Sport

Rugby is an incredibly popular sport with 23 teams proudly donning the College’s distinctive cherry and white during the Michaelmas Term. First introduced in the early 1900s as an alternative to ‘soccer’, ‘rugger’ championed respect, camaraderie, humility and determination, values which continue to define the club’s ‘Gentleman Warrior’ ethos. From the Midgets through to Bigside, we foster a love of the game by focusing on the development of skills and decision-making, delivered through a fun and challenging programme.

We are fortunate to compete against other top rugby schools from across the UK, regularly reaching the latter stages of national competitions at all age groups. Rugby is the major sport during the Michaelmas Term, supported by a 7-a-side programme in Lent. At the sharp end, boys benefit from year-round support, which includes bespoke performance analysis, skills clinics and first-rate strength and conditioning support, ensuring our teams are as competitive as possible during a short season.

Master in Charge: Nick Wood

The Radley College Boat Club has approximately 165 boys taking part in the sport and regularly puts out seven J14 octuples, four J15 eights, two J16 eights and four senior eights. The sessions range from about five a week for the junior crews, to eleven sessions a week for the 1st and 2nd eights. We boast a beautiful stretch of the River Thames and are fortunate to be the only boat club within 6km, giving our crews the space to train hard and well. We have a total of 20 very experienced and committed coaches made up of dons and external coaches.

Our philosophy is to develop the boys as they progress through the school, focusing on skills in their first two years and then preparing them to compete more seriously from J16 onwards. In the Sixth Form, we aim to ensure that they can reach their full potential at Radley and to represent Great Britain at international level if they are capable. We take pride in being very competitive, but also strive to ensure that the boys enjoy the sport and display good sportsmanship too.

Master in Charge: Sam Townsend

The cricket programme runs through all three terms. The winter is used for technical development in preparation for the summer season. The school’s professional, Andy Wagner, is instrumental in the development of our players. He offers one to one coaching to the top cricketers in the school alongside two weekly net sessions, which are open to all. Year group squads each have a dedicated lunchtime session from October to March. A traditional bowling machine and a Merlyn spin-bowling machine allow boys of all abilities to develop skills for the summer.

The club has 19 teams and a very strong fixture list. With up to 275 boys choosing the sport, we have to be creative to organise fixtures for all abilities and ensure that the twin strands of performance and participation are catered for. The 1st XI play in two cup competitions. They won the John Harvey Cup and the Cowdrey Cup in 2017 and have won the John Harvey Cup twice more in recent years. However, whilst success on the pitch is important, the emphasis is on enjoyment of the game and a healthy respect for the values of cricket.

Our hockey programme involves more than 250 boys from all year groups. In a normal year we will field 16 competitive teams in the Independent Schools’ Hockey Leagues, where we consistently challenge (and often win!) the title. All boys have the choice of hockey or rowing in the Lent term of their Shell year and those in the top teams are expected to continue playing in the Remove and beyond. During Michaelmas Term, talented hockey players are able to take part in our bespoke hockey programme with emphasis on improving basic skills and game-play awareness.

The hockey facilities at the College include three astroturf pitches, which ensures that all our teams benefit from playing on the best possible surfaces. Our excellent facilities are complimented by a highly qualified and committed coaching staff. The team is led by Michael Hills (Master in Charge of Hockey) who is supported by our hockey professional Peter Bennett and coaches Graham King and Adam Jolly who boast a wealth of playing and coaching experience at national and regional level.

Master in Charge: Michael Hills

Lawn Tennis is played throughout the year at Radley. Squad sessions are held at the White Horse Indoor centre in Michaelmas and Lent terms and are led by Head Coach and Oxfordshire Men’s Captain Jon Maskens. Private lessons are offered during central hours. The coaching team also includes Lucy Brown, recent WTA tour professional.

The Lawn Tennis Club has some 210 members and boys compete in block fixtures against traditional opponents during the Summer Term. In addition, top teams compete in national and regional competitions including the ISL, RHWM Quadrangular, OXIST Quadrangular, The Glanville Cup and LTA U15 National Competitions and the ISTA Championships at the end of term. Matches are played on 8 newly laid Poraflex hard courts and 24 astro courts.

In recent years, Radleians have gone on to play Senior County Tennis for Oxfordshire and boys occasionally represent their counties at U18. The 2023 season saw multiple age-group wins for the College and notable First Pair wins against ISTA champions Bradfield and against Eton. Captain Woody Walker won the MCS U18 Festival, over seven rounds, beating the Oxfordshire U18 no. 1 in the final. Woody has been selected to be part of the ISTA team to play against the All England Club in 2024.

The Club hosts an annual Family Tennis Barbecue and Tournament, and dons also compete against other schools in social matches.

Master in Charge: Ralph Woodling

Football is a popular sport at Radley. We have three training sessions per week (Tuesday, Thursday and Friday) and regular fixtures on Saturdays. There are 210 boys who play and make up 13 competitive teams. Across a season we will play up to 100 matches across the club. The top three Senior teams, U16 A and U15 A sides all play in the Central Independent Schools League (CISL). In the 2023 season, all five teams finished as runners-up in their respective leagues. We encourage the boys to develop confidence in having the ball at their feet and being comfortable playing a fluid passing game.

Master in Charge: Seb Perkins

Boys are able to choose golf as a main sport in Michaelmas and Lent terms, and we field a team to play competitive fixtures throughout the year. Between 10 and 30 boys play golf full-time, and we use our own 9 hole course, driving ranges and our local club, Frilford Heath, one of the best courses in Oxfordshire, for training and fixtures. We are fortunate to have the use of a PGA Professional and an indoor golf simulator. We do not view ourselves as an elite academy facility, but encourage good golfers to compete regionally and nationally. We are regular finalists in the ISGA Matchplay and HMC Foursomes and often win the West of England Schools’ Championship, where we can field a Senior team of golfers all within a few strokes of scratch, as well as a Junior team with handicaps in the mid teens.

Master in Charge: Paul Miron

Athletics is a popular choice in the Summer Term for boys looking to test their abilities to run, jump and throw. An emphasis is placed upon boys establishing the fundamentals of a robust and all-round athlete, before going onto specialise in specific event groups.

Our fixtures present boys of every ability an opportunity to compete and find their niche in a multitude of events. Boys with Michaelmas and Lent term sporting ambitions often find athletics as the perfect pre-season preparations to periodise effectively into a team sport season. In recent years, boys have gone onto represent Oxfordshire at the English Schools Athletics Championships.

Master in Charge: Dan Studley

Cross Country takes place during the Michaelmas and Lent terms. The Radley College Harriers cross country team was affiliated to England Athletics in 2021 to offer boys the opportunity to compete in local club events as well as aspire to the highest level of school cross country. Michaelmas Term centres around the National Cross-Country Cup where Harriers teams compete towards a place at the National Championships.

Lent Term contains a mixture of relay and individual competitions where boys of all abilities have an opportunity to compete. Six boys have gone onto achieve Oxfordshire county honours in recent years, with many boys gaining useful fitness benefits to feed into other sporting endeavours. Games lessons often take boys off-site to complete sessions in the rolling Oxfordshire countryside.

Master in Charge: Maria Lebedeva

We offer unique opportunities for boys to undertake a wide variety of countryside pursuits at our Countryside Centre. The College hosts a thriving pack of beagles and boys continue to hunt legally throughout the Michaelmas and Lent terms, as well as attending hound shows in the Summer. Boys also have the opportunity to flyfish for trout on the College’s two acre lake, with scope to fish competitively, and the College regularly sends clay shooting teams to the major school competitions. In addition to the wide range of field sports on offer, the Countryside Centre provides ample opportunity for boys to help with the routine management of hounds and livestock, and to support breeding programmes.

Countryside Centre Director: Charlie Herbert
Master in Charge: Tim Morris

Polo is a very fast sport that is also riveting to watch. It requires horsemanship, nimbleness in the saddle and excellent hand-eye coordination, all of them can be discovered at Oxford Polo, a purpose-built polo facility in the North of Oxford where we train. Radley Polo nurtures the keen beginner and advances and supports the experienced players of all levels. Our professionals coach the squad and supply horses if required. Polo takes place twice a week in both the Lent (in the arena) and the Summer Term (on grass) and Shells play once a week. The seasons highlights are the Senior Schools Polo Association winter and summer tournaments and also the schools’ flagship event, the Copenhagen Cup, played at Guards Polo Club.

Master in Charge: Oliver Choroba

Swimming at Radley College is a popular and highly regarded sport, supported by exceptional facilities that provide an ideal environment for both training and competition. The college’s six-lane, 25-meter pool is the centrepiece of our aquatic program, offering ample space for swimmers to hone their skills. Boys participating in the Swim Squad benefit from twice-weekly squad sessions, alongside four additional weekly training opportunities. This rigorous schedule ensures that swimmers can continually develop their technique, stamina, and speed, preparing them for the challenges of competitive swimming. With around 20 boys regularly attending sessions each week, the sport fosters a close-knit community of dedicated athletes who take full advantage of the resources available.

For those who choose Swimming as their Games option, regular galas provide the perfect platform to showcase their abilities in a competitive setting. Radley swimmers compete in prestigious events such as the ESSA Secondary Schools’ Team Championships and the Southern Independent Schools Aquatic Grand Prix, where they test their skills against some of the best young swimmers in the region and nation. The annual Inter Social Swimming Gala is always a popular fixture, showcasing the very best that boys can achieve in a “friendly rivalry” type of atmosphere! Beyond the competitive aspect, swimming offers substantial physical benefits, making it an excellent sport for boys. Regular swimming sessions improve cardiovascular fitness, build muscle strength, and enhance overall flexibility, promoting a healthy and balanced lifestyle. As a low-impact exercise, it also reduces the risk of injury, making it a lifelong sport that nurtures both physical and mental well-being.

Master in Charge: Perry Asbury

Rackets has had a place in the heart of Radley’s sporting life for many years. We first competed on the circuit in 1887, and Old Radleian James Male held a sporting record as the World Rackets Champion for more than 10 years. Our current programme continues to go from strength to strength. We participate in the National Schools’ Singles and Doubles Championships that are held annually at the Queen’s Club in London. We are the current holders of the u15 national singles and doubles titles and OR Magnus Garson won the Foster Cup in 2021, becoming the first Radley national champion for 40 years. With one court ideally located in the central area of the College, we aim to continue our success across all age groups.

Master in Charge: Kyle Willis-Stovold
Coach: James Rock

Squash is a very popular sport at Radley, perhaps in part due to it being an indoor option during the cold and wet months! The philosophy of the Squash Club is simple: to ensure as many boys as possible leave us having enjoyed playing squash and wishing to continue doing so. Squash is a games option in the Michaelmas and Lent terms and we have 20 fixtures throughout the season, many of which involve a 2nd V and/or a Midgets, Junior Colts or Colts team alongside the 1st V. We send a team to the Surrey Sports Park and Roehampton Club tournaments, and have achieved great success in recent years. We benefit from great facilities and one of the best coaches on the school circuit, Scott Handley.

Master in Charge: Anthony Hibbs

Fives is a cherished tradition at Radley College, tracing its roots back to the very foundations of the school. “Radley Fives” was once played in the north corner of Clocktower.  In 1876, our Winchester Fives courts, still in use today, were constructed, becoming the venue for year-round game sessions.

Joining the Fives team at Radley isn’t just about playing a sport; it’s about embracing a legacy. Whether you’re a seasoned player or new to the game, Fives at Radley College promises an experience like no other—where tradition meets athleticism and friendships are forged on the court.

Master in Charge: David Robinson

Radley boys have sailed since the 1960s and still sail three afternoons each week at Farmoor Reservoir. We are members of the Oxford Sail Training Trust, allowing us to use a wide variety of dinghies, and giving us the run of an excellent piece of water all year around. Racing is generally the aim and much loved by the boys, though our not-so-secret main objective is to create passionate sailors for life. Traditionally, our biggest events are Itchenor Schools Week, various school team racing events within easy reach of Radley, and we have sailed our keelboats at the Warsash Spring Series and Cowes Week many times. Several boys also take part in the annual Seaview Regatta in the famous Mermaids every year.

Master in Charge: Rosie Turtle

Radley is home to one of the 27 real tennis courts in the UK. Real tennis (also called court tennis or royal tennis) is the original racquet sport from which the modern game of lawn tennis is descended. There are currently around 30-40 boys who play regularly. Matches are played against other schools, both home and away. These events include National competitions in which our boys have historically been very successful.

Boys can be coached as their full time sport or as an additional hobby. A weekly programme is arranged to be flexible around the boys’ other commitments. Sessions also run in the evenings after prep and the court can be booked through the Club for weekend play. We are very fortunate to have excellent professional players, including a multiple World Champion as part of our Club and coaching team. The experience of playing at other Real Tennis courts around the country including Queen’s Club are all annual highlights.

Master in Charge: Craig Robinson/Mick Dean

For the past two years, Radley has taken a small team to the Independent Schools Ski Championships in Sestriere, Italy at the start of the Christmas holidays. The participants have race training with instructors, in preparation for slalom, giant slalom and team parallel slalom races. It is an accessible competition, open to experienced skiers who may not have tried racing before. Equally, there is fierce competition at the top end. We have enjoyed much success so far, bringing home first place individual and team trophies for slalom and GS.

Master in Charge: Anthony Hibbs

Basketball is an increasingly popular sport in the Michaelmas and Lent Terms with approximately 45 boys taking to the court regularly. There are 12 fixtures a season, however the focus is very much one of leisure and enjoyment and the club is open to absolute beginners and more seasoned players. We are fortunate to benefit from the coaching of Desta Rudder-Smith of the Oxford Hoops who has raised the level of technical performance immeasurably in recent years.

Master in Charge: Matthew Walker

Croquet is played in the Summer Term. Several Socials have lawns of their own and there are further lawns available for general use. Croquet runs as a Wednesday option, and there is a team for fixtures with other schools, including in locations such as Surbiton Croquet Club – home of the World Championships, and there is an invitational internal Pairs Competition each summer, attracting more than 200 players from across the College community.

Master in Charge: Harry Crump

6.2 boys can opt to play Lacrosse in the Michaelmas Term. Usually around 40 boys take part. Most learn to play across six hours of Wednesday Activity Time before they are thrown in at the deep end with a series of matches with girls’ schools. These are lovely occasions, whether home or away, with matches for both 1st and 2nd teams followed by a meal. Regular fixtures for Radley are Downe House, St Mary’s Calne, Stowe, Wycombe Abbey and St Helen’s. Boys quickly discover a fast-paced sport with rather more skill than they might have appreciated, but they always hold their own in matches.

Master in Charge: Harry Crump

Fencing coaches sessions happen on Tuesday between 1:30pm and 2:30pm in the Barker Gym with an external coach. Recently we have had matches against Abingdon and St. Edward’s and boys have competed in the Southern Regional Qualifiers.

Master in Charge: Niall Murphy

Almost everyone has played badminton at some level and most of our boys arrive at Radley with some prior badminton experience. We are well set up for badminton with a sports hall designed with the sport specifically in mind. Badminton is a popular games option for Removes, Fifths and Sixth Formers in the Michaelmas and Lent Terms. We cater for casual players and also for those looking to develop their game to competition standard. Our first team of four pairs compete in fixtures against other schools from September to March and the inter-social badminton tournament in the Lent Term is a hotly-contested high point in the year.

Master in Charge: Jim Champion