Rugby Union   Close

THE HISTORY OF MILL HILL RUGBY

From the outset Mill Hill established a reputation as a rugby playing school. The first pupils were largely the sons of non-conformist middle class merchants and ministers disenfranchised not only in politics but in religion as well. This emerging middle class, the leaders of the Industrial Revolution, were determined that their sons would be suitably prepared to become prominent in a society based on talent rather than patronage.

In 1870 remarkable economic growth had made Britain the richest and most powerful nation in the World. The industrious, talented and highly motivated emerging middle class were very much the driving force behind this economic success. Their life-style reflected strongly what is now referred to as Victorian values. The Middle Class established standards, however, hypocritical, of strict morality and refinement. The life of the School very much reflected this; organised sport was seen as an essential part of a boy’s education and formed the basis of a code of conduct for life. In this atmosphere Rugby Football flourished.

It was during the period between the Wars that Mill Hill rugby was at its strongest, indeed the Old Millhillians were regarded as a very strong first class club frequently fielding sides which included five internationals, several Blues and numerous county players. After the Second World War, a series of strong School fifteens produced another crop of outstanding players, who ensured the Old Millhillians remained at the forefront of Club rugby. In 1969 the School celebrated the Centenary of Rugby Football at Mill Hill. This major event was honoured with a match between the 1st XV and a team raised by W C Ramsay. His team contained two ex England captains, three other capped players and a number of Harlequins and Old Millhillians. The game was a good one and it was well reported in the national Press.

In the 1980s Mill Hill rugby took to the international stage by starting the precedent of touring overseas. At first, many people were sceptical about the 1983 tour and suggested that it would be a one off and we would never see the opposition again. Gladly, the reverse has been the case as the School has consequently hosted and entertained teams from Australia, Canada, USA, South Africa, Argentina and Uruguay. Indeed, to this day, there are few rugby playing nations that have not been graced by a rugby touring party from Mill Hill and no one can dispute that the lasting friendships and links that have been forged between schools of different nations are to everyone’s mutual benefit. In today’s multicultural world which is not only passionate about competitive sport in the international arena, but one which increasingly demands respect, tolerance and acceptance of others, Millhillians are well placed to face the challenges of the modern era because the spirit of rugby football for which our forefathers initially valued and respected lives on.

THE GOLDEN AGE OF MILL HILL RUGBY

1807- The school was established as a Grammar School for the sons of Protestant Dissenters

1869- the first representative match of rugby played at Mill Hill

1871- the formation of the Rugby Football Union

1880s from a school roll of less than 100 boys 3 internationals and several Blues emerged the most outstanding of these being T W Pearson who won 13 caps for Wales at rugby

1887 J H Dewhurst earned 1st international cap by Old Millhillian

1918 Bill Ramsay captained Mill Hill 1stXV

Early 1920s Charles Williams- full-back for England

1930s ‘The Golden Age of Mill Hill rugby’:-
W H Sobey Scrum Half 5 caps for England + Vice-Captain of British Lions
R S Sponge Fly Half 7 caps for England + a British Lion- the other half of the famous Old Millhillian half-back partnership

1950s J E Williams Scrum Half 9 caps for England + a British Lion “possibly the greatest player that Mill Hill ever produced”

1954 Sir William Ramsay- only man to elected president of Rugby Football Union twice (again in 1970 during the RFU Centenary)

1955 W D Gibbs President of the RFU

1959 match in Belfast, the furthest a team from Mill Hill had travelled

Early 1960s- Jim Roberts Wing three-quarters 18 caps for England

1969 Centenary Match

1980 A W Ramsay President of RFU

1981 1st overseas match to Agen

1983 1st overseas tour

1988 World Rugby Tour

1993 Winners of Middlesex Cup

1994 Tour to South Africa and Australia, Ben Levenstein England Schools U-18s

1995 Peter Mensah England A

1997 Adrian Flavin England Schools U-18s

1999 Gerald Arasa England U-21s

2000 Tour to South Africa, Winners of the Middlesex Cup

2003 Tour to Australia and Fiji, the most successful to date

2004 Finalists of the Middlesex Cup

2005 Tour to Canada