London Mail
  • Home
  • World
  • News
  • Opinion
  • Business
  • Tech
  • Science
  • Sports
  • Lifestyle
  • Health
  • Motering/Cars
  • More
    • Entertainment
    • Travel
    • Crypto
    • Food
    • Home Improvment
      • Real Estate
    • Press Release
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • World
  • News
  • Opinion
  • Business
  • Tech
  • Science
  • Sports
  • Lifestyle
  • Health
  • Motering/Cars
  • More
    • Entertainment
    • Travel
    • Crypto
    • Food
    • Home Improvment
      • Real Estate
    • Press Release
No Result
View All Result
London Mail
No Result
View All Result
Home Sports

London state school pupils revive Rugby Fives and prepare to take on ‘the poshies’

by London Mail
July 5, 2024
in Sports
Reading Time: 2 mins read
0
SHARES
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

“There’s only one other state school in the country, up in Derby, that plays Fives,” says Alex Gilbert, the PE teacher supervising the session. “Not sure why so few do. It’s great. We’ve found it works for everyone, the kids who are well into their PE and those who are a bit more reluctant.”

He should know. This is a school that takes its sport seriously. Tao Geoghegan Hart, the 2020 Giro d’Italia winner, was a pupil here, as were Lawrence Okolie, the cruiserweight boxing champion and Sean Clare, the Charlton Athletic midfielder. And from September, they intend to get competitive at Fives, engaging in fixtures against some of the public schools long associated with the game. 

“We can’t wait to see how the poshies play it,” says Ameddzhan. “See if they do it different.”

And what makes the story of Stoke Newington’s Fives all the more extraordinary is that Tevez, Jack and Ameddzhan are only playing because of a chance conversation in the staff room. Back in 1970, when this was Clissold School, the headmaster was a Rugby alumnus and had half a dozen open air courts built in the playground. But when he left, the game stopped being played. By the time Clissold amalgamated with Woodbury Down School to form a giant inner-city comprehensive, they had fallen into disrepair. Then in the mid-1990s Howard Wiseman, a Rugby Fives coach, heard about them and persuaded the then head that this might be a game to enthuse the pupils. He was right. By 2002 he had more than 100 of them playing regularly, had helped them become the first state school ever to win the national championship and had produced the country’s No1 seeded girl player. Then, keen to make it a year round sport, he got a grant from the National Fives Association and put a roof over the courts.

“That was our downfall,” he explains, 20 years on. “The school was having major construction work at the time and the moment the roof went on the courts were requisitioned to be used as storage for building materials. They were never actually played on. And the whole momentum of the programme was lost.”

Source link

Related Posts

Aussie sporting legend is unrecognisable after shocking accident saw him hospitalised with serious injuries
Sports

Aussie sporting legend is unrecognisable after shocking accident saw him hospitalised with serious injuries

August 5, 2025
Lakers star Luka Doncic signs $165M extension in move that could have huge LeBron James implications
Sports

Lakers star Luka Doncic signs $165M extension in move that could have huge LeBron James implications

August 2, 2025
Indiana Fever fans criticize Caitlin Clark as she plays soccer while sidelined with groin injury
Sports

Indiana Fever fans criticize Caitlin Clark as she plays soccer while sidelined with groin injury

July 30, 2025
Next Post
Junior doctor talks to ‘start next week’ – Streeting

Junior doctor talks to ‘start next week’ – Streeting

‘First black woman to serve with a black president’ Joe Biden has THIS to say about his ability to beat Trump

'First black woman to serve with a black president' Joe Biden has THIS to say about his ability to beat Trump

Six of the best CAR-FREE islands to visit, from a time-warp spot in the U.S to a dreamy location with the ‘world’s best beach’ – and a gem off the Cornish coast surrounded by aquamarine seas

Six of the best CAR-FREE islands to visit, from a time-warp spot in the U.S to a dreamy location with the 'world's best beach' - and a gem off the Cornish coast surrounded by aquamarine seas

Recommended

New NIH study sheds light on mysterious ‘Havana Syndrome’: Victims’ symptoms are ‘real’ and ‘quite profound’ – but injuries don’t show up on MRI much like a ‘mini stroke,’ one Pentagon medical consultant tells DailyMail.com

New NIH study sheds light on mysterious ‘Havana Syndrome’: Victims’ symptoms are ‘real’ and ‘quite profound’ – but injuries don’t show up on MRI much like a ‘mini stroke,’ one Pentagon medical consultant tells DailyMail.com

1 year ago
The Telegraph’s Toughie crossword reaches 3,000 puzzles

The Telegraph’s Toughie crossword reaches 3,000 puzzles

2 years ago
Mortal Kombat 1 Peacemaker release time, date and Fatality input list | Gaming | Entertainment

Mortal Kombat 1 Peacemaker release time, date and Fatality input list | Gaming | Entertainment

1 year ago
Major US airport on red alert after patient infected with world’s most infectious disease passes through

Major US airport on red alert after patient infected with world’s most infectious disease passes through

4 months ago

Categories

  • Business
  • Crypto
  • Entertainment
  • Food
  • Health
  • Home Improvment
  • Lifestyle
  • Motering/Cars
  • News
  • Opinion
  • Press Release
  • Real Estate
  • Science
  • Sports
  • Tech
  • Travel
  • World
No Result
View All Result

Highlights

Grease: The Immersive Movie Musical is a fun but frantic summer night out | Theatre | Entertainment

Private chef to the Premier League reveals exactly what the players eat to get them ‘match fit’

Boss of world’s richest travel firm suggests lotteries in popular destinations to combat overtourism

Master expert’s ‘perfect’ homemade chilli by adding one cheap ingredient

Aldi worker shares clever way to get up to 75 percent off its supermarket food

Aussie sporting legend is unrecognisable after shocking accident saw him hospitalised with serious injuries

London Mail

London Mail | Stay Informed, Stay Inspired ©2025, All rights Reserved

Navigate Site

  • Home
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Contact

Follow Us

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Tech
  • News
  • Business
  • Science
  • Health
  • Sports
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Opinion

London Mail | Stay Informed, Stay Inspired ©2025, All rights Reserved