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Congratulations to Inigo Langford (Hl 25), who has been recruited to join the Brown University rugby programme. Inigo becomes the first Wellingtonian to be formally recruited for men’s rugby by a US university, a landmark achievement for both him and the College’s rugby programme.
Each year, several Wellington students pursue sporting opportunities at top American universities, most commonly in girls’ field hockey. Inigo’s recruitment, however, represents an exciting new chapter that highlights not only the strength of rugby at Wellington but also the global opportunities the sport can offer our pupils.
Brown boasts one of the most competitive collegiate rugby teams in the United States and has established strong links with Wellington in recent years. Inigo joins a growing legacy of Old Wellingtonians at Brown, including Will Sinfield (S 19) and Joe Al-Hasso (Hl 21), both of whom played for the team while completing graduate studies.
He also follows in the footsteps of Sophie Ragg (Hn 18), who spent five years at Dartmouth College, where she captained the women’s first team and led them to three National Championship titles. More recently, Ollie Teague (Hl 24), 1XV Captain in 2023–24, joined the rugby roster at the University of California, Berkeley, further strengthening the Wellington-US rugby connection.
Wellington’s rugby legacy in the US extends even further, with Madison Hughes (A 11) having starred at Dartmouth before going on to captain the USA Sevens team and represent the United States at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
With four current Wellingtonians taking part in US rugby identification camps this June, following an unbeaten U16 season and a Rosslyn Park National Schools Sevens title, the pipeline of talent from Bigside to Stateside is clearly thriving.
Inigo’s recruitment by Brown recognises not just his athletic ability but also his academic strength. Success in Ivy League college sport demands high standards in both areas, and Inigo’s achievement reflects the balance of discipline and drive that defines Wellington’s rugby programme.
We also take a moment to celebrate other Wellington pupils heading to the US on sports scholarships in 2025. Congratulations to Noa Armelin (A 25), Sophia Clarke (C 24), and Lucy Mangat (Ap 24), who will be joining Stanford, Brown, and the University of Pennsylvania respectively on field hockey scholarships later this year.
