Rugby

The 2024 rugby season kicked off with a bang for our boys, who showcased their skills at various Midlands rugby festivals. Each age group took on the challenge at different venues: the U9s at Cowan House, U10s at Cordwalles, U11s at Howick, the 2nd squad at St. Charles, and the 1st squad at Merchiston. Our teams not only delivered strong performances on the field but also embodied our school's values off it, proving that sportsmanship is just as important as the scores.

Clifton rugby is known for playing with heart and a focus on dynamic running plays, which has become a signature style across all age groups. This season, our boys showcased their thrilling attacking moves and steadfast defense, demonstrating true warrior spirit and commitment to team goals set by our coaching staff. 

We kicked off the season with 18 boys participating in the St Stithian's Rugby Festival in Johannesburg, playing four matches in three days against St. David’s, The Ridge, Northlands, and Pridwin. Each game saw the team grow stronger and more cohesive.

Throughout the regular season, the unique culture of Clifton rugby shone in every hard-fought match. Guy Fyvie led  the 1st XV team as captain, with James Witherspoon as vice-captain. A highlight was the rekindled rivalry with Highbury, featuring eight teams from different age groups. Matches against Scottsville ended with four wins, three losses, and a draw. Another special event was our game against Howick & Laddsworth, cheered on by our hockey girls. The First XV had a solid season, suffering only three defeats. The season finale against Cordwalles at home was a tough 35-7 loss, but it was a valuable learning experience, especially for the 2nd XV players who stepped up. 

Our Interhouse competition saw Barbarians triumph in the U9, U10, and U11 categories, while Trojans dominated in the Open age group. The boys displayed great sportsmanship, managing the mismatches well.

Our rugby success extended beyond the school, with five boys, one coach, and one selector representing the Midlands in the inter-district tournament and KwaZulu-Natal trials. Guy Fyvie was selected for the Sharks Schools U13 squad, a notable achievement.

Despite a challenging season with many players sidelined due to injuries and IPT commitments, our cumulative performance was commendable. Across all age groups, we played 75 games, achieving 50 losses, 24 victories, and 1 draw. These stats, though, don't fully capture the spirit and growth our teams demonstrated throughout the season.