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One of the great highlights of QE’s sporting calendar – the Rugby Sevens tournament – brought a day of spirited, exciting play.

With the weather good, the 49th Annual QE Barnet Rugby Sevens Tournament drew some 56 teams to battle it out for the cup and plate trophies, including many from the country’s leading rugby schools.

The U14 event was held, as usual, on the School’s four pitches at Queen’s Road. However, with Barnet Elizabethans RFC’s pitches unavailable this year, Haberdashers’ Boys’ stepped in to host the U16s.

Ipswich School won the cup and Tonbridge School took the plate at U14 level, while for the older boys, Berkhamsted School secured the cup and Merchant Taylors’ the plate.

Headmaster Neil Enright said: “Our Sevens tournament is always a happy occasion at which visitors, alumni, staff and our own parents come together with the boys to enjoy the games and meet up with friends. With the sun shining brightly, there was a real air of celebration this year, while the players delivered some truly thrilling play.”

“My congratulations go to our winners, and I am, of course, grateful to Habs for hosting the U16 event.”

Staging the tournament at QE was a huge logistical effort involving the hard work and co-operation of the entire PE & Games department, the London Society of Referees, many pupil helpers and volunteers from The Friends of Queen Elizabeth’s. The event was sponsored once again by school and club sports tour specialists, inspiresport.

QE’s own teams faced tough opponents in their group stages.

Head of Rugby Ollie Di-Lieto said: “Although, sadly, both the U14s and U16s lost their matches in the group stage, they gave us some exciting attacking rugby and provided plenty of highlights to remember the day by.”

Although Junu Park, of Year 9, gained much ground with some outstanding running and his teammates at times moved the ball into space well, the squad found it harder to maintain constant pressure, with the breakdown fiercely contested even with the reduced numbers on the field, Mr Di-Lieto said.

The final U14 game against Robert Clack School, from Dagenham, saw QE come agonisingly close, losing in the end 24–26.

“All our games were played in a good spirit and with great commitment against some of the best rugby schools around,” said Mr Di-Lieto, who thanked all involved.

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QE’s annual Rugby Dinner brought together players from throughout the School who share a love of the game. With awards galore, the evening was a celebration of the 2024-2025 season so far, which has already seen more than 400 boys playing for QE teams.

Staff and students reflected on the benefits of playing the game. Research into the impact of rugby in schools found 63% of participants reported improved leadership skills, 69% were more confident, with positive outcomes for improving mood (57%) and self-esteem (58%), as well as supporting over 70% to be more physically active.

In a positive season thus far, across the 123 fixtures played by the date of the dinner, QE teams had won 64, drawn 5 and lost 54, with plenty learned in victory and defeat.

There was a look forward to coming highlights – including next month’s QE Rugby Sevens, this summer’s senior rugby and cricket tour to Sri Lanka, and next year’s rugby tour to Holland for Years 9 & 10.

And the diners heard from Old Elizabethan guest speaker Nabil Haque (OE 2010–2017), a former First XV captain, who went on to play university rugby at Cambridge, where he took a double-first degree with distinction in Architecture. He subsequently went on to a two-year scholarship at Yale. He flew in to QE from Berlin, where he is now working as an architect.

Director of Sport Jonathan Hart said: “Our second annual Rugby Dinner was an excellent occasion, giving us the opportunity to reward success and celebrate endeavour among those committed to the game.”

During the evening, both Nabil and QE’s current Head of Rugby, Oliver Di-Lieto, paid tribute to the School’s former Head of Rugby, James Clarke, who died in January in Bermuda, where he was working for the Bermuda Rugby Football Union.

Nabil played predominantly for the second team at Cambridge (known as the LX Club). He paid tribute to all that he had learned about rugby at QE, stating that not only was it fulfilling athletically, but also came with social perks, such as giving him entry to certain clubs! He had relished the chance to play at a high level, including the opportunity to play alongside those in the Blues squad who had been international players, but stated that, in fact, his best memories of the sport were from QE, such as lining up with his teammates to defy the odds against physically bigger players from schools with better financial resources.

Rugby, he said, had shaped him as a person: he encouraged all those at the dinner to embrace its values and the opportunities it presents.

The dinner featured awards for players in Years 7–11 and for the Second XV and First XV, including a Most Improved Player, Player of the Season and a Players’ Player (voted by the boys), with the latter awarded both to an A team and a B team player in the first five years.

There were Senior Colours for 14 pupils, while a highlight of the evening was the naming of the QE Rugby Team of the Year – a staff selection of boys from across the year groups judged to be the best in their position. The line-up featured eight starting forwards, seven backs and another eight replacements.

The chosen line-up was:

1. Marcus Ingal (U13)
2. Krutharth Behera (1st XV)
3. Sachin Saddi (U13)
4. David Hirtopanu (1st XV)
5. Niketh Putta (U14)
6. Thinuka Kapugama (U15)
7. Aashir Irfan (U16)
8. Junu Park (U14)
9. Shradan Venkatesan (U12)
10. Lakshmi Chirumamilla (U15)
11. Yashwant Sunkara (U16)
12. Jake Owens (1st XV)
13. Darsh Singh (U12)
14. Ubayd Uddin (1st XV)
15. Ryan Goyal (U14)
16. Tanush Madadi (U15)
17. Rohan Mukherjee (U13)
18. Kyan Syed (U16)
19. Saami Mansur (U13)
20. Kevin Gajera (U14)
21. Roshan Patel (U15)
22. Thomas Young (U16)
23. Yashinth Sivananthan (U16)

Three Year 12 Sports Leaders were singled out for special mention: Aadam Aslam, Zain Ahmed and Hashim Khan have been coaching Year 7 boys on Friday afternoons as well as helping the PE department by managing Year 7 teams in rugby fixtures. Encouraging others at the dinner to get involved in helping younger boys, Mr Di-Lieto said: “These three have given a lot to QE rugby this year. They themselves have developed skills such as leadership and communication, but the boys they have coached have learnt even more.”

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When QE’s First XV meet traditional rivals Haberdashers’ Boys’ School, expectations are always high – and this year’s game fully lived up to its billing. 

Finely balanced and hugely physical, the match at Barnet Elizabethans Rugby Football Club was played to the sound of loud support from the touchline. 

QE Director of Sport Jonathan Hart said: “While our First XV suffered a narrow 13-7 defeat, their performance deserved more from the game, and this was one to be proud of. The togetherness and physical commitment of the boys was notable, led by Captain David Hirtopanu [Year 13].”

Habs’ had the better of the first half in terms of territory and possession, and they were awarded a large number of penalties. After great resistance from the QE defence, Habs’ did eventually manage to cross over for their first try, taking a 5-0 lead into the break. 

The roles were reversed in the second half, with QE retaining the ball much better and exerting significant pressure. “Powerful ball-carrying and some exciting breaks in the wide channels did not, unfortunately, convert into points,” said Mr Hart.  

When another penalty was awarded to Habs’, the visitors kicked from the 22-metre line and extended their lead to 8 points.  

“Another Habs’ try, against the run of play, put the victory out of reach for QE. However, the boys were determined in their play and reasserted themselves, charging at the Habs’ line until sealing a thoroughly deserved try – scored by Year 13’s Daniel Ghorbanian, following more great work from Timi Banjo from Year 12 – in the final play of the match. An excellent conversion by Akaash Gill, of Year 13, brought the score to 13-7.”

There was strong support from current pupils, staff and a number of OEs (particularly from the 2024 leavers) – many with memories of playing this fixture in recent years.  

“From air horns and saucepan lids to their shouts of encouragement, there was a big match atmosphere created on a cold and muddy night,” said Mr Hart. 

Star swimmer Rocco Giustiniani won gold in both the 100m and 200m butterfly finals in Swim England’s Summer Meet at Sheffield’s Ponds Forge complex.

Rocco, who enters Year 13 next month, battled hard to win the shorter race, while in the 200m, he not only led from the start, but also achieved an emphatic personal best (PB).

Director of Sport Jonathan Hart said: “Many congratulations to Rocco on these impressive performances, which I know reflect a great deal of hard work in training.”

Rocco, who swims for London’s long-established Anaconda Swim Club, reached the final of the 17-year-olds’ 100m competition after performing strongly in the heats, where he was just outside his PB for that distance.

Placed in lane 4 for the final, he was behind at the halfway stage, but fought back hard to take gold with a time of 57.74 seconds, ahead of the second-placed swimmer on 58.04.

In the 200m final, he led all the way in lane 5, getting off very quickly and swimming the first leg in an impressive 27.88s. By the halfway stage, he was a full second clear of the field – an advantage he retained to the end, completing the race with a time of 2.09.53.

Last year Rocco was selected for the Sport England-funded Talented Athlete Scholarship Scheme.

The selection was a confirmation of several years of success in the pool.

In the 2021–2022 season, he built on his pre-pandemic successes by winning the 100m butterfly London regional title. He qualified for the summer 2022 national championships, where he finished seventh.

His rise continued last summer when he smashed his PB in the nationals and took bronze in the 200m final.

Rocco’s accomplishments were recognised recently by his QE classmates, when they nominated him for a DVS Award.

The award for ‘independence’ was presented by Old Elizabethan (1991–1998) Priyan Shah, of the DVS Foundation in a special assembly. The citation spoke of his “working exceptionally hard at School, whilst maintaining a rigorous schedule of competitive swimming outside of School”.

Stapylton House beat rivals Broughton at Sports Day 2024 in the closest contest for years.

The blues of Stapylton emerged victorious by the narrowest of margins – a single point – thus bringing to an end the multi-year Sports Day dominance of red rivals Broughton.

Headmaster Neil Enright said: “With Stapylton winning by 587 points to Broughton’s 586, the competition could hardly have been any more exciting! Well done to all the hundreds of boys who competed and to our winners.

“My thanks go to the PE & Games department for successfully putting on a one-day festival of physical activity that was a great deal of fun.”

Sports Day covered a wide range of disciplines, including individual track and field athletics events, rowing, triathlon, badminton, table-tennis, Eton Fives, tug-of-war and volleyball.

It involved every pupil from Year 7 through to Year 10. Large numbers of staff were on hand to make sure everything ran smoothly, with the Year 12 Sports Leaders also playing an important role in the administration.

The event was the swansong of Head of Rugby James Clarke, who leaves the School this summer after working in the department for a dozen years. As an Old Elizabethan (1999-2004), if he felt some disappointment that his own House, Broughton, missed out, there was at least consolation in the fact that he anchored the staff team to victory in the traditional finale to Sports Day – the QE Mile, a 16 x 100m relay.

Pictured, top, is Year 10’s Faaiz Adil, one of the School’s leading young sportsmen, quite literally throwing himself into his race.

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The 48^th Annual Queen Elizabeth’s School Sevens brought out the best in competitors and helpers alike, with teams serving up some exciting rugby despite the challenging conditions.

Weeks of rain leading up to the tournament ruled out Barnet Elizabethans RFC’s pitches, which meant that only pitches at the School were available. As a result, only the U14 competition could proceed.

Harrow School’s squad took the Cup for the second year running, beating Bedford School 12-5 in the final. In the Plate, it was Abingdon School who ran out winners in the final over Berkhamsted School.

QE’s Head of Rugby James Clarke said: “Well done to all the players, coaches and parents who braved and battled the elements. From looking splendid in the sunshine of the Friday afternoon, conditions deteriorated, with the day of play on Sunday coinciding with yet more persistent rain.”

“With the QE Sevens attracting many of the country’s top rugby schools, competition was tough, but our home U14 side nevertheless acquitted themselves well in their three group-stage matches.”

Mr Clarke thanked: Headmaster Neil Enright for allowing the tournament to go ahead; sponsors inspiresport; and his colleagues in the PE department for their assistance. “Huge credit to the London Society of Referees, our School prefects and Year 7 volunteers who ensured the tournament ran as smoothly as it did. Thank you also to all schools for their continued support of the tournament.”

After a slow start to their opening fixture as everyone literally tried to get to grips with the slippery ball, QE’s U14 rebounded strongly against Reigate Grammar School in the second half, pulling back one try. Zach Mannathukaran narrowly missed out on a remarkable length-of-the-field score when the ball was knocked-on in goal as he was attempting to secure the grounding.

“Anticipating a very tough second fixture, the boys fronted up and were hugely competitive against Framlingham,” said Mr Clarke. Captain Lakshmi Chirumamilla scored the second try with a dart from the scrum down the blindside – part of another second-half comeback. “QE’s players were thinking that they had at least earned a draw with this try. There was however some confusion regarding whether conversions for the respective teams had been made, and a 14-12 defeat was declared the result by the referee, who was closest to the action.”

“This meant that the boys could no longer qualify for the knock-out rounds, but another creditable outing the in the third match, against Gravesend Grammar, showcased some of the positive aspects of their game, with another two tries scored demonstrating ability in attack.”

“Thinuka Kapugama Geeganage and Tanush Madadi, making their Sevens debuts, added a direct approach, carrying hard and offloading well up the middle,” Mr Clarke concluded.

Tournament sponsors inspiresport provided the cup winners with tickets to a Premiership rugby match, as well as hosting the coaches for lunch.

Full results can be viewed here: www.qebarnet7s.co.uk

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