The week ahead is a huge few days in the school rugby season, with Wednesday looking absolutely pivotal.
The Champions Trophy final between Millfield and Grammar School at Leeds on Wednesday afternoon at Allianz Park will naturally grab the headlines, and we will cover it in greater depth elsewhere, but after an exciting first season, this ought to be a superb game of rugby to end the competition with.
Tuesday
Tuesday sees Bishop’s Stortford College host the Leys, while plenty of NatWest Cup action is likely to shift about and take place on Tuesday too, as well as several NatWest Vase fixtures.
Wednesday
Wednesday, as above, will likely be dominated by the Champions Trophy, but elsewhere there is a huge amount of interest.
The NatWest Cup will see a lot of action, with the fifth round ties kicking off. This is the stage of the competition where the level of competition really begins to step up, as Wednesday will likely show.
The likes of Bedford Modern, Hampton, RGS High Wycombe, and Oundle are all in action and will be favourites, but one game really stands out, St Joseph’s College v Campion.
Last year Campion stunned schools rugby fans by knocking out the much fancied St Joseph’s side, this year throws up an opportunity for St Joseph’s to gain revenge and you can be certain that it will make for a brilliant contest.
Wimbledon College v St Benedict’s ought also to be a real firecracker, while Stonyhurst will look to make the rest of the competition take notice as they travel to 2013 Vase champions Yarm.
Outside of the Cup Denstone host Welbeck as St Peter’s Glocuester travel to Hereford Cathedral.
Shiplake are in midweek action once against as Reigate travel over to Henley, while Princethorpe travel to Southam College.
Thursday
On Thursday Monkton Combe have the tricky task of welcoming the in form Beechen Cliff to town, while in the Cup Hymers College will look to progress even further as they host Crossley Heath.
Friday
Portsmouth Grammar host St John’s College on Friday and Mill Hill welcome UCS, while Merchant Taylors play under the lights away against Haberdashers.
Another exciting looking midweek, and one that will have all eyes on the scoreboards on Wednesday afternoon.
Midweek Fixtures (predictions in bold):
Tuesday
Bishop’s Stortford College v The Leys
Wednesday
Millfield v Grammar School at Leeds (Champions Trophy Final)
Denstone College v Welbeck
Hereford Cathedral School v St Peter’s, Gloucester
Shiplake College v Reigate GS
Southam College v Princethorpe College
Bedford Modern v Bloxham (NatWest Cup)
Exeter College v Truro (NatWest Cup)
Hampton v Bishop Wordsworth’s (NatWest Cup)
Oundle v Trent College (NatWest Cup)
RGS High Wycombe v Aylesbury GS (NatWest Cup)
Skinners’ v Dartford GS (NatWest Cup)
St Joseph’s College v Campion (NatWest Cup)
Tring v The Leys (NatWest Cup)
Wilmslow HS v Ermysted’s GS (NatWest Cup)
Wimbledon College v St Benedict’s (NatWest Cup)
Yarm v Stonyhurst College (NatWest Cup)
Thursday
Monkton Combe v Beechen Cliff
Hymers College v Crossley Heath (NatWest Cup)
Friday
Haberdashers v Merchant Taylors
Mill Hill v UCS
Portsmouth GS v St John’s College
