By Amanda Lim (25A01B), Chen Ying (25A01C) and Peh Zhi Ning (25A01B)

Pitted against the defending champions of eight years, Anglo-Chinese School (Independent) (ACSI), the odds were stacked against Raffles Institution’s (RI) Rugby team. Tensions were high at the National Stadium on Monday, 6 May, as supporters from both schools gathered to watch what was guaranteed to be a high-stakes match.

Resilience and Unity

If ACSI were to win, they would have defended their title for the ninth year in a row — but if RI, the “underdogs”, were to win, they would have successfully broken the eight-year win streak of their longtime rival, and achieved the coveted title of “champions”.

Rugby, with its relentless tackles and high-paced action, often makes it easy to get caught up in the chaos. However, behind the raw action of every try, tackle, and scrum are stories of dedication, camaraderie, and literal blood, sweat, and tears. 

Leading up to the finals, training sessions often led to moments of heightened tension, where mistakes seemed magnified and nerves ran high. As Aryan Singh (25S05A) put it, “The biggest problems faced in trainings are the mistakes you make. Sometimes in training, you drop the ball and tensions get high.”

Yet, despite the weight of expectations and the magnitude of the upcoming game, the team rallied together and remained resolute in their determination, embodying the true essence of camaraderie. As Aryan emphasised, “It’s not going to be an easy game. Tensions are high and we have a lot on the line, but we still have to remind each other that we are there for each other and that we’ll cover up each other’s mistakes.”

In a show of solidarity (or perhaps in preparation for National Service), the team adopted a unique pre-game ritual: initiating a head-shaving tradition. Aryan mentioned, “Some of them got their heads shaved by us. The ones who got shaved in school are really bad… it’s horrible.” But beyond the laughs, this act symbolised the team’s unity and unwavering determination to give their absolute best, especially in their rivalry against their fiercest opponents, ACSI.

When asked to give a message to his team in our pre-game interview, Aryan delivered a message guaranteed to hit harder than a perfectly executed tackle.

Their efforts, commendable and undeniable, echoed through every sweat-soaked practice and bond forged amidst the heat of the battle. Beyond the final verdict of the scoreboard, their dedication would shine brighter than the stadium lights, casting a lasting glow that would endure long after the clock had ticked to zero.

Grit

In the blink of an eye, it was time for the game to start. ACSI started off strong and rapidly scored the first try. After that, the game quickly picked up with multiple rapid changes in possession. However, ACSI did not stay in the lead for long, as RI quickly closed the gap by scoring. The score was further evened by successfully scoring the conversion kick, which gained RI an extra two points, and ACSI and RI were almost tied at this point.

Things only got more intense as the game progressed, with the ball even flying into the stands at one point. Not long after, ACSI scored yet another try, but this time, one of RI’s players managed to intercept the conversion kick, preventing ACSI from earning an extra two points. The first half ended on this high point of tension, with RI standing at 7 points and ACSI at 8.

As the second half started, it quickly became clear how determined the RI ruggers were. Even as sweat poured down their bruised faces, they powered on. Muscle, tendon, brain were all in tandem, through every second of the intense game. The supporters were on the edge of their seats, the 7-8 score remaining resolutely on the screen. That is until a sudden stop in the game jolted everyone out of their focus. 

Bravery and Yearning

At 22 minutes in the game, an RI rugger was hit in the face, the first in a series of injuries. The game came to a pause as medics ran to check on him, and the atmosphere in the supporters’ stands rapidly declined. The RI players, evidently concerned, paced back and forth on the field, giving the medics space to check on their friend.

After a few minutes, the RI rugger slowly recovered, as did the mood in the stands. The councillors quickly led the supporters in “Let’s Go Raffles”, buoying the players and the supporters back up. Soon, the game started back up with a scrum on the RI goalside. Despite a fierce effort from the RI team, ACS(I) gained possession of the ball. 

Play was intense, filled with elbows, hands, and knees, up till ACS(I) scored another try, making the score 13-7 with 9 minutes remaining. Despite RI’s best efforts, ACS(I) scored yet another try with 5 minutes remaining, making the free kick, and the score became 20-7. 

At this point, it became apparent that there was little chance that RI could win. With a lead of 13 points and only 5 minutes remaining of play, it was highly likely that ACS(I) would be bringing the trophy back home once more. Under such circumstances, one would expect the RI team to give up, to pack up their shoes and Salonpas, to throw in their towels.

But they didn’t. 

Intertwining ferocity and determination, the players fought harder than ever, even as the seconds ticked down to the end of the game. Just as the game was about to end, RI scored a try, making the score 20-12. It would be hard to describe the atmosphere in the stadium, particularly on the RI side. 

A collective sense of joy, melancholy, admiration, disappointment, camaraderie… The mood was truly bittersweet.

However, there was still one last thing to do; the free kick. Warming himself up, the kicker stepped up to the plate. The stadium was silent as he prepared himself for the final kick. That is, until the ACS(I) players, having missed the cue, ran towards him too early.

Focus is essential for a free kick. For the pressure of a whole stadium, of your team, of your own hope to be levied upon you, a single person—to have your focus broken in such a manner is disastrous.

Despite their best efforts, RI missed the free kick, finishing the game with a score of 20-12. 

RI had sent ~300 supporters, a fraction of ACS(I)’s number of ~3000 supporters, as they had sent their whole school. However, the RI supporters’ cheers still rang loud and clear through the stadium, casting the familiar strains of Unite across the stands. 

While RI may have lost, the players’ determination and tenacity stuck with us. They could have easily chosen to give up, but they fought on with every vestige of their energy. Regardless of the outcome, the friendships forged through this will no doubt be long-lasting. 

To our players, thank you for your hard work and determination. We would like to leave you with a final message from your teammate.

Images courtesy of Leo Huang  (3H, RI Y1-4)