This weekend is a busy one for school rugby, with a good block of Saturday fixtures as well as the start of the school 7s season on Sunday and the ISRFC Lambs second fixture of the season.
As always at this time of year, weather will play a big part in what fixtures manage to go ahead or not, but so might the midweek schedules of those sides who had big NatWest Cup games.
Saturday Fixtures
Arguably the biggest game on Saturday will be RGS High Wycombe v Warwick two top teams who might not get the recognition they maybe deserve having been knocked out of the NatWest Cup earlier than expected due to an incredibly tough draw. Both have picked up some excellent results this season but Warwick might just be favourites, particularly having beaten RGS 24-17 earlier in the season.
Brighton College v Whitgift is another high class looking fixture. Whitgift have a last 16 Cup tie against St Joseph’s College on Wednesday so may rest a few, however either way this is a heavyweight clash. Brighton have had a tough 2015 so far, losing three of their four fixtures, including a one point loss to Campion last week. That makes Whitgift favourites, but much will depend on how much Wednesday’s game is dominating their minds.
Whitgift’s opponents on Wednesday, St Joseph’s College play Gravesend Grammar, where they will expect to pick up a momentum building win.
Hampton are flying with momentum after a stunning away win at Monmouth in the Cup in midweek, they host Tiffin on Saturday, who will be wary of the Hampton threat.
Several other NatWest Cup quarter finalists are also in action, Lym High School beat Hymers College to reach the quarter finals in midweek, they host Birkenhead on Saturday, while Hymers must recover fast as they face a tricky game away at QEGS Wakefield.
Wilmslow High School also reached the quarter finals after a dominant win v St Peter’s York. They host St Anselm’s on Saturday and will want to keep that momentum going.
Sunday 7s
The school 7s season starts in earnest this Sunday with two exciting competitions, the Millfield 7s and the Shiplake 7s, which between them will see 23 schools in action.
The Millfield 7s sees last year’s all dominant side, Millfield, host the likes of Kingswood, Sherborne, Eton College, Blundell’s and Canford.
The Shiplake 7s hosted by Shiplake College, sees the likes of Bedford, Oakham, Abindgon, Denstone College, and one of this year’s favourites for Rosslyn Park, Wellington College, all in action.
Both tournaments should be high class affairs as all of these schools get their 7s legs ready for what is set to be an exciting couple of months of school 7s rugby.
You can see our preview for each tournament via the two links below, while the draws for each can be seen at the foot of the page.
Â
Â
ISRFC Lambs
The ISRFC Lambs National Squad is in action for the second time this season on Sunday as they play the Irish Exiles at Maidenhead RFC.
Having lost their opening fixture in a thrilling match against the RFU Midlands U18 at Moseley RFC last weekend, the Lambs will be hoping to get into the winning habit fast. It will not be an easy task against the Exiles but with quality players of their own at the disposal, the Lambs will be confident.
You can see our preview & the Lambs squad via this link: ISRFC Lambs v Irish Exiles preview & team news.
Saturday Schools Rugby Fixtures (Predictions in bold):
Adams GS v Loughborough GS
Brighton College v Whitgift
Bishop Vesey’s v Old Swinford Hospital
Coopers’ Coburn v Judd
Crossley Heath v St Ambrose College
Gravesend GS v St Joseph’s College
Hampton v Tiffin
KES Birmingham v Bablake
Lymm HS v Birkenhead
Manchester GS v Calday Grange GS
Nottingham HS v Welbeck
QEGS Wakefield v Hymers College
Reigate GS v Portsmouth GS
Sir Thomas Rich’s v Whitchurch HS
Solihull v Leicester GS
St Benedict’s v Glyn
St John’s, Leatherhead v Bede’s
St Olave’s v Chislehurst & Sidcup GS
RGS High Wycombe v Warwick
Wallington CGS v John Fisher
Wilmslow HS v St Anselm’s
Sunday Schools Rugby:
ISRFC Lambs v Irish Exiles
Millfield 7s
2015 Millfield 7s | |
Group A | Group B |
Blundell’s | Canford |
Eton College | Kingswood |
Millfield 2nd VII | Millfield 1st VII |
Plymouth College | Sherborne |
Queen’s College, Taunton | Cwm Rhymni |
Wellington School | Glantaf |
Shiplake 7s
2015 Shiplake College 7s Draw | |||
Group A | Group B | Group C | Group D |
Caterham | Bryanston | Abingdon | Cheltenham College |
Radley College | Denstone College | Bedford | Hurstpierpoint College |
Wellington College | Oakham | Shiplake College | St Edward’s School, Oxford |
Leave a Response