King Henry’s Alumni Shine in Rugby

Rugby at King Henry VIII School continues to thrive, with the success of our alumni in the professional game standing as testament to the quality of players we develop and the strength of our coaching culture. For a school of our size, the number of former pupils now competing in the English Premiership and Championship is truly remarkable, reflecting both the talent of our students and the dedication of our staff to a programme built on opportunity and excellence.

As Director of Sport, I could not be prouder of the way our players, teams and coaches have embraced rugby, particularly in overcoming recent challenges such as the global pandemic. Far from being set back, our programme has emerged stronger, producing players capable of excelling at the highest levels of the game.

This last month offered a powerful reminder of this success. Coventry RFC U23 were captained by Tom Miles, now a full-time professional at the club. He was joined by fellow Old Coventrians, Kamsi Ihemadu and James Mackintosh, who only left the school last academic year. Tom’s progress has been superb since stepping into professional rugby and his journey is especially meaningful given that he worked in the PE Department here last year, coaching and mentoring our pupils. Even now, despite the demands of his career, Tom remains committed to giving back, regularly helping with school fixtures and practices, a reflection of the values we hold dear at King Henry’s.

The following day saw Coventry RFC face Exeter Chiefs, where alumni Alfie and Charlie Bell featured in the matchday squad. Both now professionals with Exeter, Alfie has joined Cornish Pirates and Charlie Plymouth Albion on loan, gaining invaluable senior rugby experience. Their progress since moving south has been outstanding and their prospects in the game look exceptionally bright.

Adding to the list of professional signings, former pupil Diamond Ayiehfor, who left after his GCSEs, has recently signed with Leicester Tigers. His rapid rise has already been recognised at national level with a place in the England U20 training squad. To further his development, Diamond has joined Nottingham RFC on loan this season. Another alumnus, Charlie West, has also earned a first professional contract with Nottingham. Affectionately known as “Westy,” his journey is a story of resilience and determination, overcoming setbacks at school level to finally seize his opportunity. We are confident this is just the start of a promising career.

While it is inspiring to see so many of our recent pupils making their mark in professional rugby, the roots of this success lie firmly at school. Our junior programme is flourishing, offering one-to-one coaching, opportunities across all ability levels and representation from A through to D teams. This inclusive yet ambitious approach ensures every pupil has the chance to grow, whether aiming for the Premiership or simply taking pride in representing King Henry’s.

We are immensely proud of our rugby tradition, the values it instils and the pathways it continues to create. With current squads thriving and former pupils shining on the national stage, the future of rugby at King Henry VIII School is brighter than ever.

Mr Jonathan Fitt
Director of Sport