Eton/Winchester/Dulwich for non sporty boy

[HazelOwl]

Our DS is extraverted and curious, particularly enjoys physics and tennis, but doesn’t like rugby or football. He’s done both for the last 5 or 6 years, but they’ve never really been his thing.

I’ve read quite a bit on here about how central rugby is at Eton, and wondered whether this could be a real issue for him. We’re trying to understand cultural fit rather than academics, which we know are strong at all three schools.

I’m less clear about Winchester or Dulwich — is rugby similarly dominant, or is there more space for boys who prefer individual sports or just like to do their own things?

Would really welcome first‑hand experiences of how boys who aren’t rugby‑enthusiasts fit in.

Thanks very much!

Rugby is not at all central at Eton - there isn't even inter-house rugby apart from a bit of sevens. The main inter-house competitions, which is what the boys really get worked up about are ties/league (football) in Michaelmas, field game in Lent, and then cricket and bumps (rowing) in the summer.

You do have to choose a main sport in michaelmas between rugby or football, but there are plenty of boys who are not much good at either and turn up to what they call the junior development programme which is basically a fun kickabout without much pressure. In Lent it's all field game, if you're not playing rugby. Where Eton shines is the minor sports - because it's a big school they can offer lots of minor sports and when boys start there is a carousel of lots of things like rackets, fives, hockey, squash, wall game etc. They have just built a new sports hall and pool, new rackets and fives courts and this coming year they'll finish the new minor sports hall and gym which will have a fencing salle, weights gym, squash courts etc. Plenty to do for boys that don't enjoy rugby or football!

I know the other schools are wonderful and have loads of options too but at least at Eton, rugby is not particularly central. I have the least sporty boy you could possibly imagine and he is doing fine not playing any rugby at all!

PS if he likes tennis, then there is lots of that in summer and he can also play squash, badminton, rackets and fives which are all on offer (and in the warm!) I wouldn't be surprised if they start offering padel soon too given its popularity.

I had the exact worry as you OP. My previously very non sporty and football / rugby averse ds has been surprising me with how much sport he is voluntarily doing - badminton, football ( last term in junior development team), field game and now hockey this term at Eton. In fact , this afternoon, he is off to join some impromptu football game with a group of other boys in the rain no less “ because it’s fun”! He has never felt pressured to do any sport he didn’t want to and that has actually made him want to participate in various things comfortably. The school’s approach has worked wonders for him.

Rugby is not compulsory at Winchester, in fact no specific sport is compulsory - you just need to be doing something. Cricket is quite a big deal - more so than rowing.

Hi,
could you please tell me what the rowing is like at Winchester ?

This will give you an idea of the sports at Winchester: https://sportsfixtures.winchestercollege.org/Fixtures_Teams.asp?Id=3441 rubgy not much of a feature at all, although their own game 'winkies ' (Winchester College Football) resembles some elements. Non sporty boys who are academically curious are 10 a penny there.

That’s really reassuring to hear, thank you! It’s helpful to know boys can opt out without rugby/football defining their experience. The range of minor sports sounds particularly appealing.

Our DS is very much not a rugby/football boy, so it’s encouraging to hear yours is doing perfectly well without any rugby at all.

That’s really lovely to hear — and sounds very familiar to our worries too. It’s reassuring that boys can ease into sport on their own terms. Your son heading out to play “because it’s fun” is exactly the kind of outcome we’d hope for. Thank you for sharing! It's very encouraging.

Thanks — that’s so helpful!

It is a real community sport there, with lots of time spent in the boathouse gym and on the water. It is quite all consuming for some boys. I’ve seen quite a few “non sporty” boys become real athletes through rowing. They seem to have a lovely friendly camaraderie. Great team supporting them too. They row on their little idyllic river and at Southampton once competent.

@Winchie thank you very much , my little one already rows we just would like to see how far they go with the rowing.

A hobby, not a sport. If you want to do rowing properly then you would not choose Winchester. I can’t remember them ever racing at Henley.

I just looked it up - the reason I have never seen Winchester race at Henley is because they always lose heavily in the first round.
If you are very academic and high potential at rowing you would go to St Paul’s, Eton, Abingdon, Westminster - not Winchester.

@Ziegfeld thank you , we are looking at a few schools Eton and Radley as well