Seaford are sizzling on the rugby pitch

Highlights for the college near Petworth include an impressive victory over old rivals Hurst, a strong win over St John’s Leatherhead and a run to the fifth round of the national Natwest Schools Cup.

Harry Collins, captain and fly-half, said: “We are seeing a lot of new fixtures and we are winning the majority of them. Seaford competing against Whitgift two years in a row is a great achievement given the difference in size, and we are giving them a run for their money.”

Although unsuccessful against Surrey-based Whitgift, there is much the team can be proud of.

Collins praised coaches Edward Bowden and John Green and added: “I am amazed by how much we’ve grown from Year 9 to upper sixth. The coaches are the best Seaford have ever had. It’s Mr Bowden’s first year of coaching the first XV and he has added depth to the side with his skills and knowledge. We learn something new every training session.”

Bowden is coaching at Harlequins and has played at club level in Italy.

Headmaster Green is an ex-Saracens professional and Harlequins academy coach.

Collins said: ‘Mr Green comes out training in his suit. He is phenomenal and has played at such a good standard. The forwards are learning a lot of amazing techniques from him.

“Even when he’s had an open morning, he makes the effort to come and support us with our matches on a Saturday. He’s very approachable, a great character, and it’s nice that he gets involved, it’s very motivational. He gets physically involved in the training, and it’s not every day you get to tackle your headmaster (in a suit).”

A welcome addition to the team is New Zealander James Brosnahan, who is at Seaford for the term and has been influential in the back-line. The squad also have several county players – Matt Kouris and Lewis Sampson play for London Irish, Jake McQuade for Surrey, and Cassius Deschamps, Christian Disley-May and Harry Collins for Sussex.

In the new year, the side are looking forward to taking part in the Sussex Cup. The Seaford first XV have won it for the past two years and hope to continue this trend after getting a bye to the last eight.

There are also four sevens competitions to look forward to, while Disley-May and Collins have trials for the south-east squad in January.

Results for the term:

City of London Freemans W 24-3

St John’s Leatherhead W 27-0

Christ’s Hospital W 35-10

Hurst W 56-8

Glyn Tech W 41-6

Worthing College W 32-0

St Johns Southsea W 95-0

City of London Freemans W 21-19

Brighton College L 10-21

Churches W 17-0

Reeds W 24-17

Whitgift L 17-41

Shiplake W 37-31