Secondary school without Rugby

westwood you mentioned getting in touch with touch rugby league about which schools played it and had no reply. Has a dad of a dual code player of 17, who is a national schoolboy Rugby League Champion, Year 9, and a losing finalist in year 10, with his northern comp, I wouldn't seriously hold your breath for that reply. Especially if you asked for independent schools. Rugby League is a Northern born working class off shoot of Rugby union, which allowed it players to be paid. I played RL in the late 80's/early 90's, totally amateur, we payed for our own shorts/socks, and was banned for life from playing Rugby Union at college because I played RL. Thankfully rugby league is expanding southwards, but is never played in independent schools, even it its heartlands like Hull, Leeds. Manchester. So it won't have any involvement any any schools you are likely to want/choose.
By the way as a coach, have your DS's been taught to tackle and land correctly, we as an amateur club spent at least 15-20 minutes a week on this, it truly stops many head injuries. Do they wear scrum caps, eldest who completes over 30 tackles a match and is a flanker/second row, a present RU club, won't play without them.
Also they are at prep, is school following simple rules to make game safer, in rugby league, under 9's, mainly play touch. Then until under 16 there are no contested scrums and up to under 12/13's any contact above chest/nipple height is deemed a high tackle and a penalty awarded against the offending team. Their still are injuries, two broken legs, arm and 2 broken collar bones up to now with our 2 boys, But no way would either wife or I stop either playing rugby, DS1 loves it, and the game, both codes, make him a better person
We know friends who have more injuries from football, hockey( stick becomes weapon) and running then either of ours have had from rugby, but both have had proper coaches teaching them

I doubt many/any schools will switch to rugby.

I know of 2 in the last year. It’s often considered good for pulling in more middle class families.

I doubt many/any schools will switch to rugby. Latymer Upper tried, a few years ago, to promote rugby and insist that all boys played some, but met with real resistance from a number of parents. There is an increasing body of evidence, available via brain scanning and largely from American football, that repeated concussions do leave a child at risk of long term damage.

Repton School don't do rugby, it's football, hockey or cricket depending on term if I remember correctly. We all really liked the school, both sons and daughter but went elsewhere as the boys wanted to play rugby.

Take a look at Kimbolton: football, hockey and cricket for boys plus marathon canoeing, sailing, tennis etc. It's just achieved excellent A level results and had excellent pastoral care.

Plus they could easily opt to do it later on if they wanted to.

You can’t really plan for this. Rugby can easily be introduced into a school’s curriculum or indeed abandoned.

Westminster? A big choice of sports, both team and individual, but no rugby.

Kingston Grammar has no Rugby at all.
It is a very good selective mixed day school.
There was a rugby 'incident' at least 15+ years ago and Rugby has not been offered since.
Hampton offers football or rugby (Parents choice) like many academic independent day
Schools.

You need to clearly explain to your boys why you don't want them to continue with rugby, especially as you seem to put across that they really enjoy it. And I would not discount a school just because 'Rugby is compulsory'. You seem to want a fee paying school, so on that basis, you are their customer, and any good school should listen to you. Rugby playing schools should be carefully following the RFU guidance. I wouldnt let rugby be the deal breaker above academics, pastoral care and right fit for your children. I actually thought this thread would be about not wanting a rugby playing school for a DS who had never played rugby before, was physically of a small build and not really sporty. Many of the state grammars do rugby, but conversely also have several boys of that description that I know that hate the game. However, the parents didnt give up the grammar place even though they now have miserable DS in PE lessons.

I thought that quite recently there was a letter signed by a long list of doctors asking the Government not to allow rugby in state secondaries? Those doctors believed the risk of harm to children was quite significant.

I believe most secondary schools in the independent sector have adopted the RFU guildlines following a even a minor head injury, which correctly very much errs on the side of caution. There’s is extensive training of both coaches players and medical staff involved in rugby. Pre season baseline assessment of players is becoming increasing common at secondary schools.
The research says head injuries occur in 1 in 21 amateur games but by head injury they are including bruising and laceration.
You may be inerested to know that American research shows that horse riding is the biggest cause of CTE! Although I think there’s probably a much lower incidence of wearing a riding hat in the US.

There is some evidence but the doctors I was involved with, who had no axe to grind either way apart from the appointment time taken up seeing those with significant minor head injuries, didn’t feel it’s currently “compelling” enough that they recommended to schools that children should be stopped from playing rugby.

Is the jury out? I thought there was some pretty compelling evidence that rugby (wherever it is played) presents a risk of CTE?

The jury is out on the level of risk of brain damage frankly. The chances are very small if you play at school level (I was involved in looking at the risk in a previous job) it’s very carefully monitored must schools will follow the pretty strict guildlines laid down England rugby. The risk if # of limbs in particular clavicles or shoulder dislocation is I think higher. I ride horses a the chance of significant minor HI is fairly high even if you wear at hat (which I do) but I love it so I accept there’s a risk.
We know lots of children and adults somehow had pretty significant skiing injuries, if you ski will you stop?
We cannot make life risk free for ourselves or children.
You say your current school hasn’t proposed anything that corresponds with your boys “current academic level”. This is unusual most preos want there pupils to get into the very top academic schools as it reflects well on them so will. Wet much encourage parents with suitable children to consider them.

Winchester is like Eton is full boarding only.

IME it is very likely that they will choose to do rugby as their sport at secondary school if it is an option as they both like and are good at it. With that in mind that leaves you with the choice of telling them why you do not want them to continue or persuading them that a school without it has benefits that outweigh their favourite sport. Best of luck with that.

FFIW I agree with you.

There is a boat load of research coming out regarding concussion in young people and ongoing effects in later life. We have stopped DS and DD from the martial arts they were previously doing for something with no head contact.

Bradfield doesnt do Rugby at all! Heard great things about it. DS loves rugby and it’s the only reason we aren’t considering it for him. Abingdon also gives them a choice - I know you said you dont even want it as an option but plenty there don’t play - might be good option for an academic day school.

I think Hampton also offers the choice of football or rugby.

Hockey is becoming popular again