Our 1st XV pitch has proved an unbeaten battle ground for almost all of last year and has thus earned itself a new name: ‘The Fortress’ – a reference you might have heard the boys affectionately using in recent months.
The rugby season drew to a close at the end of December with a final fixture against Abingdon providing the boys with a game to get their teeth stuck into and show what they are capable of one final time. It proved a fitting end to the season with a 43 to 15 win.
However, the game is not just about the score for the boys, rugby also gives them a great learning experience, an opportunity to make close friends and create memories for life. With their schoolboy rugby days coming to an end, it has proved to be an emotional time for our Upper Sixth as they reflect on what representing Bedford School rugby has meant for them.
This experience is exactly what Upper Sixth Former Will Roberts had the vision by producing a short documentary about the 1st XV. With the help of Lower Sixth Former Jacob Foster, Will turned his vision into a reality with ‘Protecting the Fortress’ – a 12-minute documentary, which features 1st XV Co-Captains Tom Godber and Max Allman-Ward, who share their experience of their time playing schoolboy rugby and what it means for them.
Watch ‘Protecting the Fortress’ here.
Thanks to Will, who has already carved himself out a career in sports media, regularly commentating at Bedford Blues Rugby Club, NextGenXV and Bedford Football Club, and setting up his award-winning ‘Young Rugby’ initiative, we have been able to report on the progress of the 1st XV better than ever before. Will (under supervision from Director of Rugby, James Hinkins) set up and managed a new Instagram account called ‘bsrugby1’ to help share rugby news and attract a wider audience, culminating with this documentary.
Will, who has been gathering footage and material for the film, explained, “It has been such a special squad and environment to be in. Having captained the 2nd XV this year, I have been able to experience the game day in, day out, and just knew I wanted to document the emotions felt across the squad. Being side-lined with a long-term injury for the latter half of the season left me with more time to pursue this and create this project. I am so proud of what I have managed to capture and showcase, which is a club and team spirit that is hard to find at school-boy rugby level. Hopefully, that is something that comes across in the documentary.”