End of season highlights, thank you's and good-byes  ....

As we come to the end of the 23/24 rugby season at RGSHW, I would like to personally thank pupils, parents and staff for your time, energy and commitment over the course of the academic year.

It is the collective effort from everyone involved that has allowed us to field 20 teams in 158 fixtures, with 422 pupils representing the school during the season. All the players can be proud of what they have achieved, competing against some of the very best schools in the country and being fantastic ambassadors of the School. Thank you to the FRORGS Reps and all parents who continue to support the programme. Whether you're attending fundraisers or events, supporting from the touchline, refereeing fixtures or any other ways in which you contribute, your support is vital to the development of RGSHW Rugby.  

The on-field engagement was matched by the off-field events, with another brilliant Sportsman's Dinner in November and 330 people in attendance at the Junior FRORGS Awards before the Easter break.

I look forward to seeing you during the Summer Term at the various different school events.

James Honeyben
Strategic Lead for Sport
Head of Rugby

And so ends another successful season of RGSHW rugby. The latter half of the 15-a-side season was somewhat blighted by the weather but there have been many successful moments on and off the pitch.

Highlights on the pitch have been the 1st XV making it to the quarter finals of the National Schools Cup and being losing finalists at St Joseph’s and Seaford College tournaments. Last weekend, at the prestigious Sedbergh 10s, they lost in the semi-final to Brighton College. All the Senior teams performed very well and it is unfortunate that few schools can put out a 3rd XV. We are looking for more fixtures next season.

The U15's beat Harrow in their National Schools Cup, which is a day the boys and parents will always remember and successful seasons were had by other years as well. Rugby at RGSHW is in rude health and even got a shout-out from Matt Dawson on the BBC rugby podcast - “If [England] continue to defend like that, Royal Grammar School High Wycombe U12's are going to rip you apart”!

Off the pitch, we had a fantastic Sportsman’s Dinner in November with the legend that is Courtney Lawes and the host-with-the-most David Flatman. Stick Thursday 7 November 2024 in the diary now for next season’s dinner. Also put Saturday 29 June 2024 in the diary for the end of year fun-in-the-sun Touch Rugby and Beer festival.  (Tickets for both events will be available on Little Box Office nearer the time).  Please encourage your boys to enter and come along and support.

Plans are already underway for next season’s fixture list where we will be looking to strengthen a couple of fixtures and plans have already been made for some essential maintenance to the school-site pitches which need work to aid their drainage given the wetter and milder winters we are now having. The money you generously donate goes to the rugby programme in many ways and we should have a new scoreboard on the main pitch next season. Thank you for your financial support. In relation to the Finances, I would like to thank David Jarman for his sterling efforts as FRoRGS Treasurer in challenging circumstances through COVID and new accounting software at the School. Many thanks to Luke Maguire for taking up the role. 

Talking of support, I would like to thank all parents who flood the touchlines each Saturday, especially at away games. It is always fantastic to see how well RGS is supported and our away fans often outnumber the home fans!

And, finally, after nine years on the FRoRGS committee and six as Chair, I am stepping down and handing over to Vik Kapoor. I wish Vik and the committee all the best. There are many people to thank - the year-group reps, parents who source or donate auction prizes, parents who help at post-match teas, James Honeyben and the rugby staff, Mr Wayne and the non-rugby staff…all of whom make the rugby family at RGSHW a special group. But, principally, I would like to thank Sarah my wife who has been the driving force behind the reinvigoration of the Sportsman’s Dinner and other events the success of which, along with your generous monthly subscriptions, means FRoRGS is in very good financial health and able to invest in the School’s rugby programme and the boys’ experience and enjoyment of it.

Thank you all again, see you on the touchline next season and "Come on, RGS!”.

Francis Kucera
Chair of FRoRGS