After a highly successful Festival tournament over the past couple of days, the HSBC Rosslyn Park National School Sevens Open tournament kicks off tomorrow morning, with Coleg Sir Gar looking to retain their title but a number of other challengers looking in a very strong position.

Whitgift, Sedbergh and Millfield all look like being serious challengers for the title, particularly given that they have all had success so far this sevens season and all look to have relatively decent paths through to the knockout draw.

Hampton too have been looking in fine form this season, despite having yet to pick up any major silverware. Sir Gar may even find that they get usurped by some of their Welsh Colleagues, Llandovery College have been looking in fine form, whilst the challenge from Scotland comes from Merchiston Castle, who stand a fine chance of qualification to the knockout draw.

The AASE Colleges pose a serious threat to the Open title too, Oaklands won at Surrey last week and looked very dangerous, however the availability of some of their star players may be an issue. The same goes for Hartpury who are full of quality but may not have their strongest outfit on show.

Filton, Henley and Ivybridge Colleges are all drawn in the same group, Pool H, creating what will undoubtedly be the most competitive group of the lot. Whoever tops it will almost certainly go deep into the tournament but it would be a surprise to see any of the emerge from the pool unbeaten.

It looks set to be yet another fantastic tournament then, and despite weather concerns it is still on, so we can all rest easily tonight.

Group A:

Bicton College, Coleg Sir Gar, East Norfolk 6th Form College, Isleworth & Syon school, Nottingham High

 

Group B:

Bablake, Barry Comprehensive, Greenhill School, Hartpury College, RGS Newcastle

 

Group C:

Kirkham Grammar, London Oratory, Robert Clack, Tasker Milward, USA High School All American.

 

Group D:

King John, The Leventhorpe, UCS, Wimbledon College, Ysgol Gyfun Gwyr

 

Group E:

Cardinal Newman, Chislehurst & Sidcup, Emanuel, Hurstpierpoint College, Llandovery College

 

Group F:

Leicester Grammar, Judd, King’s Macclesfield, Windsor, Ysgol Gyfun Bro Myrddin

 

Group G:

City of London Freeman’s, Hertfordshire & Essex High, King Henry VIII Coventry, St. Edwards’ Liverpool

 

Group H:

Ivybridge, Peter Symonds, Filton, Henley, Woodhouse Grove

 

Group I:

Adams Grammar, Cowbridge Comprhensive, Hampton, Millhill, Warwick

 

Group J:

Crosskeys College, Gravesend Grammar, Oaklands College, QEGS Wakefield, Wells Cathedral

 

Group K:

Emanuel School, St. David’s, St. Joseph’s, Stonyhurst, Ysgol Dyffrun Aman

 

Group L:

Exeter College, King Edward VI Grammar Chelmsford, Millfield, Old Swinford Hospital, Ysgol Gyfun Cwm Rhymni

 

Group M:

Moulton College, Pocklington, Richmond Upon Thames College, Sedbergh, Ysgol Gyfun Bro Morgannwg

 

Group N:

Mount St. Mary’s, Neath Port Talbot, St. Benedict’s, Stafford Grammar, Stephenson Studio

 

Group O:

Gower College, Liverpool College, St. Peter’s Gloucester, Wallington County Grammar, Welbeck DSFC

 

Group P:

Brynteg Comprehensive, Merchiston Castle, Peterborough, Manchester Grammar

 

Group Q:

Maidstone Grammar, Rydal Penrhos, St. Cenydd, Wirral Grammar, Worcester Sixth Form College

 

Group R:

Coleg Llandrillo Cymru, Farnborough College, John Fisher, QES Kirkby, Wisbech Grammar

 

Group S:

Bishop Wordsworth, Rougemont, Stockport Grammar, Whitchurch High, Wilmslow High

 

Group T:

Carleton Comprehensive, Newport High, St. Olave’s Grammar, Truro College, Ysgol y Preseli

 

Group U:

Leighton Park, Pembrokeshire College, Treorchy Comprehensive, Whitgift, Ysgol Gyfun Llanhari