The NatWest Cup quarter final draw will take place on Thursday, which means there is plenty of last 16 action this week.
The draw takes place at 12.15pm and will be presented by Sky Sports’ Alex Payne and streamed live on www.englandrugby.com with Rob Andrew making the draw.
The first quarter finalist has already been decided after Oundle beat King’s Worcester by a stunning 50-12 scoreline, alerting the remaining fourteen sides as to the threat that they pose.
Of the remaining seven fixtures, five will take place before the draw on Thursday, with the final two to be played next week.
The action starts on Tuesday afternoon in South West B as Dauntsey’s host Sherborne, who have been quietly going about their business in this Cup run but look a potentially threatening side. Both picked up big wins in round 6 against good sides in St Peter’s Gloucester and Truro, suggesting a good game at Dauntsey’s.
Wednesday is when the action really picks up though, with four games taking place and some of the big names in this year’s competition taking to the field.
Triple champions Dulwich College travel to Trinity for what promises to be a tense game of rugby in London & South East B. Earlier in the season Dulwich beat Trinity by a narrow 10-7 margin at home. With Trinity hosting this one it looks like being a tough one to call, though Dulwich’s Cup nous will be a big challenge for Trinity to overcome.
One of only three teams to have beaten Dulwich this year are Hampton, who were highly impressive in their defeat of RGS High Wycombe in the previous round.
Wednesday sees Hampton face one of their toughest challenges of the season though as they travel to Wales to face Monmouth who have not lost a fixtures against another school all season.
The Welshmen have beaten the likes of Millfield and Bromsgrove and will take some stopping, but Hampton have the quality to do the job too in this South West A last 16 game.
Another side with a great record this year are Hymers College. They have lost just twice all season and host Lymm High School in North B on Wedensday. Lymm are no slouches either though, they have only lost once all season, suggesting this could be a real classic. Home advantage and a slightly tougher fixture list may just put this one just in Hymers’ favour.
Over in North A Wilmslow High School host St Peter’s York for what looks like a very interesting game. Wilmslow have knocked out some big names in Stonyhurst College and King’s Macclesfield, and while St Peter’s have not faced such quality in the competition yet, they have scored 163 points in their last three Cup games. This should be exciting.
The quarter final draw follows these five games before the action then picks up again on Tuesday 3rd February with Bromsgrove v Stamford.
That game in Midlands A promises to be one of the great ties of the last sixteen. Both schools have been in outstanding form this season, Bromsgrove have lost just twice all year, to Monmouth and Warwick, and have beaten the likes of Millfield, Stowe, and Oundle, as well as avenging their defeat to Warwick by beating the in round 5 of this competition.
Stamford have had an unbeaten season, which has included victories over Stowe, Oundle, and Denstone College. The winner of this will be a big challenger in the competition but choosing between them will not be easier. Home advantage for Bromsgrove will help but this will be close.
The last sixteen then finishes the following day with a London & South East A fixture between St Joseph’s College and Whitgift. Whitgift just beat St Benedict’s last week in a very tough 6th round encounter and this game ought to be just as tough for the 2010 and 2011 champions. St Joseph’s reached the final of their Festival back in October and are a top side, and like many of the other games, the winner of this will have a big say later in the competition.
Do you agree with our predictions below? Let us know yours via @FifteenRugbyXV or through the comment box at the foot of the page.
NatWest Cup last 16 ties (predictions in bold):
Dauntsey’s v Sherborne – Tuesday 27th January
Hymers College v Lymm High School – Wednesday 28th January
Monmouth v Hampton – Wednesday 28th January
Trinity v Dulwich College – Wednesday 28th January
Wilmslow High School v St Peter’s, York – Wednesday 28th January
Bromsgrove v Stamford – Tuesday 3rd February
St Joseph’s College v Whitgift – Wednesday 4th February
NatWest Vase Fixtures:
Seevic College v Hurstpierpoint College
Sheldon v West Buckland
St George’s, Weybridge v Simon Langton
Stockport GS v Ilkley GS
