Rugby and Lacrosse at Saracen's StoneX Stadium

On 1 October 2025, Berkhamsted School's Boys’ 1st XV Rugby and Girls’ 1st X Lacrosse teams played matches against opponents Northampton School for Boys and Moreton Hall, respectively at the Saracens' StoneX stadium in North London.

On 1 October 2025, Berkhamsted School took the Saracens’ StoneX stadium by storm as the Boys’ 1st XV Rugby and Girls’ 1st X Lacrosse faced tough opponents Northampton School for Boys and Moreton Hall, respectively. Both matches were tight, with Berkhamsted teams fighting with dedication until the final whistle.

Final scores:

Rugby: Berkhamsted 27 – 40 Northampton School for Boys

Lacrosse: Berkhamsted 9 – 13 Moreton Hall School

Both games may have ended in defeat, but neither match was defined by it. Lacrosse Captain Ella W left the pitch beaming with pride. ‘I’m just really proud of how we came out there and fought back,” she says. “I mean that last half was 7-4 to us. We really came out and put on a performance.”

She is particularly proud of the Year 11s who stepped up and channelled their nerves into strong performances. “They’re all incredible individually- their talent is through the roof,” she added.

Berkhamsted rugby captain Rory shared this pride and a sense of accomplishment, saying, “I think that’s our best performance all season.” “Especially after a rocky start”- “I’m just unbelievably proud of all of them!”

He also praised the pupils who brought the stadium to life: “it genuinely makes all the difference.” The Berkhamsted crowd kept energy high with constant cheer, and pupil musicians from across the Senior school brought breaks in play to life with punchy rock hits. Rory described the atmosphere as “unreal.”

Director of Sport Katy Costin also commented on the pupil presence at StoneX: “this is our biggest event yet, and our most inclusive in terms of bringing the community together.”

It is clear that the event was not only formative for our athletes but for the pupils who supported it in other ways. Three A Level photography students received a masterclass in sports photography from a professional, and ‘Berko Buzz’ journalists covered the event for school publications.

Some of our Year 6 pupils also stayed on to watch the matches, inspired by their own touch rugby festival at StoneX earlier that day. The chance to connect with their potential future Senior community and witness the inspiring play of their eldest schoolmates made their day all the more exciting.

The soundtrack of the evening was undoubtedly the unwavering roar of the Berkhamsted crowd. Armed with a host of glittery signs, clapping chants and a cowbell, our supporters created an electric atmosphere that showcased the profound level of support and enthusiasm that our pupils show for each other. As captain Ella said:

“It’s insane to have everyone cheering us on. All our friends, family, teachers, parents, everyone: there’s no other school that does it and we’re just so grateful to be able to do that here.”

This event showcased what it means to be part of the Berkhamsted community: our unwavering networks of support, the exciting opportunities our pupils take and the measured, dedicated character of our pupil athletes. From Freddie’s daring try to Charlotte’s unwavering goalkeeping, from our musicians’ thrilling performances to our photographers’ dedication in the cold, everyone played a role in the day’s success.

As the crowds chanted throughout the match, “Who are we?” our pupils made it clear: We are Berkhamsted!