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Hill House School

Performance Rugby

  • Rugby at Hill House is entering an exciting new era offering the very best of provision for any aspiring player. Individuals in our programme receive the very best of coaching and development from a staff totally committed to ensuring the progress of all players at every level.  The school has recruited a team of coaches and teachers who have worked at every level of the game including extensively in professional and international teams to ensure an unmatched rugby experience for your child. The nurturing of the student athlete is the primary goal of our programme in which the individual’s academic success is prioritised alongside their sporting commitments. 

Hill House Rugby provides a launch pad for players towards regional and national representation. It is our intention to provide the best possible preparation for talented athletes who are looking to work hard and immerse themselves physically, mentally and academically in our exciting and unique programme on offer for talented players aged 11-18 years.

We are blessed with one of the strongest coaching teams in the North of England and an exciting weekly fixture list.

We have seen many of our rugby players represent the North of England, as well as playing for Yorkshire RFU, Irish Exiles and England age groups. Some of our players have gone on to earn contracts with professional clubs, including Doncaster Knights. 

Recent successes include our U16 team becoming Yorkshire Cup winners and our U15s team being crowned the National Schools' Bowl Champions following an exciting season, culminating in a competitive final at the Saracen's stadium in London.

  • What we can offer

    The success of the Hill House Rugby Programme is down to the following factors.

  • Aims

    Provide an unparalleled rugby experience for the aspiring player in which their individual pathway is prioritised within the competitive playing structures of the teams.

    A focus on the development of core skills as the very foundation of creating successful players and building winning teams. These skills are then applied in conditioned game situations to enhance learning and optimise transference into full game situations.

    Development of players who can and want to understand the game and together with coaches decide the best way to approach different challenges:
    - Opposition: Strengths, Weaknesses
    - Own Team: Strengths, Weaknesses
    - Weather
    - Travel
    - Kick off time

    Enhance the reputation of the school in the North of England and further afield.

    Continue to improve the strength of the fixture list already in place and provide an additional series of games for the elite programme.

    Produce players that are able to enter University / men’s league rugby with a sound understanding of the principles of play:
    - Attacking space
    - Play to score tries
    - Development of core skills
    - Ability to adapt when necessary
    - ENJOY the game

    Allow players to challenge each other and coaches in terms of training, games and standards set throughout each age group.

  • Coaching

    The coaching delivered in school is tailored to create players with the attributes and skill sets to be successful at the highest level and from a staff with an unrivalled record of seeing players progress into professional rugby. Our programme offers elite level coaching from a staff whose combined experience includes Professional and International Rugby in both codes of the game.

    Introduction of guest coaches as part of a regular development and continuity plan across the age groups.

    These include:
    - Clive Griffiths (Doncaster Knights Director of Rugby)
    - Francis Cummins (1st Team Coach Doncaster Knights)
    - Phil Davies (Namibia Head Coach)
    - Dan Van Zyl (Ireland Rugby Academy)
    - Stuart Lancaster (Ulster Rugby)
    - Johan Ackerman (Gloucester RFC)

  • Playing

    HILL HOUSE ELITE PLAYER PROGRAMME

    Hill House Elite Player Programme. A training programme for 2/3 players from each year. These can be “best” players or most deserving. The group will get extra training and an insight into professional sport throughout the season.

    Sessions include:
    - Nutritional advice
    - Gym programmes
    - One to one coaching clinics’
    - Feedback sessions: 1 per Half Term

    This initiative is a reward and something to work towards. This gives the more able / hardest working players a challenge to be nominated and then maintain their place.


    HILL HOUSE RUGBY ON THE ROAD

    Play 2/3 fixture per year at local rugby clubs.

    The grounds we would look to play at include:
    - Castle Park (Home of Doncaster Knights RUFC)
    - Leeds Beckett University
    - Headingley Stadium


    POSITIONAL WORKSHOPS

    Positional specific training is provided across the age groups in addition to team practices for the specific demands of different roles on the field.


    MATCHES AND TOURS

    Our fixture list is extensive and multi layered with a dual programme offered to meet the playing and training requirements of both participation and elite level rugby. This is being continually developed to ensure the best rugby experience possible for our players and teams.

    There are touring opportunities for all players with European tours in October half term for those at U13 and U14 and larger scale tours for senior players. These have previously included South Africa and Canada, with plans in place to visit Malaysia in 2021.