Introduction
The Northampton School for Boys (NSB) 1st XV rugby team aims to secure the Continental Tyres Cup, adding to their earlier victory in the Daily Mail Trophy this season.
On a typical Monday at 8am, over a dozen teenage boys begin their day stretching in a swimming pool, followed by a 30-minute strength and conditioning session in the gym. After a quick breakfast, they change into school uniform and attend their first lesson. This routine marks the start of a week for NSB rugby players, who are pursuing a league and cup double in rugby union this season.
Recently, NSB was recognized as the top rugby school in England, finishing first in the Daily Mail Trophy. This merit-table competition, held during the autumn term, features some of the country’s leading senior schools, many of which are private institutions known for their rugby programs, such as Sedbergh and Wellington College.
NSB is the first state school to top the competition since its inception in 2013, challenging the established trend.
According to Department for Education data, in the 2024-25 academic year, 6.4% of pupils in England attended independent schools. In contrast, 63% (26 out of 41) of England’s wider 2026 Six Nations squad attended independent fee-paying schools.
NSB aims to complete the double this season by facing Epsom College in the Under-18 Continental Tyres Cup final at Twickenham on 19 March. Additionally, the school has reached the national schools cup final in two other age groups.
The school boasts 19 players in Northampton Saints’ under-18 academy, 21 players in the under-16 foundation stage, and seven under-18 internationals. Notable alumni include England internationals Steve Thompson, Courtney Lawes, and Ollie Sleightholme.
"The culture here is what stands out," said Kai Campbell, one of the players. "Everything here is earned. At private schools the facilities are provided, but here there are no silver spoons, we have to put the work in."
Prop Aidan Reid, a rising star in English rugby and a current member of the England Under-18 squad, transferred from fee-paying Bedford School to NSB a few years ago.
"We don't have the facilities, but we have coaches and parents that care, who ultimately want to be the best and compete," Reid said. "We have the desire and we back ourselves over any team. State-schoolers can compete."
Performance on a Budget
NSB’s rugby team, wearing red and blue, defeated fellow state school Campion in the semi-final of the Continental Tyres Schools Cup.
The school operates with tightly controlled financial resources. Coaches are unpaid, and the school has actively raised funds to cover transport, kit, and equipment costs, securing support from local businesses that supply items at cost price.
Phil Beaumont, director of rugby, states the annual rugby budget is "well below" £50,000.
"Anything that brings a slight advantage will make a difference, whether that's someone donating tape, our shirts being sponsored, parents dropping off for fixtures," he said. "That way, we can alleviate some of the financial implications and make our programme sustainable. Just because you're at state school doesn't mean you should have less of an opportunity."
NSB has approximately 1,700 students aged 11 to 18, with girls joining in the sixth form. Around 220 boys enter Year 7 each year, many having played for local Northampton clubs from an early age.
The school collaborates with these local clubs to raise standards across age groups and relies heavily on the goodwill of parents and coaches.
"This has been a 10-year project and community led," Beaumont said. "It starts with high-quality coaching. We have 40 parents and coaches already coaching at our local clubs and use their expertise. They are our volunteers.
"We have four high-quality coaches per age group and generate multiple teams, which pushes players to be better. We layer that with competitive matches.
"We create this culture that rugby is part of the school. It's six days a week with Saturday fixtures and the boys support each other pitchside on matchdays."
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Partnership with Northampton Saints
NSB’s Jack Lewis recently made his debut for Northampton Saints.
NSB is an official partner school with Northampton Saints. This year, the school contributed the highest number of players to Saints’ under-18 squad. Four players are set to receive first-team academy contracts this year.
Assistant first team coach Adam Baker commented on the demands placed on players.
"The boys have to manage their time really well," Baker said. "When we get into sixth form and into that first-team setting, we will try and put them through a programme that matches up with an academy programme, so if they go into that pathway, they are fully aware and prepped as to what that day-to-day life looks like."
NSB is not the only state school making an impact. They defeated Campion School from Essex in the Continental Tyres School Cup semi-finals. The match was a tightly contested, high-intensity game played in front of a passionate crowd exceeding one thousand spectators.
The Rugby Football Union (RFU) maintains a network of rugby managers to promote the sport in state schools. Twenty-two of the best state schools compete in the ACE (Academy, Colleges and Education) League. Notable England internationals such as George Martin, Joe Heyes, and Harry Randall have emerged from this pathway.
The ACE programme supports players who may not attend traditional rugby-playing schools by providing daily coaching, competitive fixtures, and opportunities to train alongside academy players.
Northampton Saints have two state school partnerships competing in the ACE League: Moulton College in Northampton and Sigma Sixth Colchester, based at Philip Morant School and College.
"Growing state school rugby is a one step at a time process," Beaumont said. "This is over 10 years of hard work. But it can be done.
"My advice to other schools is find a way to get more numbers in training, organise a game.
"Put a tournament on, you don't need posts. Make it a habit. Get kids playing.
"Rugby needs every state school to push and develop rugby. This is the perfect time. State school rugby could be really special."
One of NSB’s leading players is 18-year-old captain Jack Lewis, who plays in the back row. He has been at NSB for two years and part of the Saints academy since age 14. This year, he made his debut for Northampton Saints and is preparing to lead his school in a Twickenham final for the last time.
"NSB taught me how to act, it's the closest thing to a professional environment," Lewis said. "A lot of people work hard behind the scenes, they sacrifice their time. It's given me so much as a player and a student.
"I've never played at Twickenham, it would be a great achievement if we could lift the cup there. We want to show what NSB stands for."
