A long-running annual rugby match held between a prestigious private school and a Catholic state school has been abandoned over fears of violent clashes fuelled by a class war.
The secondary schools in south London – £20,000-a-year Whitgift and John Fisher – have been playing each other in the annual fixture since the 1960s.
But the seniors’ match which was due to be held on Saturday and normally attracts thousands of spectators was cancelled after last year’s game was marred by chants of ‘chavs’ and aggressive scuffles.
The secondary schools in south London – £20,000-a-year Whitgift (pictured) and John Fisher – have been playing each other in the annual fixture since the 1960
Whitgift supporters were said to have started singing their own version of a Pink Floyd song, adapting the lyrics to ‘You ain’t got no education’ with Fisher fans responding with ‘Five points, five points, 20 grand for five points.’
Both schools have produced top professional and international rugby players. Whitgift alumni include the England fly-half Danny Cipriani and back Elliot Daly while John Fisher boast the Scotland prop Kyle Traynor and retired England winger Paul Sackey.
The schools are just two miles apart, adding to the tension, with Whigift in Croydon and Fisher in Purley.
Last week, John Fisher announced on Twitter: ‘Sadly the John Fisher vs Whitgift senior games are unable to take place on Saturday 7th October.
The schools are just two miles apart, adding to the tension, with Whigift in Croydon and Fisher (pictured) in Purley
‘Unfortunately there was some disruption at the first XV game in 2016 resulting in Whitgift requesting a mid-week fixture.
‘Unfortunately it has not been able to arrange a mutually convenient time this year. However, both schools will play at all other levels and both remain committed to restoring the senior fixtures for 2018.’
The annual friendly fixture involves fiercely contested games staged between three or four XVs in every age group from year seven to 13 with more than 700 boys.
Chris Ramsey, Whitgift’s headmaster, told the Sunday Times that the school had hoped to reschedule the first match to midweek to avoid a repeat of last year, but it had been unsuccessful.
Whitgift alumni include the England fly-half Danny Cipriani while John Fisher boast retired England winger Paul Sackey
He said: ‘Whitgift is a school with an unrivalled sporting reputation. However, there are rare times when an intense sporting rivalry risks overshadowing the game itself. We were keen this year to defuse that possibility. We are a school, not a professional club.’
Tom Street, head of rugby at John Fisher which is the only state school to compete at this level, told the Sunday paper: ‘We still have a very good sporting relationship with Whitgift.
‘We did offer to play the senior fixtures on Saturday morning but the school declined and we fully understand their position based on safeguarding players, the referee and supporters.’