As we prepare to celebrate 100 years of rugby at Hurst, we are launching a special video series to mark the occasion.

The centenary will culminate in a major celebration on Wednesday 19th November at the iconic Richmond Athletic Ground (see our events page), bringing together generations of OJs, players and supporters.

Our video series opens with a nostalgic journey through the past, led by OJ George Leslie Hill (1949 team picture, end of back row), a revered figure in Hurst’s rugby legacy. George not only played rugby at Hurst as a pupil, but later returned as a teacher, Housemaster, and Master of Rugby. He takes us back to rugby at Hurst during the 1940s, just 20 years after rugby replaced soccer at the school.  His first memory of rugby is from the age of 12, facing a towering Icelandic sixth former on the rugby pitch. Undeterred, George went on to play throughout his school years, and after he retired when he continued to work with the OJ rugby team for many years.

George’s personal connection to Hurst runs deep: he is also the father of three Old Hurst Johnians, making his reflections a poignant tribute to the enduring spirit of Hurst rugby.

The video series promises to be a compelling chronicle of the school’s rugby evolution, capturing the camaraderie, discipline, and passion that has defined the sport at Hurst for a century.

Stay tuned as more episodes roll out in the lead-up to the November celebration, each offering a unique perspective on the legacy and future of rugby at Hurst.