On Thursday, 11 December, students from across the school will gather to watch Wellington College compete against all four of our major first teams in a battle labelled “Super Thursday”. This event brings together the four major first teams – rugby, football, hockey and netball – for a full-school showdown that showcases the highest level of schoolboy and schoolgirl sport. The day brings students, staff and families from both schools who come and support the teams and experience the atmosphere of the afternoon.
Super Thursday is more than just a set of fixtures; it is a moment to show passion and pride for the school, and an opportunity for Gordon’s athletes not only to represent the school but also demonstrate the years of hard work and dedication that they have put into their respective sports through their discipline and commitment to training.
Both Gordon’s and Wellington are known for their strong reputations in competitive sport, Super Thursday being an opportunity for a dedicated showdown, brewing throughout the months of preparation prior until the actual day. It will be a fierce rivalry with very strong teams on both sides of all sports and will be a tense battle for all involved.
Its significance lies not only in the level of competition or even the results, but also reflects the school’s passionate community, the Bleed Green mentality, and the impressive sporting abilities of the Gordon’s sides who are able to take on the best of England’s private schools.
Played out onto the pitch by our Pipes & Drums, our teams will be thirsty for the recognition and pride of taking home the win.
– Adam
Hockey
In the build up to the game, I spoke to Jess, a hockey scholar and integral part of the first team. Wellington, she explained, are far from the easy opponent…
‘They’ve got a strong squad with lots of international players’, she described to me. ‘They’re an aggressive team that play at a high standard’ which Jess explained could be thanks to their ‘top level sports facilities’.
Despite Wellington’s reputation, Gordon’s hockey first team has proven their own excellence, recently becoming champions of the U18 sixes tournament, their second tournament win of the term. Jess says the team will approach the game with a ‘mindset to win’ and with ‘confidence but not cockiness’.
– Ella
Football
Interview with 1st team football player, Starting Centre Midfielder, Charlie
How has the team been preparing for Super Thursday?
“We’ve been training hard, working heavily on our set pieces in the final third. We analysed Wellingtons back line as we know we can exploit this. Feeling very confident as we are currently in great form, three clean sheets on the bounce, looking to make that four.”
What challenges are you expecting?
“We know that they are a very strong, well drilled side, therefore expect them to come out the blocks with the upmost intensity, which we will have to work hard to match. They will definitely have lots of individual talent however I have full belief in the team in combatting this.”
What would this win mean for the team?
“Our team is in great form right now, as I said on a three-game win streak, and I think a win against such strong competition will solidify ending the term on a high. With Mr Nash leaving at the end of the term, I know the whole team wishes to end on a good note”.
– Adam
Rugby
The much anticipated event of the day is Wellington College 1st XV vs the Gordon’s ACE squad, which will be the first time ever a private school has played an ACE rugby college.
This matchup has been highly anticipated as it is the collision of the two rugby giants from two different worlds of schoolboy rugby.
Wellington College, whose 1st XV won the 2025 St Joseph’s Rugby Festival Trophy where they beat Millfield in the final and currently sit second in the Daily Mail U18 Trophy Table, come into the game in red hot form. Furthermore, many of the current 1st XV were part of the U16 team who won the cup at Rosslyn Park 7s last year.
The Gordon’s team, who just last week finished the ACE league with a comprehensive 42-19 win against Gosforth Academy, finished third in the ACE league for the second time in the last three seasons. This win brought an end to a difficult but successful season for the squad who due to numerous injuries utilised 40 different players throughout the whole season. Finishing third really demonstrated the excellent strength in depth of the squad. Half the squad was part of the victorious squad who last year won the ACE league for the first time in the school’s history.
The match will be particularly special as it will see teammates, who next term will play together in the Premiership U18 League for Harlequins, pitted against each other with both teams having several Harlequins U18 players in their squad.
Players to look out for include: the captain, Jakob, whose return from injury at the back end of the ACE season coincided with the team’s strong finish as well as Kane who, since joining the school in September, has played in all ten of the teams ACE league games scoring more than six tries in the process.
Charlie, the first ever green blazer to play for the ACE team, reflecting on the ACE season said, “Delighted with how we finished the season, but injuries caused us to start the season a bit slowly. But now we are just really looking forward to this game against Welly.”
He added, “We know Wellington will come flying at the blocks, so we are going to have match their intensity and from start. We have been working a lot on our set piece so hopefully this helps us through the game.”
– Marco
Netball
This battle between the Gordon’s first netball team and that of Wellington College has been much anticipated: both teams have been fierce competitors in their previous games.
The Gordon’s first VII has recently become England Netball National Schools Finalists as well as coming second in the ISL netball tournament, showcasing the talent and strength of this team. Likewise, Wellington College’s first team is a highly successful squad, finishing 8th in the national finals in 2025.
Leading up to this eagerly awaited game, I interviewed Freya, a highly dedicated and talented player in this team:
What part of your game or the team’s game do you feel has improved most this season?
‘I feel like the team’s connections throughout these few weeks we have all played together have definitely improved the most. Results and performances are so much more successful now we play together and know each other better compared to the start of the season.’
What match moment from this season are you proud of so far?
‘I think the entire team is most proud of our success at the country rounds to face regionals and hopefully nationals. One of our main goals as a team is to make nationals and be successful so making the top 2 of country rounds against tough opposition has probably been our most successful moment as a team.’
What do you hope spectators will see from your team on super Thursday?
‘On Thursday, I hope spectators see how connected we are as a team on and off the court and the hard work we have done has paid off.’
Wellington college is a strong competitor- what is the mindset going into that matchup?
‘As a team, we all need to be locked in from the beginning- this means we need to just focus on the court and what our game is from the moment we start our warm up. I think the team is going to stay positive and encourage everyone as we always do.’
Every single player in this team is ready to take on the challenge of Wellington College with resilience and determination. No matter the result, the Gordon’s netball first VII will certainly embody our school’s values and bleed green in this exhilarating game: their competitive spirit and willingness to give it their all will make this match truly exhilarating to watch.
– Holly