly rated for his excellent tackling, handling and leadership skills. Cooper also caught the attention of All Black legends Murray Mexted and Frank Bunce who singled him out as a star on a recent New Zealand International Rugby Course.

Unbeaten season twice over

With the potential to follow in the footsteps of a former Bishop's Stortford College player, Ben Clarke, who went on to play for England, Rupert Cooper has successfully led the College 1st XV in an unbeaten season which placed BSC top of the “Great Unbeaten” 1st XV for the highest point score with a ranking of 6th in the national league featured on the School’s Rugby Website. There were clear victories over Colchester R.G.S., Bedford, Felsted and Mill Hill but the best performance came on tour in Ireland when they beat St Munchin’s College, Limerick, despite the opposition fielding two U18 internationals and numerous Munster players.

The Bishop's Stortford College team also includes flanker Matthew Livingstone-Chambers, who is in the divisional schools U16 squad and Oliver Forest, who has been a part of England U18 training squads.

The Junior School U11s

This team also enjoyed an unbeaten season, amassing a staggering 700 points with not one point against. 

There were emphatic victories over Felsted (60-0), Bedford (50-0), Greshams (24-0) and also at the sevens tournament at Bilton Grange School. The team have been superbly led by captain George Felgate, and front row colleague, Tom Woolstencroft, at prop has caught the eye week after week in both attack and defence. Speedster Joss Linney has scored over 30 tries whilst kicker James Orbart has a conversion record of which Jonny Wilkinson would be proud! “The key to the team’s success has been a passion for success, the like of which I have never worked with before; a collective belief in the ability of those around them; some superbly talented individuals and a willingness to learn new skills and apply them in match situations,” said their coach, Mike Crossley.