England Schoolboys Rugby League Archives - OurFootyTeam

Rainford High victorious in Steven Mullaney Memorial

englandrugbyleague — Tue, 08 Jul 2025 21:20:50 +0000

Rainford High victorious in Steven Mullaney Memorial

Author : England Rugby League

Rainford High victorious in Steven Mullaney Memorial Game with a record-breaking win

Rainford High’s Year 7 rugby league team were victorious in the Steven Mullaney Memorial Match – the national Year 7 Boys’ final of the RFL’s inspiresport Champion Schools competition, which was held on Saturday 7 June at Wembley Stadium.

The team secured the trophy after a record-breaking 40-0 victory over Sirius Academy West from Hull.

Which culminates an exceptional season for the Year 7 team who are now treble winners, having already secured both the St Helens Schools Rugby League Year 7 Cup and the North West Schools Rugby League Year 7 Trophy.

Marking the 50th anniversary of the competition, the Year 7’s record victory included seven tries and saw the talented team receive their trophy from members of the Mullaney family after an emphatic 80 minutes of play.

Oscar Lyon, captain of the Year 7 team, said: “I really enjoyed lifting the cup with the team. I had a 90% kick percentage and when I missed one conversion, my team cheered me up.

“All of the boys played amazing against a tough team. I was really proud and will remember it for the rest of my life!”

Man of the match went to prop player Archie Lane, who scored two tries and impressed the onlooking crowds with his sprinting.

Archie added: “It was a great experience playing at Wembley and winning made it all the better.

“Getting man of the match and walking up the Wembley stairs was great, and scoring two tries was like a dream come true!”

The Steven Mullaney Memorial Match is one of the most prestigious fixtures in the schools’ rugby league calendar.

To celebrate the momentous occasion of reaching the final, the Year 7 team were invited to St Helens RFC’s stadium on Friday 6 June to be waved off alongside the Saints women’s team who were also heading to Wembley to compete in the Challenge Cup trophy.

Beforehand, the team took a tour of the Totally Wicked Stadium and received a rebel-rousing team talk from James Roby, leadership, culture and performance coach at St Helens RFC and former hooker for the Saints.

Commenting on the success of the team

Commenting on the success of the team, Mr Andrew Skerry, Year 7 learning leader and PE teacher, said: “The whole Wembley journey has been amazing. Wembley week was a fabulous experience for the whole team and staff.

“To win the national competition completed an unprecedented clean sweep and treble of all competitions entered, but all credit must go to the boys. We will go again next year and see if we can go back-to-back!”

As part of Rainford High’s ‘Wembley week’, the team attended a press conference on Monday at Oulton Hall Spa Hotel, were presented with their match shirts during a special evening at St Helens RFC on Wednesday and received a tour of Wembley Stadium when they arrived on Friday.

This year’s final was especially significant for Rainford High, as it coincided with the 20th anniversary of former student and St Helens RFC star Jonny Lomax’s appearance in the same final for the school.

The team’s success has been underpinned by Rainford High’s core values:

‘Everyone Helps, Everyone Matters, Everyone Succeeds’. The players have demonstrated outstanding commitment, attending regular training sessions and working together to improve individually and as a team.

Mr Ian Young, principal of Rainford High, said:

“We’re incredibly proud of our Year 7 rugby team and all that they have achieved this season.

Reaching a national final is one thing, but to be crowned champions in the way that they were after the spectacular performance they gave on the pitch is testament to the effort and teamwork the boys have shown all season.

“All boys have taken the opportunities they’ve been given over the past week with both hands and have enjoyed every moment, which has been fantastic to witness.

As a school, we’ve made memories that’ll last a lifetime, and I know the boys will have personally too.”

Archbishop Sentamu Academy crowned Year 10 Girls’ Champions

ourfooty — Mon, 07 Jul 2025 21:02:32 +0000

Archbishop Sentamu Academy crowned Year 10 Girls’ Champions

Author : England Rugby League

Archbishop Sentamu Academy (Hull) crowned Year 10 Girls’ Champions at AMT Headingley

Archbishop Sentamu Academy (Hull) made history on Sunday (15 June) following their Year 10 Girls’ victory in the inspiresport RFL Champion Schools Final at AMT Headingley Stadium.

The event was part of a historic triple header of Women’s and Girls’ Rugby League with Leeds Rhinos also taking on Warrington Wolves in both the U19s and Betfred Women’s Super League on Sunday.

Following impressive displays in the regional and national qualifiers, Archbishop Sentamu faced The Deanery (Wigan) in the showpiece event with both teams unbeaten during the national festival earlier this year.

ASA took an early lead and maintained their command going into the break with good flowing rugby and tough defence on show from both teams.

The Hull school continued their outstanding form throughout and eventually ran out 28-16 winners.

M. Warner (ASA) was awarded Player of the Match for setting up several of the ASA tries with some neat scrum half play putting her centre and second row partners into clear space.

The action didn’t stop there for Warner, with the young talent also kicking all her team’s goals.

Champion Schools is the RFL’s flagship schools competition, involving local and regional stages, then national competitions for girls and boys at years 7-11.

The girls’ competition began in 2004 and has grown incrementally, making Champion Schools the largest Rugby League competition in the world.

RFL National Education Manager, Andrea Murray, said:

“Congratulations to both teams on their performance on Sunday, it was remarkable seeing the next generation of Women’s players take to the pitch in such an iconic venue.

A huge thanks must also go to AMT Headingley Stadium for hosting us and making both teams feel so welcome for the historic occasion.”

The inspiresport Champion Schools Finals Day will take place at the DIY Kitchens Stadium on Wednesday 2 July with full fixtures and KO times to be confirmed over the coming weeks.

This week also marks 30 years of the Youth Sport Trust and National School Sports Week.

This year they are calling on schools, families and organisations to get involved, host the UK’s biggest ever Sports Day, and champion 60 minutes of PE, sport and play every day to help all young people be Always Active.

For more information and to sign up to take part please visit: National School Sports Week – Youth Sport Trust.

inspiresport Champion Schools Finals Day – DIY Kitchens Stadium, Wednesday 2 July

Year 7 Girls’

Archbishop Sentamu Academy (Hull) v Airedale Academy (Wakefield)

Year 8 Girls’

St Bede’s & St Joseph’s (Bradford) v Archbishop Sentamu Academy (Hull)

Year 9 Girls’

Bedford High School (Leigh) v Archbishop Sentamu Academy (Hull)

*KO times will be confirmed nearer to the event with all Boy’s finalists confirmed over the coming weeks

School rugby league news

From playground to playmaker The schools that make NRL stars

Queensland rugby league news

QRL Grand Finals Weekend Wrap Junior Statewide Competitions

International Junior Rugby League

2026 European rugby league u19s championship hosts announced

Midlands Junior expand in a summer of rugby league

Ghana rugby league partner to support young players

Round 10 Results

Lisa Fioala Cup Round 10 full results, ladder & top point scorers

Tarsha Gale Cup Round 10 full results, ladder & top point scorers

Harold Matthews Cup Round 10 full results, ladder & top point scorers

SG Ball Cup Round 10 full results, ladder & top point scorers

NSWRL Junior Reps news

Seaeagles Harold Matthews Finals report

Panthers advance to semi finals

Warriors one win away from grand final

Two clubs feature in every Junior Reps final

Three Sharks teams qualify for Junior Rep finals

Queensland junior rugby league news

QRL Grand Finals Weekend Wrap Junior Statewide Competitions

Knights dig deep to claim first Andrew Johns Cup

Dragons Pathways Wrap Round 7

Eels Well Placed For Finals Football

QRL Rnd 6 Junior Statewide Competitions

One up one down for Junior Sharks

Warriors SG Ball celebrating first win of season

Sea Eagles Junior Reps Rnd 7

Warriors Matts finals football a step closer

Regional Junior Reps Semi-finals

Mixed Results at Home for the Eels

Sea Eagles Pathways Wrap Rnd 4

A win and a loss for male junior rep Sharks

School Footy News

Cronulla High School Uni Shield

The post Archbishop Sentamu Academy crowned Year 10 Girls’ Champions appeared first on OurFootyTeam.

England Champion Schools Finals Day 2025

ourfooty — Mon, 07 Jul 2025 02:59:32 +0000

England Champion Schools Finals Day 2025

Author : England Rugby League

England Champion Schools Finals Day 2025

Wakefield Trinity’s DIY Kitchens Stadium welcomed school Rugby League teams from across the country for the Inspiresport Champion Schools Finals on Wednesday, July 2.

Teams from the North West, Yorkshire, and Wales battled through numerous matches to reach the final stage of the national school’s tournament.

Participating schools included:

Airedale Academy
Archbishop Sentamu Academy
St Bede’s and St Joseph’s Catholic College
Bedford High School
St Peter’s Catholic High School
Ysgol Glantaf
Sirius Academy West
Castleford Academy

The first win of the Finals Day went to Archbishop Sentamu Academy of Yorkshire, who triumphed over Airedale Academy in an attritional Year 7 Girls Final.

Next came an all-Yorkshire clash in the Year 8 Girls Final, where St Bede’s and St Joseph’s secured a high-scoring victory against Archbishop Sentamu Academy.

The final girls’ fixture saw a thrilling North West vs Yorkshire battle between Bedford High School and Archbishop Sentamu Academy, culminating in a dramatic Golden Point finale!

The boys’ finals kicked off with Bedford High School taking on Archbishop Sentamu Academy in the only North West vs Yorkshire match-up among the boys.

Bedford clinched the win with a game-saving tackle in a tightly fought contest.

The Year 8 Boys Final featured Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Glantaf, who travelled all the way from Wales to face a resilient St Peter’s Catholic High School in a physical encounter.

The two teams previously met in last year’s final at Wembley, where St Peter’s came out on top.

However, this time, it was Glantaf who turned the tables, securing a well-earned victory in a fiercely contested rematch.

Capping off the day were the Year 10 boys from Castleford Academy, who delivered a dominant performance against Sirius Academy West.

Inspiresport RFL Champion Schools 2024 – Roll of Honour:

Year 7 Girls’ Final

Archbishop Sentamu Academy (Yorkshire) 24 Airedale Academy (Yorkshire) 6

Year 8 Girls’ Final

St Bede’s and St Joseph’s (Yorkshire) 40 Archbishop Sentamu Academy (Yorkshire) 10

Year 9 Girls’ Final

Bedford High School (North West) 26 Archbishop Sentamu Academy (Yorkshire) 22

Year 9 Boys’ Final

Bedford High School (North West) 12 Archbishop Sentamu Academy (Yorkshire) 10

Year 8 Boys’ Final

Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Glantaf (Wales) 30 St Peter’s Catholic High School (North West) 22

Year 10 Boys’ Final

Castleford Academy (Yorkshire) 32 Sirius Academy West 6

Andrea Murray, National Education Manager, said:

“On behalf of everyone at the RFL, our congratulations go to all the winners, the finalists and the dozens of schools and players who have competed in the 2025 Champion Schools competitions.

“We are grateful to the DIY Kitchens Stadium as our dedicated venue for Inspiresport Finals Days, and to inspiresport, who have been outstanding sponsors of the competition over the last three years.

“It has been brilliant to see the fantastic talent on show and we wholeheartedly would like to thank all schools competing for representing the game respectfully, to a high quality and remarkable standard.”

School rugby league news

From playground to playmaker The schools that make NRL stars

Queensland rugby league news

QRL Grand Finals Weekend Wrap Junior Statewide Competitions

International Junior Rugby League

2026 European rugby league u19s championship hosts announced

Midlands Junior expand in a summer of rugby league

Ghana rugby league partner to support young players

Round 10 Results

Lisa Fioala Cup Round 10 full results, ladder & top point scorers

Tarsha Gale Cup Round 10 full results, ladder & top point scorers

Harold Matthews Cup Round 10 full results, ladder & top point scorers

SG Ball Cup Round 10 full results, ladder & top point scorers

NSWRL Junior Reps news

Seaeagles Harold Matthews Finals report

Panthers advance to semi finals

Warriors one win away from grand final

Two clubs feature in every Junior Reps final

Three Sharks teams qualify for Junior Rep finals

Queensland junior rugby league news

QRL Grand Finals Weekend Wrap Junior Statewide Competitions

Knights dig deep to claim first Andrew Johns Cup

Dragons Pathways Wrap Round 7

Eels Well Placed For Finals Football

QRL Rnd 6 Junior Statewide Competitions

One up one down for Junior Sharks

Warriors SG Ball celebrating first win of season

Sea Eagles Junior Reps Rnd 7

Warriors Matts finals football a step closer

Regional Junior Reps Semi-finals

Mixed Results at Home for the Eels

Sea Eagles Pathways Wrap Rnd 4

A win and a loss for male junior rep Sharks

School Footy News

Cronulla High School Uni Shield

The post England Champion Schools Finals Day 2025 appeared first on OurFootyTeam.

Inspiresport RFL Champion Schools

ourfooty — Mon, 08 Jul 2024 08:52:06 +0000

Inspiresport RFL Champion Schools

Author : England Rugby League

Inspiresport RFL Champion Schools Finals Day

Castleford Academy maintained their outstanding record in the inspiresport RFL Champion Schools as their Year 9 Boys and Year 10 Girls clinched two more titles on an action-packed day of Rugby League at Wakefield Trinity’s DIY Kitchens Stadium on Friday.

But they weren’t the only winners, with five more schools crowned Champions, and 10 different schools represented.

Castleford Academy had already won two of the three inspiresport Champion Schools titles decided before the main Finals Day, doubling up in the Year 11 Finals that were played in the spring term to prevent a clash with GCSE studies.

Their incredible tally of Champion Schools wins, which was the subject of a feature in The Guardian in 2023.

The schools where England’s rugby league and union players are made | Rugby league | The Guardian is now approaching 60.

The first win of the summer term Finals Day was secured by St Bede’s & St Joseph’s of Bradford, who beat Rainford High School of St Helens in a high-scoring Year 7 Girls Final.

St Peter’s High School of Orrell had already secured the Year 7 Boys Final in its traditional home at Wembley Stadium in June, beating Ysgol Gyfon Gymraeg Glantaf of Cardiff 26-6 in the Steven Mullaney Memorial Match.

The Year 8 Girls Final was an all-Hull affair and it was Archbishop Sentamu Academy from the east of the city – very much in Hull KR territory – who beat Malet Lambert 34-26 in another high-scoring match.

The Year 8 Boys finalists came from west of the Pennines and it was Outwood Academy Haydock who beat Leigh’s Bedford High School 34-16.

Malet Lambert secured the Year 9 Girls title with a 36-14 win against St Peter’s.

Then Castleford Academy took over, with their Year 9 Boys beating Sirius Academy West – the third Hull school to have earned a place on Finals Day – and the Year 10 Girls also beating Hull opposition in Malet Lambert.

The Year 10 boys of Standish Community High School produced a dazzling display in the last Final of the day to beat Ryburn Valley High School of Sowerby Bridge.

Andrea Murray, the RFL’s National Education Manager, said:

“On behalf of everyone at the RFL, our congratulations go to all the winners, and also the finalists and the dozens of schools and thousands of players who have competed in the 2024 Champion Schools competitions.

“Every year, we see the future of the sport with wonderful skills, fantastic commitment and so many youngsters enjoying the experience – and I’d like to add personal thanks to the teachers, parents and other volunteers – as well as our RFL team – who make it all possible.

“We are grateful to Wakefield Trinity, with the redevelopment of the DIY Kitchens Stadium making it an ideal venue for our 2024 Finals Day, and also to inspiresport, who have been outstanding sponsors of the competition for the last two years.”