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The Under 15s won their last-16 and quarter-final games in the Barclays Knight-Stokes Cup to book their place in the semi-finals – with the glittering prospect of playing at Lord’s in the final if they win.

After the QE boys first saw off Woking High School, their strong bowling attack then propelled them to victory against Shenfield High School from Essex, with both matches hosted by Eton College.

Named after state-educated England cricketers Heather Knight and Ben Stokes, the new hardball competition is open only to state schools.

U15s coach (and the PE department’s Head of Aquatics) Richard Scally, said: “The boys produced two outstanding performances to reach the national semi-finals. The team is now one of the final four schools remaining from more than 750 schools that entered the competition.”

The U15s have been enjoying a vintage season, winning many of their regular fixtures and reaching the final of the Middlesex County Cup, where they lost to Merchant Taylors’.

In the new competition, they stormed through their county round, which culminated in victory against Heston Community School, to go through to the knockout stages.

After that, in the regional stage hosted by Caterham School in Surrey, they first comfortably saw off Midhurst Rother College, West Sussex, and then delivered a six-wicket win against Tiffin School, Kingston upon Thames, to go through to the last 16.

Batting first against Woking, they posted an imposing 161-4. “That was thanks to superb unbeaten half-centuries from Akein Athukoralage and Rushil Matta, who both finished on 50 not out,” said Mr Scally. “Our disciplined bowling attack, led by the spin bowlers, ensured we defended the total comfortably, securing a 30-run victory.”

The quarter-final against Shenfield proved a much tougher contest. “Batting first again, we came up against an excellent bowling attack and were unable to build the partnerships we had hoped for, eventually being bowled out for 100.”

The day was saved by “an exceptional display in the field”, Mr Scally reported. “Outstanding opening spells from Mayank Jagetia and Tanay Shetty reduced Shenfield to 10-4, putting them immediately on the back foot. From there, our team never relinquished control, dismissing the opposition for just 71 to complete a memorable 29-run victory.”

QE’s national semi-final against John Hampden School from High Wycombe will begin at 10am on Thursday 16th July at Wormsley Cricket Club in Buckinghamshire, renowned as one of the country’s most beautiful grounds. The other semi-final takes place at Headingley.

The winning semi-finalists will play in the final at Lord’s on Thursday 10th September.

The U15 team

1. Akein Athukoralage
2. Mayank Jagetia
3. Daiwik Khedekar
4. Aarav Kaushik
5. Neil Bhabra
6. Rushil Matta
7. Aarjav Jain
8. Ryan Goyal
9. Tanay Shetty
10. Neel Sinha
11. Kabeer Saini
12. Aarav Agrawal
13. Anirudh Premkumar (substitute)
14. Krishanth Rajesh (standby)
15. Aneesh Botcha (standby)

Year 9 pupil Ibrohim Saidahror has topped the podium at the Sixth Wales Taekwondo International Championships, winning a gold medal on his category debut.

Ibrohim took the top prize in the  -37kg Class A Cadet category in an event which attracted more than 500 athletes.

Having seen off fellow competitor Pius Junior Appiah in the semi-final, he achieved a 2–0 victory against Ethan Holmes from the Core Taekwondo Academy based in Kendal, Cumbria, in the final.

In what was a memorable day, he also completed his first refereeing assignment at the event, which was held at the Sport Wales National Centre in Sophia Gardens, Cardiff.

Director of Sport Jonathan Hart said: “My congratulations go to Ibrohim on an impressive achievement – one which is the fruit of a great deal of hard work, discipline and dedication to the sport.”

Ibrohim took up taekwondo seven years ago and trains at the Superior Taekwondo Academy in Greenford.

His previous achievements include winning a silver medal last autumn in the -37kg novice category at the British Taekwondo National Kyorugi Championships in Sheffield and, before that, taking gold in a sparring competition, also at Sophia Gardens.

Taekwondo is a Korean martial art renowned for its dynamic high, spinning and aerial kicks. In competition, athletes score points by delivering powerful strikes to legal target areas on the torso and head.

Reflecting afterwards on his victory, Ibrohim said: “It’s the first time I have won gold in a long while, so it meant a lot. However, it is the first time I competed in this category, so winning gold means even more. I am glad I managed to adapt successfully.”

Forty‑six pupils from Years 9 and 10 headed to QE’s biennial Holland rugby tour – and began with resounding victories over new opponents, Bulldogs Rugby Club.

Living up to their name, the Bulldogs of Almere, near Amsterdam, showed plenty of spirit and scored early in their matches against both year groups, but QE’s U14s and U15s soon rallied and went on to win convincingly.

After that, it was time for the 27th Hilversum International Youth Rugby Festival, featuring 69 teams from six different nations.

Here, although there was no repeat of the triumphs of QE’s last visit, in 2024 – when the U15s recorded the School’s first-ever overall victory in the festival and the U14s won the bowl competition – the Year 9s’ wins did include beating host team Hilversum.

Head of Rugby Oliver Di-Lieto, who led the trip, said: “It was an unforgettable rugby tour, combining competitive fixtures and cultural experiences, so giving the boys a memorable blend of rugby development and shared adventure.

“We were brilliantly hosted by RC Bulldogs, and the pupils enjoyed mingling with the opposition after the matches.

“The prestigious Hilversum festival provided a fantastic opportunity for the boys to test themselves against high-quality opposition. Throughout the day, the QE squads showed resilience, discipline, and a growing maturity in their play. The Year 9s won a couple of matches, while the Year 10s battled against strong opposition, applying themselves well and scoring some brilliant tries in the process.”

Besides the rugby, the boys enjoyed a range of activities including bowling and This is Holland: the Ultimate 5D Flying Experience – a panoramic flight simulator.

“These activities strengthened team bonding and made for memorable experiences,” said Mr Di-Lieto.

U15A captain Kevin Gajera said: “It was a great tour, and having the opportunity to play in such a big international tournament was brilliant. This experience will definitely make us stronger as a team, and we are looking forward to next season already.”

The tour was organised by specialist sports tour company Inspiresport, who sponsor the annual QE Barnet Rugby Sevens Tournament.

Tour awards
Year 9 Player of the Tour: Andy Hasanaj
Year 9 Best Tourist: Aryamann Wadhwani Sharma
Year 10 Player of the Tour: Abbas Rajvani
Year 10 Best Tourist: Tianche Dong

After joining the 50th Annual QE Rugby Sevens at the last moment, Maidstone Grammar School went on to set the tournament alight, beating last year’s winners in a thrilling final.

The Kent school received their place less than two days before the event, after another school dropped out. They certainly made their mark, triumphing 31-29 over Ipswich School, who were going for the ‘double’, having won the U14 title last year.

QE’s own U14 squad acquitted themselves well, playing brilliantly in the group stages (in which Maidstone were one of their competitors) and reaching the Plate quarter-final.

And for the 50th year of an event which has long attracted some of the country’s best-known rugby schools, there was a special presentation for legend of QE rugby, David Maughan – the tournament’s founder and a highly respected former national coach who was QE’s Head of PE from 1974 to 2003.

Headmaster Neil Enright said: “It was a great day overall, with a very high quality of rugby played and a splendid atmosphere. The bonus was an exciting final worthy of our fiftieth-year tournament.

“Our U14 squad should be proud of their performance and it was lovely to see many of their parents cheering them on.

“It was also fitting to celebrate David Maughan’s stellar contribution to QE Sevens over its first half-century – what a record he has!”

Like the main Cup competition, the Plate contest was an exciting affair. Plate finalists Gordon’s School from Surrey were late entrants like Maidstone, promoted from the reserve list. Having knocked out the QE team in the quarter-final, they lost to Tonbridge School in the final. This meant that Tonbridge retained their Plate title from 2025.

In the group stages, the QE team won two of their matches and lost only to eventual tournament champions, Maidstone. They defeated Robert Clack School, from Barking and Dagenham borough, by 24-5, and eased out Norwich School 10-7, thus earning their progression to the Plate quarter-final, where they lost 26-0.

Director of Sport Jonathan Hart said: “Our QE line-up gave a real squad performance, ably led by captain Husain Jassim, and played some very good rugby.”

Marcus Ingal carried the ball brilliantly, his strength and speed making it very difficult for the opposition to stop him making significant yardage, ball in hand; Alex Fields-Bicar used his pace and footwork in the wider channels to finish off opportunities well; Rohan Mukherjee brought great physicality in attack and defence; and there was some good steering of the games from Andy Hasanaj, usually at first receiver.

Mr Maughan was presented with an engraved shield by the Headmaster in recognition of his founding of the tournament and the School’s appreciation for his ongoing support.

He has remained a constant presence at QE Sevens since his retirement back in 2003. He is also still seen in School most weeks, attending rugby and cricket for the lower years and also rarely missing a First XV game. He managed England U16s for a decade beyond his retirement from QE.

Mr Hart thanked: inspiresport, who sponsor the tournament; the referees; the catering team and Friends of Queen Elizabeth’s helpers; pupil helpers from Year 7, who faithfully delivered the scores from each pitch back to the operations hub; first aid crews; supporters from all schools; and, of course, his own PE department, including Head of Rugby Ollie Di-Lieto.

The QE U14 (Year 9) squad was:

1. Husain Jassim (captain)
2. Rohan Mukherjee
3. Saami Mansur
4. Alfie Enderby
5. Marcus Ingal
6. Emile Uju
7. Andy Hasanaj
8. Jerry Ju
9. Ishaan Bhosale
10. Alex Fields-Bicar
11. Leon L. Kariuki
12. Aryamann Wadhwani Sharma
13. Raphael Gbadebo

Coach: PE teacher Sam Marks (who is also their Head of Year).

Click on the thumbnails to view the images.

Sixteen players fought it out in QE’s first competitive table tennis fixture for many years, as the School responds to strong pupil demand for more opportunities in the sport.

The boys, representing Years 7, 8, 9 & 10, made the five-mile journey for an away fixture at Ashmole Academy – and returned with their first victory under their belts. Although Ashmole won two of the year-group battles to QE’s one (with one draw), QE had the higher points tally overall, with 17 games won to Ashmole’s 15.

The resurgence of inter-school fixtures has been driven largely by Year 10 table tennis enthusiast Habeeb Tharoo, who was instrumental in selecting the 16-player squad. He was the team captain for the fixture.

Senior PE teacher Richard Scally said: “Habeeb’s leadership helped set a positive tone throughout the afternoon as players across all year groups demonstrated resilience, skill, and great sportsmanship.”

The approach of the fixture and the squad’s preparations for it created a “genuine buzz around the PE department”, said Mr Scally.

“The players are already eager for a rematch, and with the commitment shown, future fixtures promise to be even more exciting.

“Pupils from Years 9, 10 and 11 are regularly developing their skills during PE lessons and, beyond that curriculum time, there’s a thriving lunchtime culture and an enthusiastic after-school club held every Monday and Wednesday,” he added.

For this first major table tennis outing, a new competitive format inspired by the Ryder Cup was adopted. It involved each side fielding their top four players in every year group. Matches were split so that the top two QE seeds faced their counterparts from Ashmole, while the third and fourth seeds competed in their own pairings.

Each match won contributed one point to the overall team tally for that year group, creating an exciting and fast‑paced scoring system.

Here are the results by year group, with Mr Scally’s comments on each.

Year 7: Drawn 4–4.  “The youngest squad showed impressive maturity and calmness under pressure, securing a hard‑fought draw. With several close games, Year 7 proved they have strong potential for future fixtures.”

Year 8: Won 7–1. “A comprehensive scoreline, but another highly competitive contest. Year 8 excelled against more experienced opposition.”

Year 9: Lost 5–3. “Year 9 produced some excellent rallies and tactical play throughout their matches. Falling just short of parity, they can take great pride in a performance that showed both development and depth.”

Year 10: Lost 5–3. “Led by captain Habeeb, the senior team delivered powerful performances with several confident wins. Though Ashmole edged the overall score, the attitude and quality displayed by the QE side were clear highlights.”

Reflecting afterwards on the trip, Habeeb said: “This was a brilliant first fixture against a strong Ashmole side. The boys are keen to give it another go!”

The Rugby Dinner featured inspirational speeches, startling statistics and honours for all ages – but most of all, the evening was about celebrating the love of a great game.

Hundreds of boys from across the year groups gathered in the Shearly Hall for a programme that included the eagerly awaited announcement of the QE Rugby Team of the Year.

And guest speaker, Old Elizabethan Max Hassell (2002–2009) gave a stirring address, urging today’s QE players: “Remember, you’re not just representing yourself and your teammates, but a long line of former pupils who have made that shirt what it is today…Whatever you put in, rugby – and this School – will give back to you tenfold.  And whatever you do, please don’t lose to Habs!”

Headmaster Neil Enright afterwards lauded a “brilliant” evening. “Rugby’s core values of teamwork, respect, enjoyment, discipline and sportsmanship are what makes the game special for those who enjoy the environment and culture they create,” he said. “They resonate deeply with the mission of Queen Elizabeth’s School, Barnet which is to produce young men who are confident, able and responsible.”

During the dinner, attendees also learned about the benefits of schools rugby – that, for example, 69% of players reported being more confident, according to research.

They were told that so far this season, more than 400 pupils had represented QE across some 22 different teams.

There were presentations of prizes for boys in Years 7–11, for the Second XV and for the First XV. Awards went to: the Most improved player; Players’ player (for both the A and B teams in Years 7–11); and Player of the season.

The achievements of boys awarded their Senior Colours were celebrated, while there was also praise for the Sports Leaders – senior pupils whose contribution has included managing Year 7 boys in their rugby fixtures, as well as coaching training on Friday afternoons.

Guest speaker Max recalled growing up within earshot of the School: “I could hear the firsts and second teams playing on a Saturday afternoon from my garden, and as odd as it may sound, dreamt one day it would be me on those pitches.”

His dream was realised a few years later when he won a place at QE. While in Year 7, he idolised sixth-former Aaron Liffchak (OE 1996–2003), the “England U18 star of the School”. Some years later, Aaron coached Max “to a silver medal in one of my proudest-ever life achievements – representing Great Britain Rugby at the Maccabiah Games in Israel, an international sports tournament held every for four years for Jewish athletes from all around the word, second in size only to the Olympics and Commonwealth Games”.

Max had played for the School, the county and the University of Bristol, and he had had “the honour of both representing my country and captaining my current club, Saracens Amateurs”.

His talent was recognised at an early stage, as he was made Year 7 captain. “I remember we had an almost unbeaten season, winning every game except a narrow 3-0 loss to St Albans. I’m proud to remember I have never lost to Habs [QE’s traditional friendly rugby rival, Haberdashers’ Boys’ School]!”

The evening culminated with the naming of the following boys, drawn from across the School, for the QE Rugby Team of the Year, 2025–2026.

• Starting forwards: Thinuka Geeganage Kapugama, U16; Dhamma Singappuli, U15; Ashar Khan, U13; Vivann Reddy, U13; Cyrus Kiani, U13; Alfie Enderby, U14; Daniel Ogidi, U15; Esa Aslam, U16
• Starting backs: Victor Varbanov, First XV (Year 12); Andy Hasanaj, U14; Aarush Mehta, U13; Jake Owens, First XV (Year 13); Yashwant Reddy Sunkara, First XV (Year 12); Jerry Ju, U14; Carl Nkouka-Backa, U13.
• Replacements: Marcus Ingal, U14; Nazif Ashik, U12; Sachin Saddi, U14; Ronith Bala, U16; Oscar Kaltenbronn, First XV (Year 12); Emile Uju, U14; Edward Corcoran, U12; George Dhapre, U15.

The evening ended with a video highlights package from the year, plus some humorous segments, put together by Neelesh Fotedar, of Year 11.

The starting team of the year attended the Gallagher PREM fixture between Saracens and Newcastle Red Bulls the following day.

Click on the thumbnails to view the images.