game in Singapore, the first major tour for 21 years. The school organises its own U12/U15 Sevens Tournament and also organises a national sevens competition at U16 level, which is held at London Irish. Rugby is played at the School's sports grounds at Barn Elms on the banks of the River Thames. Previous sports grounds used by the school include Hampstead Heath and the Duke of York's Headquarters. The house rugby competition also takes place in the Michaelmas term. Cricket Cricket at the Oratory tended to be more of a focus prior to the Second World War, with less success in the immediate post-war period. By the 1980s however, the fortunes of the school teams were improving and the U12 XI beat Latymer Upper School in the 1987 London Cup final. There are 4 cricket nets in the School grounds which are used for after school practice during the summer months. The School's cricket teams host matches at Barn Elms and play in a few county cups and leagues, for example the Middlesex Schools' Cup. Cricket is also the main sport in the Junior House. Other sports The School has a 25-meter, indoor swimming pool in its grounds. The School holds the Junior House swimming gala in the pool, as well as regular games lessons and waterpolo practice. The first annual swimming gala took place in 1882 and for many decades took place at the Chelsea Baths. Teams for the gala in recent decades has been organised by the housemasters. There are no football teams at present who represent the school, however football had been the main sport of the school up until the 1960s and to this day each form from each house puts forward a team for the annual house football competition. Rowing at the Oratory expanded somewhat in the mid 1960s and by 1965 there were enough boys for a decent eight. In 1980, Allan Whitwell joined the school staff and built up the rowing squad, which included boys who were already rowing at other clubs. Rowing disappeared for around a decade before being reorganised towards the end of the 1990s when the London Oratory School Boat Club acquired its first boat. By 2006, LOSBC had its first Schools' Head win in a coxed four. In 2012, the school won its first gold medal at the National Schools' Regatta, which was followed by the 1st VIII winning