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50. Monument (South Africa)
Senior Internationals: 88.20 Points
Under 20 Internationals: 66.50 Points
Under 18 Internationals: 66.00 Points
Rugby World Cup: 59.20 Points
School Championships: 22.22 Points
TOTAL POINTS: 302.12
We start off with Krugersdorp powerhouse Monument. “Monnas” as they are known are considered one of the “Big 6” historical programs in South Africa providing the Springboks with world class talent over the years.
A regional powerhouse within the Northern region of South Africa Monnas have produced 9 Springboks, 17 Junior Springboks and 22 SA Schools players over their history. The class of 2005 was a memorable team and were our unofficial national champions for that year.
Notable alumni include Jaque Fourie, Brendan Venter and Willem Alberts.
49. Rockwell College (Ireland)
Senior Internationals: 66.50 Points
Under 20 Internationals: 42.70 Points
Under 18 Internationals: 78.00 Points
Rugby World Cup: 19 Points
School Championships: 101.64 Points
TOTAL POINTS: 307.84 Points
A huge contributor to Irish rugby particularly at Under 18 level the Munster schools outfit are a historically significant school who were the dominant outfit in the regional schools Cup winning 6 out of the first 10 tournaments. There were periods of success but they lagged somewhat behind powerhouses such as Presentation Brothers and Christian Brothers although 3 wins in the last decade and numerous Under 20 internationals have shown that the program’s strength is far from diminished.
Their most recent Irish internationals are John Fogarty (2010) and Denis Leamy (2004) but keep a close eye on recent graduates such as Jake Flannery and Diarmuid Barron who may yet take the next step in their rugby journeys.
48. Royal Belfast Academical (Ireland)
Senior Internationals: 114.00 Points
Under 20 Internationals: 6.00 Points
Under 18 Internationals: 93.60 Points
Rugby World Cup: 0 Points
School Championships: 96.22 Points
TOTAL POINTS: 309.82 Points
An absolute powerhouse in the Ulster region, the Royal Belfast Academical Institution are known for a tough and uncompromising style of rugby and are held in incredibly high regards within Irish rugby.
32 Ulster schools trophies, second behind only Methodist College it is particarly in terms of the Under 18 national team where their contributions have been most closely felt with 36 old boys having represented Ireland Under 18 with distinction.
Their most recent senior international is James Hume who made his debut for Ireland earlier this year but keep a close eye on youngster David McCann who truly looks a special prospect for the future.
47. Sedbergh School (England)
Senior Internationals: 67.20 Points
Under 20 Internationals: 52.00 Points
Under 18 Internationals: 106.40 Points
Rugby World Cup: 29.40 Points
School Championships: 62.50 Points
TOTAL POINTS: 317.50
When talking to a school rugby enthusiast from any country one of the first names one thinks of when it comes to an English powerhouse is Sedbergh School.
A school with a rich history having been founded in 1525 Sedbergh is certainly a historically significant school but in terms of their rugby history the last decade has been something special and has seen them recognized as one of the best modern school rugby programs in the world.
They are the second highest contributor in terms of English Under 18 internationals and have produced an abundance of world class talent with Wavell Wakefield, Will Greenwood and Will Carling amongst their best known alumni.
46. Sacred Heart (New Zealand)
Senior Internationals: 189.20 Points
Under 20 Internationals: 29.60 Points
Under 18 Internationals: 87.00 Points
Rugby World Cup: 14.80 Points
School Championships: 0 Points
TOTAL POINTS: 320.60
Were it not for being in one of the toughest school competitions in the world, the Auckland 1A we have no doubt that Sacred Heart would be a far better known name on the world stage.
29 New Zealand Under 18 players, 8 Baby Blacks and 17 All Blacks tells you that this is certainly a special production line for the All Blacks. Their best known export is almost certainly legendary All Black captain and Hall of Famer Sean Fitzpatrick.
45. Grey High (South Africa)
Senior Internationals: 176.20 Points
Under 20 Internationals: 40.20 Points
Under 18 Internationals: 39.00 Points
Rugby World Cup: 45.80 Points
School Championships: 22.22 Points
TOTAL POINTS: 323.42
Grey High school were founded all the way back in 1856 and were one of three prestigious schools founded by George Grey, the other two being rugby powerhouses Grey College from South Africa and Auckland Grammar from New Zealand.
Perhaps Grey High live in the shadow of their brother schools somewhat in rugby terms but their overall sports program is almost unrivaled. But this website is about rugby and that is what we will discuss, but make no mistake Grey High are certainly no pushovers.
The class of 1976 in particular was an impressive group being named our unofficial national champions for the year but 16 Springboks have come through the system with the most recent being Curwin Bosch, JJ Engelbrecht, Luke Watson and of course current Springbok skipper Siya Kolisi.
44. Shore (Australia)
Senior Internationals: 192.00 Points
Under 20 Internationals: 7.00 Points
Under 18 Internationals: 62.10 Points
Rugby World Cup: 29.60 Points
School Championships: 35.43 Points
TOTAL POINTS: 326.13
The Sydney Church of England Grammar School, more commonly known as Shore are certainly no longer a major powerhouse in schools rugby but have a rich history of accomplishment especially when it comes to producing Wallaby internationals.
A total of 19 Wallabies have been produced by the school placing them in the Top 10 producers within Australia although the last Wallaby internationals were last produced back in 2003 the players being Al Baxter and legendary flanker Phil Waugh.
43. Colstons (England)
Senior Internationals: 105.60 Points
Under 20 Internationals: 7.60 Points
Under 18 Internationals: 86.80 Points
Rugby World Cup: 22.60 Points
School Championships: 104.46 Points
TOTAL POINTS: 327.06
There was perhaps no rugby program as significant in England’s rich school rugby history as the Colston’s team of the 90’s and early 2000’s.
There was no program that came close to the Bristol powerhouse during this period with the school going on an unprecedented run in the NatWest Schools Cup winning the competition 6 times on the trot between 1995 – 2000. Their tour to South Africa in 1996 showcased their pedigree with the team easily winning all matches on their tour and earning the respect of teams wherever they travelled.
The program has certainly dropped off in recent history but 7 out of their 11 England internationals were produced in their golden age and prodigies such as Olly Barkley and Tom Vardnell will certainly be remembered as extremely gifted athletes.
42. Rugby School (England)
Senior Internationals: 288.10 Points
Under 20 Internationals: 15.10 Points
Under 18 Internationals: 28.00 Points
Rugby World Cup: 0 Points
School Championships: 0 Points
TOTAL POINTS: 331.20
The original school rugby powerhouse and the school that gave us the beautiful game we all hold dear, Rugby School were a force to be reckoned with and one feels that had their been formal school competitions in the early days of the game then Rugby School would have certainly ruled the roost with ease and would have no doubt been placed far higher on this list.
The vast majority of early English internationals were Old Rugby boys but as the popularity of the sport spread to other schools Rugby’s foothold on the game gradually decreased. The last Rugby international produced according to our records was Micky Steele-Bodger back in 1947 but keep a close eye on Emeka Ilione and Tom Hardwick who have the potential to add to Rugby’s list.
41. New Plymouth Boys (New Zealand)
Senior Internationals: 240.00 Points
Under 20 Internationals: 30.10 Points
Under 18 Internationals: 39.00 Points
Rugby World Cup: 22.40 Points
School Championships: 0 Points
TOTAL POINTS: 331.50
New Plymouth Boys are certainly a well respected program within New Zealand often producing extremely exciting teams who play and open and expansive style of rugby.
But it is historically where the true strength of the program lies, according to our own records Auckland Grammar despite being the dominant program in the early days of the Auckland 1A competition would often struggle against the powerhouse that was New Plymouth Boys often returning to Auckland battered and bruised and on the wrong end of the scoreboard.
A total of 24 All Blacks have been produced at the school with the last being the 1999 duo of Greg Feek and Rueben Thorne.
