Sport for AllSport for All

Physical literacy and fundamental movement are at the heart of our rugby programme; we focus on learning and development, encouraging a love of the sport through support both on and off the field. Eight Old Brightonians are currently playing in the Premiership, with Marcus Smith playing fly-half for England and the British and Irish Lions.

16 teams of all abilities across the Hockey Club have the opportunity to play on a strong school fixture circuit. Our A teams test themselves against the very best in their respective England Hockey Tier 1 outdoor and indoor competitions, and five of our pupils are currently representing their nation. We also run midweek fixtures to allow for club hockey on Saturdays.

We field 25 teams for all abilities and enter local and national tournaments. All training programmes, regardless of level, are focussed on the development of sport intelligence and versatility in game play. Brighton College has close links with several high performing clubs and has players that are part of both the Surrey Storm and London Pulse pathways. We enjoy close links with university netball programmes and national teams, including the England Roses Academy.

Cricket is our main summer sport for boys and girls, and we have several pupils playing for their county. We are ranked by The Cricketer as one of the top schools in the country for cricket and won the BOWS Cricket Festival in 2024. We are proud to have been instrumental in developing competitive cricket for girls, and have produced national players in both the women’s and the men’s game, including Clare Connor CBE, Sarah Taylor and Matt Prior.  

We offer routes into competitive swimming, water polo and triathlon, coached by an Olympian swimmer. Our stunning 25m swimming pool is an unrivalled facility, and offers opportunities for those wanting to develop, improve, or compete at elite-level competitions. With six squad sessions each week, pupils have the opportunity to swim before, during and after school.

Our Football Club is the most successful in the Sussex/Kent School League. We compete in national competitions, including the ISFA and ESFA Cup, as well as County Cup competitions. Pupils travel to professional clubs each year, including Porto and Manchester City, preparing them for the season ahead. We have a thriving girls' football club at the College, who regularly play competitive matches.

Our Athletics Club has an unrivalled reputation for producing excellent and conditioned athletes. Pupils are coached by experts in every discipline and compete in fixtures against other top sporting schools. Many pupils go on to compete at national and international tournaments, including the Commonwealth Games. 

With over 200 pupils playing on a weekly basis, tennis is played across a range of abilities, with all teams enjoying success on the competitive circuit in national and regional competitions. Specialist coaching is delivered by highly qualified tennis coaches.

Basketball is the fastest growing sport in the College, with regular competitive fixtures. Our U18 team is enjoying great success and competes in the National Schools Competition. Pupils also enjoy basketball as a social activity in the evenings, and has the best spectator atmosphere in the College.

With our proximity to the beach, we make the most of the sunshine in the annual Independent Schools Beach Volleyball Competition, hosted by us at our local seaside sand courts. As current champions, we hone our skills off-season in our sports hall, and pupils take part in beach tournaments across the country each year. Beach volleyball is one of the most popular co-educational options in the Sixth Form.

Our dedicated strength and conditioning suite is at the heart of our Athletic Development Programme. We offer a broad range of sessions during the day, in the evening and at the weekend. All sessions are led by our expert staff, whether to help in the sporting ambitions of pupils or, more holistically, to help pupils improve their wellbeing.

The popular Brighton College Karate Dojo has self-development at its core, with pupils not only becoming proficient martial artists, but also developing essential skills such as resilience and greater self-awareness. Pupils successfully pass grading examinations, with commitment and great enthusiasm.

Other popular sports include badminton, bouldering, fencing and table tennis, with pupils playing at elite levels as well as for pleasure.