Rugby

Marlborough played its first ever inter-schools rugby match against Clifton in 1864. Since then, the College has gone on to produce 38 Full Internationals and 4 England Captains.

Rugby remains the major game played in the Michaelmas Term. The College regularly fields twenty teams, involving 350 boys on match days.

Every boy is given the opportunity to represent Marlborough and has a valuable role in a robust and challenging environment irrespective of his body shape or skill set. 

 
Facilities

The XV provides one of the finest schoolboy rugby venues in the country. A superb level playing surface is cut into a natural bank where spectators can gather to give a splendid sense of occasion on match days. There are a further ten pitches stretching up the hill to Wedgewood.

Rugby players benefit from a cutting edge free weights facility and video analysis methods.

Matches, Competition and Events

There are six Open teams, four Colts, four Junior Colts and six Yearlings. The six teams at Yearlings level provide every new boy the opportunity to represent the College at a major team sport in their first term. As well as regular matches on Saturday afternoons, there is a programme of house matches running throughout the term.

The College has a well established fixture list against some of the strongest schools in the sector, with regular matches against Wellington, Radley, Bryanston, St Edwards and Sherborne. The College 1st XV has also been invited to compete nationally in the Schools' Super Sixteen Tournament for the last two years. The junior Colts regularly take part in the Daily Mail Cup National Under 15 Cup Competition.

The 1st XV undertakes a major overseas tour every three years, the latest being to Singapore and New Zealand in the Summer of 2007.

Alec Kingham (Littlefield) played for England U16’s level in 2005 and England U18’s in 2006. Several players have played County and Divisional rugby at various levels over the last few years.

The College has established links with Bath Rugby and Newbury Rugby Club for the further development of players at the elite end of the spectrum.