STON Y HUR ST CELEBR ATE S
Stonyhurst Old Boys team talk for 100 Years Of Rugby Tournament
honed during their school years. Teams ranged from former pupils who left Stonyhurst in 2001, to those leaving more recently in 2020.
Stonyhurst 1st XV pitch - Smithfield. Photo Credit: Phil Isherwood Turf Care
John Browne, Headmaster said:
Stonyhurst hosted its biggest event in thirty years to celebrate its Centenary of Rugby.
O
ld Stonyhurst boys and former international rugby players, Barry O’Driscoll, John O’Driscoll, Kevin Barrett and Joe Ansbro were among the attendees of the once-in-a-lifetime event. 150
In 1921, the school moved away from football towards rugby as the primary field sport. To mark the centenary, Stonyhurst hosted a two-day celebration, sponsored by Gallagher Insurance, with rugby at its heart. Events kicked off with a Decades Tournament showcasing a wealth of Stonyhurst rugby talent on Friday 3rd June. Ten former Stonyhurst teams graced the rugby pitches once more, representing their year group and showcasing the rugby skills
LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE
‘To celebrate any centenary in a school’s history is rare and to have the opportunity to do so with so many members of the Stonyhurst Family was wonderful. This tournament undoubtedly showed the Jesuit 3Cs – namely courtesy, compassion, and a keen sense of competition as our historic 1st XVs once more took to our rugby pitches. The friendships formed on the rugby pitches of Stonyhurst, that have lasted a lifetime, were on display once more.’ Following the tournament, a dinner was hosted with over 470 guests in attendance, where a panel made up of former Stonyhurst pupils and rugby internationals, Barry O’Driscoll, John O’Driscoll, Kevin Barrett, and Joe Ansbro, spoke about their memories of life and rugby at the College. During the Rugby Centenary year, www.lancmag.com
