Aoife’s National Touch Rugby Success

We are incredibly proud to share some exciting news from the world of Touch Rugby - Aoife in Year 10 has been selected as a Non-Travelling Reserve (NTR) for the England Under 18 Mixed Squad. At just 15 years old, this selection highlights Aoife’s exceptional commitment, talent, and enthusiasm for Touch Rugby.

As an NTR, Aoife will continue to train with the national squad and may step up to compete in the Atlantic Cup should a squad member be unable to participate. The competition, taking place at the end of July in Limerick, Ireland, will welcome teams from across the globe - from the Cayman Islands to Lebanon. Aoife's selection alone speaks volumes about her potential and the bright future that lies ahead. It places Aoife in strong contention for a place in next year’s European Championships, and provides valuable experience training at an elite level.

Aoife shares her thoughts on joining the team:

“I’m looking forward to training with my squad as I’m the youngest on the team, and I think training with people who are older and have played for longer will really help develop my skills for the future.”

Following last week’s Schools’ Touch Rugby tournament, hosted at our School in partnership with England Touch and Try-Sports, Aoife received further recognition. In a message from the organisers, they praised the attitude and potential of all the players:

"We were so impressed with the attitude and willingness to learn from the players. The standard of the competition was also brilliant, but more importantly, we love working with good people who are eager to improve."

As a result of her performance and commitment, Aoife has been invited to join the England Touch Centre of Excellence programme for 2025/26, part of the official ETA development pathway. The programme, beginning in September, offers accelerated training for talented athletes and focuses not only on sporting performance but also on personal growth and leadership. Aoife may also have the opportunity to attend a 4-day summer residential camp, where she will train with and be coached by some of the world’s top Touch Rugby players and coaches. With Touch Rugby expected to feature in the 2032 Brisbane Olympics, this could mark the beginning of an exciting journey for Aoife.

We congratulate Aoife on her outstanding achievements and look forward to seeing how her Touch Rugby career continues to flourish. She is an inspiration to her peers and a fantastic ambassador for sport at our School!

To find out more about our sports provision and success stories, please click here.