Rugby
During the autumn term rugby is coached to boys throughout the school. Our youngest pupils are introduced to rugby through a gradual process where the boys are taught basic handling, running and passing skills. “Tag” rugby encourages the use of defensive skills in the game without full contact until the boys have gained the skills to move on to tackling. The under 9s play a number of fixtures against other schools throughout the term.
Our under 11 boys are introduced to a fuller version of the game and they add to the skills they have learned in form 5. Some kicking is taught at this level though it is discouraged in open play outside the twenty two metre line. Usually fixtures are 13-a-side at this age level.
By the time the boys reach senior level in the school, they are encouraged to play 15-a-side rugby. Having played from the age of eight years old this is a very natural progression and the pupils enjoy learning moves in the forwards and backs and playing a similarly patterned game to that they watch so keenly at adult level. They do not lift each other at lineouts however.
Fixtures are played against other schools weekly. The Prep school rugby circuit is very entertaining to watch. There are representative opportunities for the most able players at Dandylions level, (chosen from five schools south of the Firth of Forth), and at Scottish Prep School level. The senior boys also play sevens rugby in two tournaments during the term and have a proud record of achievement in recent years.
From the youngest to the oldest, the shortest to the tallest and the lightest to the heaviest, the emphasis is on enjoyment. Belhaven Hill is proud to contribute to the excellent standard of rugby played on the Prep school circuit. A very large proportion of our pupils go on to play rugby at a high level in their senior schools and beyond.
| 
