A huge week of rugby is upon us, with both the NatWest Cup and the Champions Trophy resuming, as well as numerous games against touring opposition, and a smattering of regular season games.
It ought to be a superb few days of rugby as the schedules really crank up and schoolboy rugby’s largest tournament kicks off.
Champions Trophy
You can see our preview and predictions for the week’s Champions Trophy fixtures here – Champions Trophy Round 2 – it should be a superb round of rugby, particularly as many of the favourites seem to have been pitted against each other, while there are some great fixtures between schools who ordinarily would not be able to play against each other.
NatWest Cup
The bulk of the NatWest Cup action takes place on Wednesday, the majority of the major contenders are not yet in action at this stage but there are a few who can be expected to go deep in the tournament who are playing this week. Bedford Modern host Samuel Whitbread on Wednesday, fresh from scoring over seventy at the weekend, and will want to make a statement. Similarly Reigate Grammar School will want to make their mark on the tournament in their opener against Howard of Effingham on Wednesday.
London Oratory v Mill Hill ought to be one of the real ties of the round, while Ashville College v Ampleforth College should also be an excellent game of rugby.
On Tuesday St Lawrence College host Dover Grammar School, while Thursday’s Cup action sees Wycliffe College and Cleeve take to the field.
Tours
Monday’s action was all tour based, with Grammar School at Leeds beating Sydney Grammar and Bromsgrove beating Southport School. While news from Crossley Heath hosting St Paul’s, from Manly Australia, has yet to filter through.
On Tuesday Uppingham play host to Townsville Grammar School, before another school form Townsville, Cathedral School, are welcomed by Nottingham High School on Wednesday.
Caterham are also in action on Wednesday, hosting Wairoa College from New Zealand.
On Thursday there is more tour action as Dam Allan’s host Ignatius Park and Sydney Gramamr School play their second game of the week, they are hosted by Reigate Grammar School.
Regular Fixtures
Tuesday sees the Cheltenham derby take place as Cheltenham College play host to Pate’s Grammar School, this one is always a superb occasion and should be a highly competitive fixture.
On Wenesday Hymers College host local rivals Hull Collegiate and St Ambrose College travel to Wilmslow High School.
King’s Grantham v Denstone College ought to be an excellent game of rugby, with Gordon’s v Halliford and Richard hale v Sandringham also taking place.
On Thursday it is a jump over to the South West for Mokton Combe v KES Bath and King’s Bruton v Clayesmore.
It ought to be a fascinating and busy few days of rugby, by the end of which we will have our Champions Trophy quarter finalists and an awful lot more knowledge about how the NatWest Cup is shaping up.
Will you be at any of this week’s games? If so then do send in your photos, videos, and match reports – you can get in touch via Twitter, Facebook, or email us at writers@fifteenrugby.com
Schools Rugby Midweek Fixtures (predictions in bold):
Monday
Grammar School at Leeds 38-24 Sydney GS – Tour
Bromsgrove 29-0 Southport School – Tour
Crossley Heath v St Paul’s, Manly (Australia) – Tour
Eaton & Otley 0-22 Norwich
Tuesday
Radley College 31-56 Sedbergh – Champions Trophy (Click here for report)
RGS Guildford 12-29 Haileybury – Champions Trophy
Uppingham 33-14 Townsville GS (Tour)
Cheltenham College 12-21 Pate’s GS
St Lawrence College 12-41 Dover GS – NatWest Cup
Feslted 50-0 Saffron Walden
Wednesday
Dulwich College v Millfield – Champions Trophy
Barnard Castle v King’s Macclesfield – Champions Trophy
Blundell’s v Monmouth – Champions Trophy
Sherborne v St John’s Leatherhead – Champions Trophy
Yarm v Hartlepool 6th form College – NatWest Cup
Wallington CGS v Beth’s GS – NatWest Cup
Coopers Coborn v Brentwood – NatWest Cup
St Dunstan’s College v St Olave’s GS – NatWest Cup
Reigate GS v Howard of Effingham – NatWest Cup
London Oratory v Mill Hill – NatWest Cup
King Edward VI v KES Stratford – NatWest Cup
KES Aston v Wolverhampton GS – NatWest Cup
Katherine Lady Berkeley’s v The Crypt – NatWest Cup
Bablake v Birmingham Met College – NatWest Cup
King Hnery VIII Coventry v Kenilworth – NatWest Cup
Cardinal Vaughan v Royal Alexandra & Albert – NatWest Cup
Enfield GS v Palmers – NatWest Cup
Hereford Cathedral School v Chase – NatWest Cup
Stafford GS v Newcastle- Under-Lyme – NatWest Cup
Bedford Modern v Samuel Whitbread – NatWest Cup
Lingfield Notre Dame v Harris Academy – NatWest Cup
Austin Friars v Keswick – NatWest Cup
Ashville College v Ampleforth College – NatWest Cup
Desborough College v Reading Blue Coat – NatWest Cup
Langley v County of West Anglia – NatWest Cup
Dame Allan’s v Queen Elizabeth’s HS – NatWest Cup
Wilmslow HS v St Ambrose College
Richard Hale v Sandringham
Gordon’s v Halliford
King’s Grantham v Denstone College
Hymers College v Hull Collegiate
Nottingham HS v Cathedral School Townsville – Tour
Caterham v Wairoa College – Tour
Thursday
Epsom College v Eton College – Champions Trophy
Monkton Combe v KES Bath
King’s Bruton v Clayesmore
Wycliffe College v Cleeve – NatWest Cup
Dame Allan’s v Ignatius Park – Tour
Reigate GS v Sydney GS – Tour
