By Rugby EXCO ’25
Adapted from CCA Previews ’25
Would you like a place to be one with yourself after a day’s worth of schoolwork? Or, a team you can call your own? Then, Rugby may be the sport for you.
Rugby Union is a 60-minute game, consisting of 15 on-field players, 8 substitutes, and 3 total referees who oversee the game. Though rugby comes in various formats (15 aside, 7 aside, 10 aside), our A-Division is centred around the 15s format, which would thus make it the focal point of our training sessions. However, given the various other smaller competitions throughout the year, we may shift our focus over to either 7s or 10s once the main season ends.
Aside from the A-Div season, other major events/competitions include the annual Kiwi Cup, hosted by either RI or Saint Andrew’s Junior College, where the best players from these rival schools face off against each other in a nail-biting match that determines the team which gets to take the Cup home for the year (it is currently with RI).
The Kiwi Cup takes place every January, and as part of their orientation camp, the newly inducted Y1s will all be watching the match. Aside from this, we also have other tournaments throughout the year. These include the SCC 7s, Saints 7s, Raffles 10s and a few others.
Though it would be favourable, the Rugby CCA requires no prior experience or prerequisites, as our sessions cover all the basics before moving on to more advanced skills and tactics.
Regular training takes place on Tuesdays, 4.30pm-6.30pm, Thursdays, 4.30pm-6.30pm, and Saturdays, 8.00am-10.30am. However, take note that leading up to the competition season, training sessions will become increasingly gruelling. They take a heavy physical toll on players, as we would be simultaneously juggling our schoolwork. These 2–3 hour training sessions typically comprise a mix of skill work, strength and conditioning, fitness, and a variety of games in between. Training takes place at the Y1-4 rugby field located at the east end of the school.
Though it may get tough and disheartening at times, the camaraderie and friendships formed along the way get many of us through it. Through the blood and sweat we shed during the most enervating and exhaustive training sessions, we continue to push each other past our limits.
Rugby shows us what it truly means to be a team. It shows us that even when seemingly insurmountable odds are stacked against us, we always have a chance of winning it back. We look forward to having you.
