Writes Edd Conway, Director of Rugby
Merchant Taylors’ School is pleased to be finalising a partnership with Oxford University Rugby Club, a collaboration that reflects the strong and growing connection between our school and the University. We are proud to have four OMTs currently studying and playing rugby at Oxford, including Harry Bridgewater, who is serving as Club President and is shortly set to earn his fourth consecutive Blue in the Varsity Match.
An early and tangible example of this developing relationship was a visit to Oxford on Friday 23 January, when twenty-two Merchant Taylors’ pupils travelled to Iffley Road to watch Oxford take on Leicester Tigers’ Academy in a highly competitive fixture. Harry played a central role in the match, providing a superb grubber kick assist for a second-half try.
Ahead of the game, our boys met with four current Oxford student-players, who spoke candidly about life at the University, balancing academic study with elite rugby, and how best to approach the application process, including college choice. The discussion prompted thoughtful questions around academic pathways, with subjects such as English and Biochemistry generating particularly valuable insight.
This feels like a very natural fit for Merchant Taylors’. Oxford represents the best of what is possible when academic ambition and sporting excellence come together, and it has been hugely valuable for our boys to experience that environment first-hand and to hear directly from those who are living it.
As this partnership is finalised, it will open up further opportunities for our pupils to gain insight, guidance and inspiration from one of the country’s leading university rugby programmes, supporting those who aspire to combine high academic achievement with elite sport.
