TOM WILLIAMS

14, BRITISH

School: Dulwich College (Singapore) Years at the school: 3 Sporting passion: Rugby Union

I first started playing tag rugby aged five, but changed to football for two years. I returned to rugby at age seven and played for two years at Wimbledon Rugby Club in London, before moving to Singapore in 2013; I impressed the coach at the first session when I came back!

At Dulwich, I participate in the Student Athlete Support Programme, which is designed to help aspiring sportsmen and women achieve both their athletic and their academic goals, especially those who are serious about developing a career in sport. In this programme, I receive technical and tactical training every week, while having a weekly mentoring session to help me balance my life with a comprehensive personalised training plan.

As I’ve grown older, I’ve found the sheer physicality of the sport exhilarating. I also like that players can continue to play for decades, provided they avoid injury. But more than that, it’s a sport where everyone on the team has a role to play. You’ve got to work as a unit and have a solid team strategy. A word with... KEVIN SHAW Director of Sport, Dulwich College (Singapore) How to get every student playing sport “Sport at Dulwich is competitive, but inclusive. There are over 150 teams across a range of team and individual sports: we provide the opportunity for as many students as possible to play sport.

“Children participate through the sports curriculum and PE lessons; this enables them to progress in a fear-free environment, and encourages an atmosphere of participation. Those who want to take part in a sport and play for their school, but may not be ‘A’ or ‘B’ team material, can do so at their own pace, developing what we hope will become a life-long interest in sport. A good example is our U8s football programme, which currently has nine teams – six of boys and three of girls.

“There are opportunities to represent the school at the Dulwich College Games; this year, we hosted the Primary Games. Senior students can participate in the Individual Sport Festivals; Beijing hosts the Senior Rugby and Netball Dulwich Championships every May.

“Sport provides valuable life lessons, such as coping with winning and losing. It develops leadership and discipline, encouraging sportsmanship, teamwork and perseverance, along with a commitment to improving interpersonal skills. We passionately believe in providing this opportunity for all the students in the College.” Learn more about Dulwich sport at dulwich-singapore.edu.sg