Attention: You are using an outdated browser, device or you do not have the latest version of JavaScript downloaded and so this website may not work as expected. Please download the latest software or switch device to avoid further issues.

Alumni News > Alumni News > Alumni Receives First England Cap

Alumni Receives First England Cap

Alumni Billy Harding (Class of 2011) presents his England Counties playing shirt
19 Sep 2018
Alumni News
Claremont Fan Court School alumni Billy Harding (Class of 2011) returned to Claremont Fan Court School in September to present one of his England Counties playing shirts, from their successful tour of Romania in June 2018.
 
Billy received news of his call up to the England Counties team in May, the same week he turned professional with Championship club, London Scottish. He says it was an “amazing surprise” that it all happened at once after 4 years as Hooker for Esher semi-professionally.
 
Billy left Claremont Fan Court School after completing his GCSE’s in 2009 and went on to study for A Levels at Hampton School. Head of Rugby, Mark Yeoman, recalled Billy’s natural talent for rugby at School and was pleased to hear of his recent success. After Hampton, Billy began a degree in Criminology at Roehampton, but his passion for the sport won out and in 2014 he left for New Zealand to spend a year playing in Auckland. After returning to the UK and a strong 2017 season at Esher, Billy was selected for the England Counties team. While on tour in Romania, Billy played in all three games, the warm-up match against CSM Bucharest, Romania U23s and Romania A respectively, a prerequisite to receiving his first cap for his country.
 
As well as the fixtures, England Counties undertook outreach work in Bucharest to help grow the game in Romania. Billy is keen to share his love of the game and has already undertaken coaching with St Benedict’s School in Ealing and RGS Guildford. We look forward to seeing him back on the Claremont fields to inspire our current pupils in the near future and wish him well at London Scottish.
 

Similar stories

Heritage News

Charlotte . . . a forgotten Princess remembered.

Over 80 guests joined us in the Great Room as we remembered the life of Princess Charlotte Augusta of Wales More...
Alumni over the moon to be working with NASA

Dougie will shortly be working at the NASA Ames Research Centre in the Human Factors and Fatigue Countermeasures departm… More...
Alumni speaks at Davos

Christiana Figueres speaks at Davos World Economic Forum 2018 More...

Fan Court rugby team - Year unknown
The benefits of an alumni community

There are no better ambassadors than alumni More...

City and Business
First alumni event of 2019

Claremont Fan Court School host City and Business Event More...

Most read

English Classroom - 'Beatrice'
Alumni News
My Claremont Memories - Michele Ligon (1963-1966, Esher)

Orlena Lackenbauer, nee Michele Ligon (1963-1966, Esher) returned to visit the school in October 2019. Here she recalls her memories of her time at Cl… More...

Claremont Fan Court School
Alumni News
40 years of Claremont Fan Court School

2018 marked 40 years since the amalgamation of Fan Court and Claremont School. More...

Class of 2003/2004
Alumni News
Celebrating 40 years of Claremont Fan Court School

Celebratory Tea and Tour at Claremont Fan Court School More...

Have your say

 
Alumni Management Software powered by
ToucanTech