Rugby
Rugby is the major sport of the Autumn Term and The Leys fields teams at the following levels: 1st XV, 2nd XV, 3rd XV, U16As and Bs, U15 As and Bs and U14 As and Bs (Lent Term). The Junior Boarding House (Moulton House) fields an A and B team which plays against prep schools in the East Anglian region.
The Leys has a traditional fixture list of a very good standard - opposition schools include Mill Hill, Norwich School, Bishop's Stortford College, Felsted, RHS Holbrook, The Perse, Ipswich School, Gresham's and King's Ely. All matches are on Saturday afternoon, kick off 2:30pm.
In the Lent Term, both current and prospective 1st XV rugby players work with a Strength and Conditioning Coach on a weekly basis. The boys follow a weight training/strength programme as well as learn in more detail aspects of nutrition, diet and injury rehabilitation.
Rugby 7s
In the Lent term, senior boys continue with Sevens Rugby, building on and improving both handling and skill levels. The Senior 7s Team competes in the National 7s Tournament at Fylde RUFC, Lancashire. In 2004, The Leys were beaten semi-finalists but went one better by winning the 2004 Cambridgeshire 7s Tournament at Hills Rd. The boys have been fortunate to receive expert coaching from Mike Friday, the England 7s Coach who ran two training sessions at School last year.
The Leys and Northampton Saints
The School has recently developed strong links with The Northampton Saints Academy. Talented rugby players in School attend the Eastern Counties Player Development sessions run monthly by the Northampton Saints Academy. From here it is hoped that the most exceptional players will be invited to join the Saints Junior Academy training largely during school holidays. The top coaches from The Saints Academy also come into School to run practices with the senior boys, passing on valuable advice about individual and position specific training programmes.
Rugby Tours
The Leys has a strong tradition of touring abroad, having travelled to Australia in 1985 and 1996 and South Africa in 1999 and 2004. There was a very successful tour to New Zealand and Singapore in July 2007 which will involve 4 days sightseeing and a match in Singapore before travelling on to Auckland, New Zealand. The tour party traveled through the North Island playing matches in Auckland, Tauranga and Wellington before crossing the Cook Strait to the South Island for matches in Christchurch and Queenstown.
The Leys Coaching Team: Rugby Football
Tommy Danns
Rugby coach
1st XV and U14s CoachPlaying
Northampton Saints Academy
Blackheath
Chris Rowe
1st XV Forwards Coach
Playing
London Irish, Plymouth Albion and The Army
Austin Jessop
2nd XV Coach
Ex-Coach of Cambridge University and Eastern Counties U18
Selector for The London Division U18
Playing
Cambridge University, Northampton RUFC and East Midlands
Gavin Deudney
3rd XV Coach
Ex-coach of Westerford School 1st XV, Cape Town
Playing
University of Cape Town 3rd XV
Northerns Club, Cape Town Under 21As
Simon Dorman
Under 16s Coach
Ex-Assistant Coach of Gordonstoun School 1st XV
Playing
Queens University, Belfast 1st XV
Andy Erby
Under 15s Coach
Newington College, Sydney; (Junior teams and 1st XV asst. coach)
The Leys; all junior teams and 1st XV over the years.
Playing
NSW Schools, Sydney University (Blue 1977), Combined Australian Universities, Cambridgeshire
Ian Silk
Under 15s Coach
Playing
Lancaster University 1st XV
Upton-upon-Severn Rugby club and Battersea RUFC
Alex Welby
Under 14s Coach Ex-coach of Wellington College successful U14s: joint winners of The Daily Mail Cup
Playing
South of England schoolboys, St Edmund Hall, Oxford 1st XV
Martin Gale
Moulton Rugby Coach
11 to 16 rugby at Soham Village College
Playing
Exeter College and Devon schools - U18
Ely RUFC and Cambridgeshire Rugby