On Saturday 9th November, a qualifying tournament for the National Open Rugby Fives Championship was held on the Rugby School fives courts. We welcomed players from around the country in their bid to make through to the top 16. The final was won by Lewis Keates from Derby Moor Fives Club in a tightly fought contest. The field included two players from Rugby, and it is an event that will hopefully be an annual one on the school courts.

About Rugby Fives:

Rugby School is credited with formalizing the game of rugby fives, a handball game similar to squash. Thomas Arnold, the headmaster of Rugby School from 1828–1841, is believed to have introduced rugby fives after playing Wessex fives as a child at Warminster School.  

Early mentions

The game is mentioned in Thomas Hughes' 1857 novel Tom Brown's School Days, which was set at Rugby School.  

Rules

The game is played with leather-coated balls that are slightly larger than a golf ball. Players wear padded gloves on both hands and hit the ball over a bar across the front wall. The ball can only hit the floor once, but it can bounce off walls or ledges multiple times.  

Variations

The game can be played as singles or doubles.  

Other schools

Other schools that have played fives include Giggleswick School, Whitgift School, St. Paul's School, Winchester College, Christ's Hospital, Oundle School, St. Dunstan's College, Blundell's School, Tonbridge School, and Alleyn's School.  

If you are a Rugbeian interested in playing Rugby Fives, please get in touch with Ben Lane at bl@rugbyschool.net to find out more! If you are not local, Ben is very happy to put you in touch with other clubs round the country.