With the Christmas break fast becoming a distant memory, the schools rugby kicks off again this weekend with some outstanding fixtures.

While the one term schools are already looking ahead to the 7s season, the Rosslyn Park draw is revealed today, the two term schools have plenty of fifteen-a-side to focus on yet.

Prediction Competition

While the Daily Mail Trophy is over for another year, our weekly prediction competition lives on, click here to enter, and there are five excellent fixtures featured that include some of the top schools in the country.

Brighton College v Skinners’

 

This ought to be an excellent fixture, Brighton, while perhaps not as good as a couple of years ago, a very capable of challenging the best, while Skinners’ have also proved able to compete against the best in the business as their performance against Whitgift showed. It ought to be an cracking game.

Prediction – Brighton College

 

King’s Macclesfield v Kirkham Grammar School

 

Arguably the best fixture of the weekend. Kirkham were sensational last term, going unbeaten and beating Sedbergh and Tonbridge, however King’s were a pretty tidy outfit too, and this fixture has produced fireworks in the past. King’s will be determined to stop Kirkham in their stride and home advantage will help with that, but the Kirkham juggernaut will take some stopping.

Prediction – Kirkham Grammar School

 

Millfield v Sir Thomas Rich’s

 

Millfield picked up two trophies and some outstanding results last term but lost a few to many games for their liking, however their quality was never in doubt. Sir Thomas Rich’s enjoyed a decent term, but having lost the likes of Sam Underhill over the summer, they are not quite the threat of 2013/14. Nevertheless, this ought to be a good game, Millfield are without the sublime Darren Atkins, who picked up a knock playing for Bath United, while many of their players were busy of U18 duty over Christmas.

Prediction – Millfield

 

Mount St Mary’s v Woodhouse Grove

 

It was not a classic term for Mount St Mary’s, who won just four matches before Christmas, two of which were in the NatWest Cup early rounds. That said, Woodhouse Grove did not enjoy the greatest of openings to the season either, however by the end of term they were well and truly back in the groove and will be feeling confident of victory away on Saturday.

Prediction – Woodhouse Grove

 

Old Swinford Hospital v Warwick

 

This looks like another tough fixture for the 2012 NatWest Cup finalists, Old Swinford Hospital. Warwick, the 2014 Cup finalists, have had a tremendous season and possess some exceptional players. Having lost their last three games of the term though, including being knocked out of the Cup, they will be determined to get a win on Saturday and to make sure that their excellent reputation at the moment does not slip.

Prediction – Warwick.

 

Around the grounds

Elsewhere there are plenty of top sides in action, Solihull are always busy at this time of year, they travel to Bishop Vesey’s in search of a victory that they will feel they ought to get. John Fisher travel to Chislehurst & Sidcup Grammar, while St Benedict’s prepare for their crucial NatWest Cup tie next week with a trip to New Hall.

RGS High Wycombe return to action against Judd, and St Peter’s Gloucester cross the Severn to play Whitchurch High. Moving north, Stockport Grammar v Wilmslow High and St Ambrose College v RGS Lancaster ought to attract plenty of attention.

Friday

On Friday evening Whitgift meet Caterham, in what ought to serve as a good blow out for the 2010 and 2011 Schools Cup champions ahead of next week’s NatWest Cup action.

Do you agree with our predictions? Let us know what you think via the comment box below or via @FifteenRugbyXV

Schools Rugby Fixtures (predictions in bold):

Prediction Competition Fixtures:

Brighton College v Skinners’

King’s Macclesfield v Kirkham GS

Millfield v Sir Thomas Rich’s

Mount St Mary’s v Woodhouse Grove

Old Swinford Hospital v Warwick

Other School Fixtures:

Bablake v John Cleveland

Bishop Vesey’s v Solihull

Bolton v Manchester GS

Brentwood v Reigate GS

Campion v Dartford GS

Chis & Sid v John Fisher

Glyn v Tiffin

London Oratory v St Olave’s

Loughborough GS v Birkdale

Lymm HS v Hutton GS

New Hall v St Benedict’s

Nottingham HS v Leicester GS

RGS High Wycombe v Judd

St Ambrose College v RGS Lancaster

Stockport v Wilmslow HS

Whitchurch HS v St Peter’s Gloucester

Friday

Caterham v Whitgift