Former pupil returns with Monégasque rugby side

A Teesside school welcomed a visiting rugby squad ahead of a regional tournament.

Red House School, in Norton, hosted Monaco Impis Rugby Club (MIRC) as they trained ahead of the Eggchaser’s 7s North tournament at Darlington Arena, where both the men’s and women’s teams were crowned champions.

The visit was organised by Joe Marsh, a former Red House pupil who now lives in Monaco and works with MIRC, which was founded by Charlene, Princess of Monaco, and the Monegasque Rugby Federation, in 2017.

Having rediscovered his passion for rugby while living abroad, Joe brought the squad back to his old school for a special pre-tournament training session with pupils.

He said: “The last time I stepped foot in Red House School was in 1999, when I picked up my GCSEs – but walking through the doors again was just spine-tingling.

“We realised we would have a day of training prior, and we were offered spots across the region.

“But then we came up with the idea of visiting a school, and my nostalgic side drew me back towards Red House.

“Their response was instantly phenomenal, and the school couldn’t have been more accommodating.

“The school always put a great emphasis on sport, much like I do now as a dad with my two children.

“It is such a great way to develop young people, and I was lucky that I had an amazing teacher – Danny Kitching – who more than anything was just a really great bloke.

“He inspired my rugby journey a lot, and it felt like this was a chance to follow his lead.

“The pupils were just superb – when we arrived for the training session, the school had already sorted out everything – and it gave us a chance to work on everything from lineouts and scrums to touch rugby with over 120 pupils.

“Everyone just threw themselves into the event and the youngsters were so impressive.”

Dr Rebecca Ashcroft, head of Red House School, added: “A crucial aim of ours is to provide pupils with experiences that go beyond the classroom.

“Opportunities like this enrich learning, improve academic outcomes, and shape confident, well-rounded individuals.

“Sport, in particular, teaches resilience, teamwork and leadership – skills that support both educational success and personal growth for life.

“We were delighted to welcome Joe back to Red House and proud to host the Monaco Impis teams.

“It was an incredible opportunity for our pupils to be coached by elite players.

“We are very grateful to Joe and the teams for giving their time and inspiring our pupils.”

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