Rugby at MTS

We are fast approaching a huge event in the rugby calendar, the Six Nations Championship. The tournament is the oldest tournament in any sport between the home nations which first started in 1883. With Rugby so prominently in the headlines, we wanted to talk about the history of Taylors' Rugby and the benefits that it still delivers to boys physical development.
It is also one of the few remaining events that is on free-to-air television, so please do look out for it. You can also watch “Six Nations: Full Contact”, a behind-the-scenes documentary on Netflix.
However, with such a huge profile, it is also around this time of year that various articles will be written regarding the safety of the sport, particularly for young people and its place in schools.
Rugby Values
Rugby has managed to hold on to strong values of teamwork, respect, enjoyment, discipline and sportsmanship. It is a sport that seeks to be welcoming to all shapes and sizes, thanks to different positional demands within the game. It is also works hard to be an inclusive sport for people from all walks of life. The sport still emphasises the importance of a friendly handshake at the final whistle, to demonstrate mutual respect and enjoyment of the sport. Such gentlemanly values align well with life at Merchant Taylors’ and help to provide manners and life skills that can assist our pupils far beyond their time at Sandy Lodge.
Rugby Safety at Merchant Taylors’ School
The welfare of our pupils is always a priority and we always prioritise safety. Firstly, pupils are not forced to do contact rugby. We offer a non-contact version which can keep the boys engaged with the physical benefits of the sport without the concern regarding tackling and rucking.
We are proud of the quality of our coaching with experienced, qualified staff who know how best to progress pupils in accordance with their physical and psychological maturation, revisiting technique to minimise the chance of injury. Technique remains an important aspect of contact sports, with rugby introducing a recent tackle height law to limit the dangers of concussion. The provision for our boys through preseason, rugby training sessions and athletic development gives them the best opportunity to by physically prepared and robust for contact rugby. With Mr Bruce and Mr Tod, we have nationally respected staff who can help to prepare boys for sport, whilst also providing guidance on injury management and recovery with the assistance of our school physiotherapist.
There is no doubt that concussion is a concern in sports across the globe, so we have been proactive in working with Return2Play who are concussion specialists. This arrangement allows us to monitor injury trends at school, as well as provide superb support for our pupils. In the event of a suspected concussion, parents will be emailed and given access to book appointments with a consultant who can oversee the safe return to play for that pupil. Staff also complete the Headcase concussion training so that we can all recognise the signs and symptoms and what measures to take if we suspect a concussion. In such cases, pupils will be immediately removed from the field to avoid any further risk.
As captivating as both professional and international rugby can be, what we see on television is a long way from the form of the game in schools. The athletes at the top of the game are there because of physical and genetic advantages, alongside years of training. Whilst still quick and skilful, school rugby continues to prioritise pupil welfare above competitive outcome.
Our History of Rugby
Sport has long been at the heart of MTS identity. Headmaster Richard Mulcaster was a pioneer in promoting the educational benefits of sport, with rugby at the school starting in 1859 and the first recorded match taking place in 1861. Indeed, Merchant Taylors’ was one of only two schools present at the founding of the Rugby Football Union in 1871. This is a history that we should be incredibly proud of and we remain keen to take the lead as we move into the future.
The rugby programme at MTS focuses on player-centred development to cater for both participation and performance. This long-term development is founded on three pillars:
Competence – developing technical, tactical, physical and psychological skills.
Connection – fostering enjoyment, teamwork and unforgettable shared experiences.
‘Do more, be more’ – providing boys the opportunity to have autonomy and ownership whilst demonstrating and developing leadership skills.
The fixture card is carefully curated to ensure that boys play a variety of opposition and pass through various developmental opportunities as they move up in the school. This includes the U15 Cup, voluntary self-assessment and skills sessions, 7-a-side rugby, Academy selection and tours. In July 2024, sixty four MTS pupils undertook a fantastic rugby tour to Canada. The relationships forged in this two week trip still shine through among our Sixth Formers.
Rugby Week
Rugby Week is the jewel in the crown of Rugby at MTS and is the only event of its kind in the country. Every single team at MTS has the opportunity to play under lights from Monday to Friday, culminating in the high profile Friday Night Lights game for the 1st XV. With over a thousand pupils playing on our pitches over the course of the week, it is a wonderful event.
Performance Rugby
For our aspirational players, we have excellent relationships with the local Academies. I am personally involved with Saracens running the North London site, and it is always a pleasure to see the way our boys conduct themselves in that environment. We also have a strong relationship with Ealing Trailfinders, who also run their Elite Pathway. In addition to these programmes, there are opportunities with Middlesex County and the Lambs representative side. We will always do everything we can to support our most talented boys to thrive in these environments and help them to navigate the busy schedules that come their way as they get older.
My Story
Given all of the above, and my position as Director of Rugby, it is probably useful to share my own story. I grew up always playing football and rugby, with the round ball remaining my undoubted preference until I was 15. Suddenly, rugby took over and I never looked back.
I was fortunate to grow up in a strong rugby school with inspirational staff, and soon progressed on to an excellent sporting university. In truth, this came as a bit of a shock and I didn’t enjoy the rugby ‘culture’ at all. I stopped playing at Christmas of my first year and chose not to play at all in my second or final year. It was only after graduation that I helped to set up a club with my school friends, an endeavour which saw us rocket up the leagues quickly. The club is still playing at Level 6 to this day.
I believe (in many environments), that the stereotypical rugby culture I experienced has significantly improved, and is now far more open, welcoming and inclusive; certainly I remain motivated to be purposeful with facilitating a positive and inspiring rugby culture wherever I work. Rugby has given me lifelong friends, sharing unforgettable experiences from the cold, wet British countryside to the Schools World Cup in Japan and the fields of Yale University. MTS is incredibly special in the sheer volume of activities that will allow our boys to find their passion, whatever that may be. However, I do hope that those who play rugby here will leave with memories, skills and values that will stay with them long into the future.
Open Door
If you ever have any questions, concerns or feedback then don’t hesitate to get in touch ejc@mtsn.org.uk
Mr E Conway
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