The Leys School in Cambridge celebrate history-making achievement of under-16 boys’ team at Rosslyn Park National Schools Seven

The under-16 boys’ team made Leys School history at the prestigious Rosslyn Park National Schools Sevens tournament last week.

From a field of 216 schools, the Leysian side reached the semi-finals – further than the school has ever gone before in the country-wide competition.

The tournament at Rosslyn Park has been held annually since 1939 and is the largest school rugby tournament in the world.

This year’s instalment started well for The Leys with victories over The Cathedral School Llandaff, Perins School and West Monmouth School to progress comfortably beyond the group stage.

Victories duly followed against Worth School, Trinity Croydon, Bromsgrove, Haileybury and Whitgift before a repeat meeting with Bromsgrove in the last four proved to be the end of the road in a narrow 10-7 defeat.

Head of rugby at The Leys, James Clark, said: “I cannot thank the boys enough for their attitude and approach to training and for their herculean efforts over the tournament. They gave everything and left nothing out there. I also need to thank Mr Coe and Mr Murray for being the ultimate professionals and giving the boys their absolute best.

“They set the highest standards in all that they did, and when they combine that with their incredible ability, it is no surprise they performed as well as they did. I am so proud to have coached them and count myself very lucky to have been part of their journey.”