The 2014 U18 Oakham School 7s takes place on Sunday 9th March, with some big names from across the Midlands taking part.
Last year Bedford won the competition, beating St Joseph’s College 20-14 in the final. Both sides return again this year and will be looking to secure some early silverware.
It will be a far more tricky task this year though as the tournament doubles in size from two groups of four last year to four groups of four this, meaning that to progress to the Cup knockout teams must top their pool this year.
Bedford reached last year’s final having beaten Oakham, Uppingham, and Princethorpe in the group stages, before thumping Leicester Grammar School 43-12 in the semi finals.
Leicester Grammar School will get an early chance to avenge that defeat though, they are drawn alongside Bedford in Group B on Sunday. Princethorpe College and Denstone College join them.
Last year’s runners up, St Joseph’s College, are drawn in Group A alongside the hosts, Oakham. Joining them are last year’s Plate runners up, The Perse, as well as Rugby School.
The Perse lost that Plate final 19-24 to Uppingham School, who will be looking to go one better this year and to get into the Cup draw of the competition. Standing in their way will be Bedford Modern and Warwick, who both got their eye in at the Solihull 7s on Wednesday, while Loughborough Grammar School are also in that group.
With Warwick competing in the U18 NatWest Cup semi final at Allianz Park against Durham on Saturday though, it will be a fairly understrength Warwick side that will likely be competing at Oakham.
In the final group, Group D, NatWest Cup quarter finalists Stamford and Stowe go head to head. Another two excellent sides, Bromsgrove and King’s Grantham, join them, making this, along with Group A, an incredibly tough group.
Who do you think will win the Oakham 7s? Let us know your thoughts via @FifteenRugbyXV or comment below.
2014 U18 Oakham School 7s | |||
Group A | Group B | Group C | Group D |
Oakham | Bedford | Bedford Modern School | Bromsgrove |
Rugby | Denstone College | Loughborough Grammar School | Stamford |
St Joseph’s College | Leicester Grammar School | Uppingham | Stowe |
The Perse | Princethorpe College | Warwick | King’s School, Grantham |
There is also an U16 tournament taking place on Sunday, for details of that please visit the Schools Rugby website:
http://www.schoolssports.com/CompetitionMicrosite/default.asp?TID=Oakham-Rugby-Sevens
