The Sherborne School 1st XV, known for their pale-blue shirts, celebrated the 50-year reunion of their extraordinary unbeaten streak last Saturday evening in Dorset. For nearly five years, from December 1974 to late autumn 1979, the team remained undefeated across more than 40 matches.
During this period, the schoolboys triumphed over opponents from as far afield as Wales and Ireland. Their success was attributed to a blend of power, guile, and panache, supported by two notable coaching mentors.
Mike Davis, an England coach and teacher at the school, tutored the forwards, while the backs were guided by Phil Jones, a former Bath fly-half. Jones, who later became headmaster of Christ College Brecon, recalled a high point when an unbeaten Clifton College was decisively beaten by what he considered the most complete performance he had seen from any schoolboy side.