Many, particularly some parents, may not know a lot about the ISRFC Lambs, so for those new to the Lambs, this is how they describe themselves:
“The Independent Schools RFC exists to create openings for boys to showcase their rugby skills at a representative level when they have been unable to do so due to other commitments or lack of selection opportunities. We do not seek to offer an alternative or a replacement for the RFU Representative or Academy structures; simply to see young players able to play competitively at as high a level as possible.”
They go beyond simply that though, and have a commitment to playing a ‘fast and free’ brand of rugby. Think of the Barbarians, and you will not go far wrong. Indeed they were originally known as the Independent School Barbarians, until the switch to being know as the Lambs.
The Lambs operate two squads, U18 and U16 (U16 nominations are currently being accepted). Both play a number of games through the Easter term, including against a number of Premiership Academies, with the U18s heading off on their annual Easter Tour at the end of term, this year they visit Argentina, having previously visited the likes of Zimbabwe and the USA.
Here at Fifteen Rugby we cover the Lambs exploits in depth. They give a real opportunity for players to really showcase their talents and have fun in an environment that encourages exciting play.
As Lambs Chairman Chris Terry said of the club’s ethos:
“The Lambs are all about rugby for the love of rugby. Rugby played for the joy of playing. We promote traditional rugby values and seek to play unreserved, heads up running rugby in a fast and expansive style, unfettered by the pressures of the modern game. We play to win, but to the Lambs the way the game is played is more important.”
A great sentiment, and a great reason to follow the Lambs’ exploits this season. Buckle up for a term of ‘fast and free’ rugby ahead!
That fast and free rugby began last weekend as the regional squads played their opening games, with the South West beating Cornwall U17 57-0, while the North XV lost narrowly, 26-24, to Woodhouse Grove. The South East and Midlands sides unfortunately saw their games cancelled.
The regional squads were selected following nominations made by school coaches across the country, followed by four regional trials before the squads were picked.
The next Lambs action takes place on Sunday 10th January as the North take on the Midlands and the South East take on the South West. These games will act as trials for selection to the next stage of the Lambs process, which will see a Northern XV (from the North and Midlands) and a Southern XV (South East and South West) selected, you can see the squad lists (and their schools) at the foot of this article.
Those sides then play each other in what is the very last round of the rigorous selection process before selection to the ISRFC Lambs National Squad.
Speaking following the regional trials, Alex Laybourne, the Lambs National Director, said:
“As expected we have been able to select four very strong squads for the warm up games and regional matches. We are expecting some exciting, fast and free rugby to be on show as these boys represent their school and their region, whilst also aiming to gain selection to the next stage”
ISRFC Lambs Regional Squads:
| North Lambs squad v Midlands Lambs (10th January @ Mount St Mary’s) | |
| Name | School |
| Ben Parker | RGS Newcastle |
| Jack Starkey | Queen Ethelburga’s College |
| Nick Atkinson | Giggleswick School |
| Harry Johnson | Ashville College |
| Ben Langthorne | Durham School |
| Oliver Snowden | Giggleswick School |
| Sam Chrisp | RGS Newcastle |
| Will Burns | Pocklington School |
| Sam Roberts | Mount St Mary’s College |
| Matthew Wray | Yarm School |
| Harry Pearson | Durham School |
| TBC | TBC |
| Sam Considine | Ashville College |
| Mike Sidebottom | Stockport GS |
| Jacob Weightman | Durham School |
| Callum Manchester | Bradford GS |
| Timmy Welsh | RGS Newcastle |
| Dan Chivers | Giggleswick School |
| Henry Sweeting | Hymers College |
| Tom Power | Stockport GS |
| Thomas Gardiner | Barnard Castle School |
| Adam Penistone | Queen Ethelburga’s College |
| Ellis Whorlton-Jones | AKS Lytham |
| Isaac Pye | Ashville College |
| Louis Jones | Stockport GS |
| Midlands Lambs squad v North Lambs (10th January @ Mount St. Mary’s) | |
| Name | School |
| Forwards | |
| Will Beament | Bloxham |
| George Cassell | Bloxham |
| Nick Colbourne | Rugby |
| George Ding | Bloxham |
| Jak Foster | Uppingham |
| Eddie Goss | Wellingborough |
| Callum Heppner-Logan | Shiplake College |
| Zach Heppner-Logan | Shiplake College |
| Joe Lucas | Berkhamsted |
| Harry Pryer | Uppingham |
| Jake Roberts | Bedford Modern |
| Oliver Short | Wisbech Grammar School |
| Henry Wigzell | Oratory |
| Henry Wills | Stamford |
| Backs | |
| George Barbeary | Bloxham |
| Alex Brown | Berkhamsted |
| Toby Buckland | Royal Hospital School |
| Callum Corbett | Stamford |
| Scott Duguid | Berkhamsted |
| Daniel Glasse | Denstone College |
| Will Hughes | Berkhamsted |
| Ikiriko Doxa | The Leys |
| Axel Kalling-Smith | Denstone College |
| Jack McLoughlin | Wellingborough |
| South East Lambs squad v South West Lambs (10th January @ Esher RFC) | |
| Name | School |
| Josh Webb | Brentwood |
| Ben Coker | Brentwood |
| Jacob Welsh | Caterham |
| Josh Coakes | Caterham |
| Hugo Millns | Eastbourne College |
| Angus Clements | Epsom College |
| Oscar Waite | Epsom College |
| Edmund Coke | Eton College |
| Tom Robertson | Eton College |
| George Hitchcock | Felsted |
| Mike Galsworthy | Felsted |
| Augustine Clark | KCS Wimbledon |
| Giorgio Arricale | Mill Hill |
| George Beckman | Mill Hill |
| James Costin-Pratt | Pangbourne College |
| Will Vaughan | Pangbourne College |
| Oliver Taylor | Reed’s |
| George Cropper | Reed’s |
| Joseph Triegaardt | Reed’s |
| Oscar Clark | Seaford College |
| James Porteous | Seaford College |
| Fergus Guiry | Seaford College |
| Hugo Squires | Seaford College |
| James Turner | Sutton Valence |
| Thomas Belin | University College School |
| South West Lambs squad v South East Lambs (10th January @ Esher RFC) | |
| Name | School |
| Charles Lower | Clayesmore |
| Angus Wightman | Wycliffe College |
| Ben Oliphant-Thomson | Blundell’s |
| Alex Hampden-Smith | Mount Kelly |
| Ed Grinsted | King Edward VI, Southampton |
| Charlie Wilder | Blundell’s |
| Samuel Bloomer | Churcher’s College |
| Jordan Gray | Hampshire Collegiate |
| Ben Clarke | Wycliffe College |
| Joe Thomas | Hartpury |
| Will Goodwin | Wycliffe College |
| Charles Bolton | King Edward VI, Southampton |
| Alex Roberts | West Buckland |
| Henry Gliddon | Taunton |
| Harry Williams | Mount Kelly |
| Charlie Bannister | Canford |
| Nick Evans | West Buckland |
| Mike Gorry | King Edward VI, Southampton |
| Hallam Chapman | West Buckland |
| Charlie Thompson | Churcher’s College |
| Daniel Hubble | Truro |