A school in Somerset has been named the best in the UK for producing youth-level England international rugby players.
Forty-four pupils from Millfield have turned out for England’s under-18 side, according to schools rugby information hub, NextGenXV.
This puts Millfield at the top of the list of 460 schools that have fielded an England U 18 player since 1949, when records began.
Many Old Millfieldians have, in turn, gone on to become full England internationals, including such contemporary stars as Chris Robshaw, Jonathan Joseph and Mako Vunipola.
This season alone has seen Premiership debuts from Millfield alumni such as Euan Richards of Bath and Exeter Chiefs’ Dan John, while former pupils represented each home nation in the recent Six Nations Championship.
As well as England players, Millfield has provided the formative rugby education for such full internationals as Scotland’s Huw Jones and Adam Hastings, and the man thought by many to be Wales’ finest ever exponent of the game, Sir Gareth Edwards.
In recent years, Millfield’s production line of talent can be credited to another Old Millfieldian who went on to play for his country, John Mallett.
The former Bath and England prop has been director of rugby at the school since 2004, overseeing a rugby development programme taught by three full-time specialist coaches and augmented by a further 15 part-time teacher-coaches.
“We are so proud to be the number one school in producing England Internationals,” said Mallett.
“Success from Millfield alumni inspires our current students and motivates them to follow in their footsteps. Our Sir Gareth Edwards pitch has seen so many talented players and we can’t wait to see more inspiring Millfield students represent England in the future.”
You may also like: International rugby star inspires Barnard Castle pupils
