Rugby Union Close
So when did it all begin?
As the college approached the 1920s there were two or three attempts to introduce rugby in the place of soccer. In 1922 rugby took a hold alongside soccer on Sunday afternoons during the Christmas and Easter terms. In March 1923, the first trial game was played and despite losing to the local team, rugby became the talk of the college and stuck, with a certain Mr S Evans the mastermind behind the coaching each Sunday.
The first official season was September 1923 instead of soccer. Mr J Carton-Kelly, a former Trinity College graduate, took charge producing the colleges first 1st XV. The first opponents were Wimbledon College (we still meet today), with St Georges winning 8-5. On this day the 1st XV, 2nd XV and 3rd XV all played. The first dropped goal by a Georgian was by a junior White House boy, a left-footed, S Desnos against The Limes School, Croydon.
September 2007 -
Having ran the rugby at the college for 9 years James Reynolds handed the reigns over to Mark Crean enabling more time to concentrate on his role of Director of Sport.
September 1998 - April 2007
2006/07 The under 12s have shown their strength in depth with, all but one, an unbeaten record with some fine victories including Wallington School and St Benedict’s School. Both the under 13 teams have had a good season with many players showing huge potential. The 14As produced an excellent win at KCS Wimbledon. The under 15A and B teams have produced some memorable wins with victories at Gordon’s School and Halliford. Many of the under 16s represented the senior teams and also beat KCS Wimbledon. The 2nd XV have shown a good level of performance that included great commitment and determination in matches, they recorded victories at Reading Blue Coat School and Caterham. The 1st XV, despite being hampered by injuries, produced a good season with notable victories over Lord Wandsworth College and Cardinal Vaughan School. Marcus Watson has been a key part of the successful Surrey Under 16 Schools team and is through to the Divisional Trials. Marcus Watson made it into the England U16 last 26 squad for the Four Nations Championship.
2005/06 saw another exciting season of rugby under the captaincy of Neil Sweeney. The 1st XV won 9 our of 14 including fine victories of Trinity School, Lord Wandsworth and Reading Bluecoats. The team also held John Fisher for most of the match although missed out 14-3. Oliver Mines represnted Surrey U18 as a prop. The most successful side was the under 14A winning 9 out of 10 games. With fine wins at KCS and at Wimbledon College.
2004/05 season has had the added experience of a half term tour of Bruges, Belgium. The 1st XV played 4 matches and returned unbeaten. The opposition included Melle College(a related Josephite School), West Hainault Select XV, Dedermonde RFC and Ryde School(Isle of Wight).
Neil Sweeney has been involved in the under 17s and David Rowland has continued representing Surrey Schools Under 18s through the season. Several of the successful college under 16 side have also represented the Berkshire Under 16 Clubs.
2003/04 proved also to be a season to celebrate again winning 10 and drawing 1 matches and scoring 450 points. James Gollan (an England Hockey International) scored 18 tries for the season from the back row. Matches won included St Benedict's School and an away match at Lord Wandsworth College. Neil Sweeney and Daniel Gray made the Surrey Schools Under 16 squads. Incidentally Neil was a member of the 1st XV from the start of the season.
The under 15 team reached the quarter final stage of the Daily Mail Vase Competition.
The successful 2002 1st XV led by the courageous Tom Spence recorded two notable victories against St Benedict's School and Emanuel School. It also was an end of an era for the Pryor family as Andrew Pryor left the college becoming the fourth family member to gain Full School Rugby Colours after his two brothers ('98 & '00) and indeed his father many years before. David Rowland represented the under 16 South East England and the South of England Schools sides.
Pierre Wilkinson captained the 2001 1st XV and immediately there was the mighty victory over St John's, Leatherhead, the first for over 15years, to send the side onto an excellent 10 wins and a draw and scoring over 450 points for the season. Patrick Kelly scored an individual 134 points.
John Lake's 2000 1st XV also reached Round 4 of the Daily Mail Cup. John himself also represented London Division and South East of England, he then went on to join Saracens Rugby Club. The 1st XV undertook a gruelling but successful tour to South Africa taking in matches in Pretoria and Cape Town.
In 1999 John Stocker attended the England Under 16 Training Sessions. The following year the 1st XV made good progress winning more matches with the highlights being a great win over Hampton School and Tiffin School and reaching Round 4 in the Daily Mail Cup. In 2000 Old Georgian Tom Cheney(1st XV 97-99) represented Scotland Under 19s. Another highlight of the year was welcoming the Rugby World Cup Message Relay to the college during a rugby development afternoon with several local schools joining in the celebrations.
James Reynolds' first captain was Patrick Montalbetti who led with enthusiasm in 1998 recording excellent wins over Reading School and Wallington County Grammar.
September 1976-Christmas 1997
Since 1976 there have been four Rugby Masters in charge. Tony Smith from 1976 to 1986, David Bradford from 1987-1997 and James Reynolds has been in charge since 1998. Mark Crrean took over in 2007.
Tony was a highly respected and talented coach who produced some excellent sides. His best season in terms of results was 1981 with eleven wins including notable victories over Whitgift School, KCS Wimbledon and a creditable draw with Queen Elizabeth School, Wakefield. Amongst his side was a young centre Maurice Van den Haaghan who was talented enough to represent the South East of England and play in the final under 18 England Trial. He also captained the 1st XV later to another impressive season.
In 1984 Tony was lucky to have a new pupil join the sixth form from Ampleforth College. Charlie Crossley was an immensely strong and mature player and although he was a good number 8 in the fifteen a side game his real prowess was in the abbreviated seven a side game. He fitted into an already talented side with the likes Andy Smith (son of Tony) and Tim O'Gorman (son of Brian a former 1st XV coach) they were to produce some of the best results ever. They won the Nat West Bank Tournament beating Sevenoaks, St Benedict's and Dulwich College. They reached the last eight of the Rosslyn Park Tournament accounting for a strong Monmouth side and only losing to Queen's Taunton 18-16.
In 1986 the 1st XV was led by Geoff Peters, he led by example and although teh team did not achieve a great deal of success, his performances were noted and he represented the South East of England twice and attended the Final England Trial.
In 1987 David Bradford took over, straight away there were two excellent wins recorded against Eastbourne College(18pts-8) and Whitgift School(21pts-14), and also a talented all round sporstman first appeared in the 1st XV. He was later to represent England in cricket his name was Adam Hollioake, he and other talented players ensured the end of the eighties finished on a high.
Again in 1988 the 1st XV recorded another victory against Eastbourne College(9pts-3). The following year the success continued with yet another victory over Whitgift School (23pts-14) and over St Edward's College, Oxford (6pts-3).
However the start of the nineties proved less successful and in an attempt to boost the profile of the sport, Gary Halpin (London Irish, Harlequins and Ireland) was appointed onto the staff.
Rugby at St George's College , Weybridge 1945 to 1974
Like every other activity Rugby at SGC has a History and backgound to it .
Rugby was first played at St George's in 1923 . This is the date of Membership of the Rugby Football Union ( now the RFU Schools' Union )
In 1945 Fr Peter Murtough took over as Coach and Master - in - Charge .
Until this date the teams ,and St George's was a very small school then and except against other schools , had included adult players : members of staff and Josephite Scholastics .This was a not unusual practice , especially at smaller Schools ( The writer Hugh Walpole in is autobographical novel of School life '' Mr Perrin and MR Traill '' based on his career at Epsom College , describes his anxiety at playing for the school team and that he would not let it down . The celebrated England Cricketer GL Jessop turned out for Beccles School at Cricket when he was a master there in the late 1890's )
There were very few schools to play and matches were arranged against lower teams of London Clubs .
Naturally this had severe drawbacks . The boys who were in teams against schools were much less experienced and got in to the way of letting the adult members play the match and not having to shoulder responsibility . This was very unsatisfactory from all points of view .
Fr Peter determined to end all this . The Fr President -.. Fr George Kean disagreed with the proposed change and said that masters were to be played .
Fr Peter accordingly produced a fixture list with no Clubs on it . He was adamant that games were for the Boys and that , in any case by 1945 , general practice and the College 's increasing prestige demanded a change
The fixture list in 1945 contained matches against schools which had figured from the beginning -Tiffin ; Wimbledon College and new fixtures against other schools 2nd Xv's only . KCS Wimbledon ; Emmanuel and Beaumont College but also Lord Wandsworth - the start of a long and continuous series - and Raynes Park GS and Surbiton GS . A start had to be made somewhere.
Some easy victories were obtained , leading to a 1st XV match , in the next season , which however usually was much more testing and proved much harder going . The standard needed to be raised .
It was not until 1948 that the list of fixtures contained only 1st XV opponents .
There were several fine players at this time who had First Class careers : John Runtz ( Rosslyn Park and Surrey ) his brother Peter ( Rosslyn Park ) ; Maurice Healy ( St Mary's Hospital and Middlesex ) and Peter Johncox (Eastern Counties ) but the level of other players was very variable .
At the War's end and based on the arrival of Surrey 11 + pupils , which increased numbers by 30 a year , Junior Rugby was organised on a firm age group footing , with a coach to a group. This soon paid off and very successful and talented teams from the Juniors , starting with Under 12 's in 1948 , to Under 15's of 1950 and 1951 , showed the way ahead , though the 1st was still working hard to get on terms .
All this effort came to fruition in the season of 1952 .
1951
The standard of play had been gradually improving in the season of 1951 . The team was young.
But the effort and planning came to fruition in 1952 when the XV was , almost certainly ,the best produced thus far by St George's , with a full and proper fixture list and very talented players.
The team , captained by Dudley Montgomery , had a very positive self belief . He led the backs and the forwards marshalled by John Murray battled hard and were well together . In the event 7 matches were won , out of eight played , including a first win over Wimbledon College for 26 years and another over Tiffin (11 - 6 ) in a match of memorable quality and excitement .
The final 3 matches were cancelled on acount of appalling weather - Smog , snow and frost , which was disappointing .
Tom Lawson was outstanding as Full Back ; David Hoyland was very assured and positive at out half .Don Beckett added class in the centre and all made the most of the possession which was won by a battling , though light - weight pack .
Victor Lobo and John Bartley were towers of strength . The whole team realised it had achieved a really significant breakthrough for College Rugby , ensuring that it had its proper place in the Schools' Circuit .
The small number of boys available was indicated by the fact that no 2nd XV could be run ( the under 16's had a full list though - evidence of the age group structure being worked through ) and only 16 players turned out for 1st - injuries were nil - but in fact there were no others who could have been reasonably selected for the 1st . A clear indication of the problems which had beset the small school of former years .
It was my privilege to play as back row forward in this special team and season .
In 1953 a new pack had to be built but there was talent on hand .
Brian O'Gorman continues his account of ST George's Rugby Seasons .
1953 .
The writer of these notes was the only Forward from 1952 to remain at School for this season .
But there were plenty of recruits to fill the places , coming from successive unbeaten Under 15 seasons .
The Age Group Policy and organisation , with a competent and regular Coach for each team , over several years , which had become apparent in 1952 , was bearing a rich fruit .The shape of each year's 1st XV was discernible in advance , with obvious players in key positions and with alternatives on hand .
The new Pack turned out to be a formidable one - a privilege to lead .
The names are worth recalling . Peter Burns : Mark MacMahon ( Hooker ) ;Michael Gooley ; Freddy Logan ; Barry Woollard :;Alan Lumby ; Brian O'Gorman and Piers Sibun .
Speed of reaction and decisiveness on the loose ball , as the breakdown was called at that time , were marked features , especially from the players at 6, 7, 8 , the back row .
The service provided to the backs from all areas - set pieces ( Michael Cogswell was a most effective Scrum half ) and loose was unfailing , and of quality . '' The quick heel from the loose '' - much required and so esteemed and valued as to be on a par with God's Blessing , though not necessarily in that order ( ! ) was continually on display .
( It is worth recalling that the Laws at that period demanded that the ball had to be played with the foot after a tackle - and no rolling over the ball or handing it back being permitted - so that a dribbling foot rush was often featured , the drill required that the ball was taken on until the movement was checked ) .
With this possession the backs had many a field day in the predominantly dry Autumn Weather .
Don Beckett (Captain and Centre ) and Tom Lawson remained from 1952 .
They were fluent and decisive runners , especially from broken play and from passing movements , often set up by the forwards . In any space and arriving at pace they were tricky and formidable .They were often covered by Nigel Pearson , a solid centre with very good hands .
Tom Lawson kicked vast distances to touch and landed kicks at goal with sure regularity and Don Beckett also kicked with assured success .
The run of success was continued in 1954 .
Seven key players had remained at School : five of them taking up key positions : Don Beckett (fly half ) ; Peter Burns (loose heas prop ) and Michael Gooley ;Alan Lumby and Piers Sibun as the back row .
To these were added a very good full back - Stephen Petzing and a first rate scrum half - Barry Walsh and general all round competence .
It took a match or so ,with two wins and a couple of defeats , to find the right balance .
The match vs our splendid rivals ,Tiffin , set there bench mark , in that game and for the Season . Tiffin were particularly strong and came to the match with a very warm write up in the London Evening Standard ( Newspapers in those days had a special interest in all Sport and plenty of Column inches to record it and many avid readers to follow it ).
The game and score fluctuated , with the highest possible level of skill on view from both sides .
Two tries each ( worth three points then ) plus one conversion and a penalty to St George's made it 11 -6 at the interval .
Tiffin , always advocates of an open game , came back in with flowing passing and and astute kicking .
But open side flanker , Piers Sibun , scored near the post for a converted try and , though our defence was put to a severe test all held firm and a notable Victory was ours. In the season of 1953 Tiffin had won 13 matches before St George's beat them and these wins on our part were notable achievements .
Don Beckett , Piers Sibun , Mike Gooley and Bobby Burns demonstrated ability of the highest order here ,in a team of class .
Led by them Philip Healy , Alan Lumby , John Westing (Hooker ) Hugh Berkely and Peter Boyle (3/4s made outstanding contributions also .in a fine team effort .
These heady days were not to be repeated in the next two seasons . And to this melancholy turn of events we now turn .
The College team had won 26 matches out 30 in three Seasons .
Burns ( Surrey and Richmond ) ; Petzing ( Richmond ) and Westing ( Richmond ) all had First Class Careers later on .
The victories followed in succession after this without interruption . Played 11 won 9 .
The seasons of 1955 and 1956 were melancholy and remain so to write about all these years later .
This might have been seen by the perceptive as the Junior Teams of 1953 and 1954 had been patchy .
There had been a significant departure of players from the team of 1954 , especially outside the scrum .
Much was expected of Piers Sibun but he was below form , and captaining an under performing team was a heavy load to carry .
John Westing and Philip Healy were supported by Pat King in the pack , which never seemed to get together , which added considerable difficulties to those out side . King was the find of the season and after School played for Blackheath ,Hampshire , the Barbarians and had an Irish Trial . It would have been good to have had him for more than one season .
The half backs were young and there was a lack of commanding presence , to inspire and galvanise the team .
Only one match was won and one drawn .
1956 .
The season was bedevilled by injuries , including the Captain and fly half , Michael Sharkey and again there was a lack of positive play and disorganistion outside , in both defence and attack
Our main rivals were very strong .Tiffin and Wimbledon quite outclassed us .
These two poor seasons must be recorded but do not need to be dwelt on . Those who had come in to the side had , of necsssity , hard days and lessons to endure .
1957 .
This was a season to be savoured and did much to eradicate the memories of the previous ones .
The hard experience of previous years had produced a mind set and skill level of the best .
There were many vigourous players of ability , coming up from the Juniors - evidence of good coaching - so no gaps had to be filled .
The key positions were filled by players of strength and skill . John Strong was an admirable full back , a notable place kicker ; Richard Ciuffardi dominated at no 8 ; Kevin McCormack and Richard Chackal formed an impregnable second row and at half back Michael Sharkey and Sean Lawson were a very fine pair .
This control meant that the wings ( Mulvaney and Edwards ) scored 19 tries during the season .
The XV won 11 matches , losing only surprisingly to Seaford and were spoken of as equal to the great teams of 1952/3/4. The results indicate , as always , that Rugby success does not come easily and all sorts of factors , form , illness , the pool of talent , injuries ,especially in a School context
There had been 5 very good seasons out of 7 and another was to follow .
1958.
As in all things there is nothing like experience and the XV of 1958 had it in plenty .
The average age was high and several players had been in 1st for three or even four years.
Among the long service men Sean Lawson ; Kevin McCormack ; Richard Ciuffardi and John Strong rendered powerful , skilful and dominating play , which presented a consistently formidable front to the opposition .
Such talent is not always available to inspire and raise the attainments of new members of a team .
Starting at the back John Strong was an imposing presence and his kicking , at goal and from penalties , was prodigious . At that time it was more usual to see the full back as a bastion , rather than a main attacker , which possibilities came in with the Law Changes of 1964 . But Strong was solidity itself and the team accordingly ,benefited greatly.
He kicked vast distances to touch so the pack was kept going forward and were able to win set , line out and loose ball . Tony Clarkson and Kevin McCormack ruled the tight and Richard Ciuffardi is quoted as frequently devastating the opponent 'backs from open side .
Tony Hickey ; Tony Gerrard ; Anthony Blackler and Ronnie Edwards were a thrustful unit of backs and several tries caught the attention of the reporter in the '' Georgian '' magazine .
Significantly the full potential of the team was brought to fruition by the introduction of Robert Hamilton at fly half . This meant possession was always used to full and proper advantage for he had immculate hands and the soundest of games ' playing judgements , compensating for his relative lack of pace.
His poise gave Sean Lawson a twinkling ,lively and elusive scrum half every encouragement to play his own game and pass in the knowledge that his delivery would not be wasted.
Some opponents were put to the sword and Tiffin , Wimbledon , St Benedict's and Lord Wandsworth were all overcome in the tally of eleven victories . .
1959
Ten places had to be filled and the departure of so many outstanding players was bound to cause some difficulty .
In the event 4 matches were won and several more closely contested , but there was an overall lack of fire and cohesion .
There were also injuries in key positions - always hard to fill , particularly in a School context .
Effective performers were Anthony Hickey as wing - a try scorer ; Ronnie Edwards as captain ; Tom Hayes (hooker ) and Ian Kennedy as flanker but others did not , in general , come up to expectations .
