Former Pupil Returns to Red House School – Bringing Monaco Rugby Team with Him After 25 Years

Joe, who left Red House School in 1999 after completing his GCSEs, now travels the world as part of the Monaco Impis Rugby Club—a professional rugby sevens team based on the French Riviera and backed by the Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation. The team plays high-profile tournaments in destinations like Dubai and includes a mix of current and former professional players.

During a recent visit to the North East to compete in the Eggchaser’s 7s North Tournament at the Darlington Arena, Joe returned to Red House for the first time in over 25 years.

“The last time that 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,” said Joe.

Elite Coaching for Red House Pupils

Ahead of the tournament on June 14, both the male and female Monaco Impis sides visited Red House School to run a special training session for pupils.

“We realised that 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,” added the 41-year-old.

“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.”

A Journey from Teesside to Monaco

Joe’s rugby journey began at Red House during the Jonny Wilkinson era, but faded in his 20s as life and work took over. After moving to Monaco via Australia, his passion for the game returned, unexpectedly, through a local bar.

“You can order a pint of Guinness and find yourself standing next to Prince Albert,” joked Joe.

The Monaco Impis are operated through the Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation—an organisation that encourages sport participation and offers educational and sports equipment.

Red House School: Championing Sport and Opportunity

For Red House School, the visit was an opportunity to highlight the role of sport in developing confident, well-rounded individuals. With teams across multiple age groups, Red House competes at county and national level in rugby and fields squads in over a dozen sports. The school regularly attends the Rosslyn Park National Schools Sevens and supports athletes through the Durham Development Player Programme (DPP).

Academically, Red House also achieved the highest GCSE results on Teesside last year, with 99.2% of pupils securing grades 9–4 (A*–C).

“A crucial aim at Red House School is to provide pupils with experiences that go beyond the classroom,” said Dr Rebecca Ashcroft, Head of Red House School.

“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.”

To commemorate the visit, two signed Monaco Impis shirts will now hang on the walls of Red House School.

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