Castleford Academy maintained their outstanding record in the inspiresport RFL Champion Schools as their Year 9 Boys and Year 10 Girls clinched two more titles on an action-packed day of Rugby League at Wakefield Trinity’s DIY Kitchens Stadium on Friday.
But they weren’t the only winners, with five more schools crowned Champions, and 10 different schools represented.
Castleford Academy had already won two of the three inspiresport Champion Schools titles decided before the main Finals Day, doubling up in the Year 11 Finals that were played in the spring term to prevent a clash with GCSE studies.
Their incredible tally of Champion Schools wins, which was the subject of a feature in The Guardian in 2023 - The schools where England’s rugby league and union players are made | Rugby league | The Guardian - is now approaching 60.
The first win of the summer term Finals Day was secured by St Bede’s & St Joseph’s of Bradford, who beat Rainford High School of St Helens in a high-scoring Year 7 Girls Final.
St Peter’s High School of Orrell had already secured the Year 7 Boys Final in its traditional home at Wembley Stadium in June, beating Ysgol Gyfon Gymraeg Glantaf of Cardiff 26-6 in the Steven Mullaney Memorial Match.
The Year 8 Girls Final was an all-Hull affair and it was Archbishop Sentamu Academy from the east of the city - very much in Hull KR territory – who beat Malet Lambert 34-26 in another high-scoring match.
The Year 8 Boys finalists came from west of the Pennines and it was Outwood Academy Haydock who beat Leigh’s Bedford High School 34-16.
Malet Lambert secured the Year 9 Girls title with a 36-14 win against St Peter’s.
Then Castleford Academy took over, with their Year 9 Boys beating Sirius Academy West – the third Hull school to have earned a place on Finals Day – and the Year 10 Girls also beating Hull opposition in Malet Lambert.
The Year 10 boys of Standish Community High School produced a dazzling display in the last Final of the day to beat Ryburn Valley High School of Sowerby Bridge.
Andrea Murray, the RFL’s National Education Manager, said:
“On behalf of everyone at the RFL, our congratulations go to all the winners, and also the finalists and the dozens of schools and thousands of players who have competed in the 2024 Champion Schools competitions.
“Every year, we see the future of the sport with wonderful skills, fantastic commitment and so many youngsters enjoying the experience – and I’d like to add personal thanks to the teachers, parents and other volunteers – as well as our RFL team - who make it all possible.
“We are grateful to Wakefield Trinity, with the redevelopment of the DIY Kitchens Stadium making it an ideal venue for our 2024 Finals Day, and also to inspiresport, who have been outstanding sponsors of the competition for the last two years.”
Inspiresport RFL Champion Schools 2024 – Roll of Honour:
Year 7 Girls
St Bede’s & St Joseph’s (Bradford) 40 Rainford HS (St Helens) 22
Year 8 Girls
Archbishop Sentamu Academy (Hull) 34 Malet Lambert (Hull) 26
Year 8 Boys
Outwood Academy Haydock (St Helens) 34 Bedford HS (Leigh) 16
Year 9 Girls
Malet Lambert (Hull) 36 St Peter’s RC High (Wigan) 14
Year 9 Boys
Castleford Academy 16 Sirius Academy West (Hull) 8
Year 10 Girls
Castleford Academy 20 Malet Lambert (Hull) 4
Year 10 Boys
Standish Community HS (Wigan) 32 Ryburn Valley (Sowerby Bridge) 0
Previous Results:
Year 7 Boys – at Wembley, June 8
St Peter’s RC High (Wigan) 26 Ysgol Gyfon Gymraeg Glantaf (Cardiff) 6
Year 11 Girls – at Wakefield, April 25
Castleford Academy 22 St Peter’s RC High (Wigan) 16
Year 11 Boys – at Wakefield, April 25
Castleford Academy 24 St Peter’s RC High (Wigan) 8
