Bloxham has had the privilege of welcoming several prominent figures from the world of professional rugby over the past month. These visits, aimed at enriching the students’ experiences and enhancing the staff’s knowledge, featured Leicester Tigers centre, Dan Kelly, and former Harlequins Director of Rugby, John Kingston. Their presence provided invaluable insights and inspiration, supporting Bloxham’s commitment to excellence in rugby education.
Most recently, we were honoured to host Leicester Tigers centre Dan Kelly, who has been capped by both England and Ireland U20. A former pupil of our 1st team coaches, Mr Trenhaile and Mr Walker, Dan generously volunteered his time to share his experiences with our coaches, observe the Yearlings’ sessions, and deliver a coaching session to the 1st XV ahead of their fixture against Old Swinford Hospital. He concluded his visit by answering a range of questions from Bloxham students, discussing both professional rugby and his degree from Loughborough University.
The students who interacted with Dan were greatly impressed by his expertise and guidance. He emphasised the importance of hard work, teamwork, organisation, and discipline in a clear and grounded manner.
We were also fortunate to welcome John Kingston, the former long-serving Harlequins Director of Rugby and Head Coach. A Premiership winner and Cambridge graduate, John has visited Bloxham twice, providing professional development for our coaches and offering insights and guidance on various aspects of our rugby programme.
John also organised a visit to Bath Rugby with our Head of Rugby, Mr Walker, during the summer where they spent a day with the Bath 1st XV during their pre-season programme.
These visits support and demonstrate our ongoing commitment to elevating the standard of rugby at Bloxham, ensuring that our coaches and players are continually learning the latest practices from the professional game.