When students from Germany, Austria or Switzerland first join a boarding school in the UK, they’re often surprised — and sometimes amused — by the sports programme. Back home, football, handball or perhaps hockey, tennis and golf are the norm. In England, you’ll find all of these too, of course — but suddenly there are sports that sound far less familiar: Rugby and Cricket, all right. But Fives, Rounders, Rackets or Netball? Hardly anyone on the continent has ever heard of them, and those who try to explain the rules often end up standing alone.
Attending a British boarding school opens the door to a whole new sporting world. By the time pupils return home, Rugby and Cricket feel as natural as a casual kickabout on a village pitch. Here’s a glimpse of what hides behind these wonderfully odd names:
Rugby – The Rough Heart of British Sport
Legend has it that Rugby was invented in 1823 at the Rugby School, when a pupil picked up the football and ran with it. Since then, Rugby has become the epitome of British boarding school sport: physical, tough, but grounded in fair play and team spirit. Two teams try to carry the oval ball over the opponent’s line or kick it between the posts. Rugby is England’s national passion, celebrated in the Six Nations and the World Cup.
Many boarding schools — including Millfield, Clifton, Sedbergh and Wellington — consider Rugby part of their DNA. Generations of pupils, from future prime ministers to members of the royal family, have earned their first bruises on these pitches.
Cricket – The Game That Can Last for Days
Cricket is to the English what baseball is to Americans – only slower, more complex, and steeped in tradition. Played with bat, bowler and plenty of white clothing, the aim is to score runs by hitting the ball and running between two wickets. Matches can last up to five days, and yet spectators sit patiently through it all – complete with the obligatory tea break.
At British boarding schools, Cricket is as much a part of summer as ice lollies. Entire afternoons are spent on perfectly manicured college greens where the game has been played for centuries. Not just future professionals, but writers like C. S. Lewis once stood here, bat in hand. Schools such as Repton, Shrewsbury, Malvern College and Merchiston Castle in Scotland see it as part of their heritage to keep this tradition alive.
Fives – The Hidden Wall Battle
Fives may sound like a card game, but it’s actually an ancient form of handball still played at traditional schools such as Eton, Shrewsbury and Winchester. Two players hit a small ball against a wall using only their hands – rather like squash, but without racquets.
There are different versions – Eton Fives and Rugby Fives – and each school insists that their version is the “real one”. Many courts are quirky and asymmetrical, with odd corners or even window frames, because the first games were played against the walls of old chapels and cloisters.
For pupils, Fives is more than just a sport – it’s a school tradition with a secret code. Each school’s version is unique, and old pupils often smile when outsiders stare in complete confusion at the courts.
Rounders – Baseball, the British Way
Rounders is a cousin of baseball: players use a small wooden bat to hit the ball and then run around four bases. It’s a popular summer sport at many boarding schools.
At Sidcot School in Somerset, whole year groups train for their matches, while at Bedales School, Rounders is firmly part of the summer timetable. For many, it’s not just a game but a social ritual — long, sunny afternoons on the lawn that capture the essence of British boarding school life.
Rackets – Squash on Speed
Rackets is a lightning-fast racquet sport played in narrow, plain-walled courts. The ball is small and hard, the pace is intense, and the skill level is high. The game originated in 19th-century London prisons before spreading to elite schools.
Today, schools like Harrow and Eton still maintain original courts dating back to that period. There are even world championships, though the community is tiny and exclusive – a true insider sport. To play Rackets is to belong to a tradition that exists almost entirely within the world of British boarding schools.
Netball – Basketball Without the Board
At first glance, Netball looks like basketball – but the rules are very different. The hoop has no backboard, the court is divided into zones, and each player is confined to specific areas. The result is a game that’s tactical, fast-paced and highly team-oriented.
At British boarding schools, Netball has been part of the girls’ winter sports programme for more than a century – often seen as the female counterpart to Rugby. Schools such as Cheltenham Ladies’ College, Marlborough College and Wycombe Abbey have strong teams that compete in regional and national tournaments. In recent years, mixed and recreational Netball have been on the rise, helping the sport move beyond its traditional image.
A World of Tradition, Quirk and Passion
Whether it’s Rugby or Rackets, Cricket or Netball, Fives or Rounders – the sporting culture at British boarding schools is full of tradition, curiosity and passion.
For international students, these games may seem baffling at first. But they’re part of what makes British school life so unique – and for those who embrace them, they reveal a side of the UK that goes far beyond football and Wimbledon.