This week we are set for the first truly busy midweek of the season, with the Champions Trophy kicking off, the NatWest Cup featuring, tour games against the Grange from Chile, and a number of regular fixtures.
It certainly looks set to be a few days of intense rugby and plenty of excitement, particularly after the weekend’s exploits!
Champions Trophy
We have previewed the Champions Trophy elsewhere, which you can read here, but our predictions are laid out below along with our other midweek predictions. With the strength of the competition even higher than it was last year, this first round looks set to be very interesting indeed.
NatWest Cup
Just a couple of NatWest Cup fixtures so far confirmed, Richard Hale v St Columba’s College, and Thomas Mills v St Joseph’s College, who must be among the front runners for success this year. Particularly given the number of teams that are absent from the competition this season, including Dulwich College, Monmouth, and Stamford.
Tour fixtures
The Grange, from Santiago in Chile, are in action twice this week, against Bedford on Tuesday and Hampton on Thursday. Given the scale of Bedford’s win over Uppingham this weekend, 82-12, they will be full of confidence, as will Hampton, who themselves enjoyed a good weekend.
Elsewhere
Tuesday looks to be tied down to the Champions Trophy and Bedford’s game against The Grange, but Wednesday sees a few other fixtures creep in.
KCS Wimbledon are once again in midweek action, and with a unbeaten three games under their belts already, they will look to continue that against Campion on Wednesday. Campion, incidentally are the subject of this article on the BBC website, well worth a read for schools rugby enthusiasts, and rugby fans in general.
Woodhosue Grove are in action on Wednesday too, away at Ashville, with Worksop v King’s Grantham and Aylesbury v Royal Latin also on Wednesday.
Thursday sees Sutton Valence host Sevenoaks, and a cracking looking game between Magdalen College and Dean Close, before Manchester Grammar School and Stockport Grammar School take each other on under the lights on Friday evening, a game that will be finished in time for the England v Fiji opener in the Rugby World Cup for anyone who was debating whether to attend or not.
Below are all of the midweek fixtures, plus our predictions, if you see any missing, or want to comment on/challenge our predictions, please get in touch via Twitter (@FifteenRugbyXV), Facebook (www.facebook.com/FifteenRugby) or email (promotions@fifteenrugby.com) – alternatively, you can leave a comment in the box below.
Midweek Fixtures (Predictions in bold):
Tuesday
Haileybury v Stamford – Champions Trophy – 14.30
Eastbourne College v Epsom College – Champions Trophy – 14.30 – Postponed
Bedford v The Grange (Chile) – 14.45
Eton College v Cranbrook – Champion Trophy – 14.45
Radley College v Oakham – Champions Trophy – 15.00
Bryanston v Millfield – Champions Trophy – 15.15
Blundell’s v Canford – Champions Trophy – 16.00
Cheltenham College v Uppingham – Champions Trophy – 15.00
King’s Canterbury v Dulwich College – Champions Trophy – 16.00
Wednesday
KCS Wimbledon v Campion – 14.00
Bishop Burton College v Barnard Castle – Champions Trophy – 14.00
Ashville College v Woodhouse Grove – 14.15
Nottingham HS v Welbeck – 14.15
Richard Hale v St Columba’s College – NatWest Cup – 14.30
King’s Macclesfield v Grammar School at Leeds – Champions Trophy – 14.30
Bradford GS v Sedbergh – Champions Trophy – 14.30
Worksop College v King’s Grantham – 14.30
Aylesbury GS v Royal Latin – 14.45
RGS Guildford v Eltham College – Champions Trophy – 15.00
Thomas Mills HS v St Joseph’s College – NatWest Cup – 15.30
St John’s Leatherhead v Tonbridge – Champions Trophy – 14.45
Thursday
Sutton Valence v Sevenoaks – 14.15
Bristol GS v Monmouth – Champions Trophy – 15.00
Magdalen College v Dean Close – 16.30
Hampton v The Grange (Chile) – 19.30
Friday
Manchester GS v Stockport GS – 18.00
