Newcastle Falcons vs Saracens - Programme

A schoolboy prodigy who was earmarked for big things from the
age of 13, Sam Stuart still had to do things the hard way to carve
out a Premiership rugby career.
A graduate of the famed Sedbergh School production line who
turned pro straight out of school, he suffered three ACL injuries,
worked as a labourer and stockbroker, dropped down to level
three and then rose back to the top.
It has been a rugby journey with more than a few hurdles along
the way for the scrum-half, whose path to Kingston Park has
taken in the South West, the North West, London, New Zealand
and Tyneside.
“I was born in Cheltenham where we lived there until I was about
nine or ten, and I played my mini rugby at Stroud rugby club,” says
Stuart.
“I moved to Sedbergh from then until I was 18, and it’s funny when
you think back. We went on holiday to Center Parcs in Cumbria,
and I must’ve said something flippant about the fact it’s really
nice up here, because pretty quickly after that we moved up to
the area! Sedbergh just happened to be a good school fairly near
to where my family were living rather than moving to the area
specifically for the school, but I enjoyed my time there and got to
play a lot of sport.”
With the famed rugby breeding ground boasting alumni including
England greats Will Carling and Will Greenwood, Stuart explains:
“There’s a huge list of guys who have come through Sedbergh and
gone on to big things in the game, but it’s not something they
make a massive play on when you’re there. They obviously have
their names on the boards and some photos in the pavilion, and
you’re definitely aware of that tradition, but they don’t make a
song and dance about it.
“From the first XV that I played with at Sedbergh, I’d say
somewhere in the region of ten of them signed professional
contracts. Tom Francis was one who plays prop for Wales, Alex
Allan played prop for Glasgow and Scotland, Charlie Clare plays
hooker at Leicester Tigers, Scott Wilson played here and was in
the team a year below mine and there’s been a steady stream of
guys coming through since I left.
“They’ve got a reputation of being good, which in turn attracts the
best players, and because it’s such a traditional boarding school
the guys are just there all the time. They train every day anyway,
and even when school finishes for the day you’re just playing
touch rugby. There’s not much else to do because it’s pretty
isolated up there, but they’ve got a great record and do a lot of
things well.
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