This weekend much of the focus will be on the St Joseph’s Festival, one of the highlights of the schools rugby calendar, however there is a lot of top quality rugby on elsewhere too.

You can see our St Joseph’s Festival preview here – St Joseph’s Preview – however the focus of this preview will be on the weekend’s regular schools rugby fixtures.

With St Jo’s on, plus many schools already breaking up for half term before Saturday afternoon, there are just five previews this week rather than the usual ten, however they are five brilliant fixtures.

5 Previewed Fixtures

Berkhamsted v Felsted

Both sides are unbeaten this season bar one, and that single loss for each school has come against the same side, Harrow. Berkhamsted actually only lost by three points, while Felsted’s was heavier, however Felsted’s was still somewhat in pre-season mode.

Since then, Felsted have averaged 57 points per game, including a 57-7 win over Haileybury, and have conceded less than three points per game. However Berkhamsted will likely be their toughest opponents of the season, their winning margins may not be as large, however their victories have come over the likes of Abingdon, KCS Wimbledon, and Bedford Modern. This game is set to be a huge schools rugby encounter.

Prediction – Felsted, just

Kirkham Grammar School v Abingdon

Kirkham will prove formidable hosts for Abingdon, they are unbeaten and in seriously good form. Denstone and RGS Lancaster have been beaten, along with huge wins over Sandbach and Wirral GS, and a stunning 89-7 victory over St Ambrose College.

Abingdon are in superb form to though, defeat to Berkhamsted aside, they have beaten local rivals Radley and St Edward’s, as well as Cheltenham College and are looking like one of the strongest sides on their circuit.

This will be a tough one though, a long fixture north, which should be a great occasion but against one of the top sides in the country from last year, who might well be again this this year. Get set for an exciting game of rugby.

Prediction – Kirkham GS

Sedbergh v Barnard Castle

These two meet on Saturday having each a had a bruising midweek encounter in the Champions Trophy, and both having had to make a long trip from home to the South West of England to play Millfield and Blundell’s respectively.

Sedbergh beat Millfield 19-15 to secure their semi final spot, but Barnard Castle lost 26-7. That winning feeling could sustain Sedbergh through this one too. Sedbergh are unbeaten, with nine wins from nine, and are arguably the form team in the country, however Barnard Castle are in superb form too. That loss to Blundell’s is their only defeat of the season and they will be gunning to get back to winning ways.

Sedbergh should be favourites, but this looks like being one of the most competitive games between these two for a while. Barnard Castle will not roll over.

Prediction – Sedbergh

Stowe v Bromsgrove

This is a huge game, which has been made all the more significant and interesting after last weekend’s results, where Stowe really made people sit up and take notice as they comfortably beat Epsom College, a side that have garnered a huge amount of respect.

Bromsgrove were not to be outdone though, they put forty points past Millfield to secure a brilliant victory. The NatWest Cup champions are up there with the very best teams around right now, and are unbeaten so far this season.

Stowe have lost to Oundle and Warwick, two sides that Bromsgrove have beaten, and Bromsgrove will be the favourites again here, but that result against Epsom suggests that Stowe will cause some problems.

Prediction – Bromsgrove

Wellington College v Eton College

It has been a funny old season so far for Wellington College, wins over RGS High Wycombe, Whitgift, and Tonbridge, and a huge win over Millfield, suggest that they are a side in top form, but then surprise losses to Dulwich College and Sherborne have just shaken that aura a little, though with their array of stars they always have plenty of aura.

Eton too have been an interesting side, their Colts last year were outstanding and were expected to do wonderful things in the senior side this year. At times they have, but at other times Eton have just missed out where perhaps they were expected to go that bit further. That said, they are a side in some very good form and who are very capable of turning Wellington over.

Wellington will be favourites though, particularly after the shock of losing to Sherborne last week, they will be fired up and ready to prove a point.

Prediction – Wellington College

Elsewhere

There is plenty of excitement elsewhere, Ampleforth College v Durham is something of a classic and should be a great game of rugby. Campion v St George’s Weybridge should also be very good, St George’s have been good this year but Campion seem to be in superb form.

Canford v Blundell’s will also be very interesting, Blundell’s ought to be favourites, but how much will their midweek victory over Barnard Castle have taken out of them?

It is a local derby between Grammar School at Leeds and Bradford Grammar, however on current form it is hard to see anything other than a BGS victory in that one.

Reigate Grammar are away at Tiffin and should continue their fine start to the season with another win. They seem a top side, but it will perhaps take until Seaford in November for us to see exactly how good a side.

Once again, it should be an excellent weekend of schools rugby.

Don’t forget to let us know your results, and if you have any photos, videos, or match reports, please send them in to writers@fifteenrugby.com 

Schools Rugby Weekend Fixtures (Predictions in bold):

For St Joseph’s Festival Previews, please follow this link – St Joseph’s Festival

5 Previewed Fixtures:

Berkhamsted v Felsted

Kirkham GS v Abingdon

Sedbergh v Barnard Castle

Stowe v Bromsgrove

Wellington College v Eton College

Other Key Games:

Adams GS v Hereford Cathedral School

Ampleforth College v Durham

Bryanston v KES Bath

Campion v St George’s College, Weybridge

Canford v Blundell’s

Cheadle Hulme v Liverpool College

Chislehurst & Sidcup GS v Whitgift

Clifton College v Bristol GS

Colston’s v Taunton

Coopers Coborn v The Leys

Crossley Heath v Lymm HS

Dame Allan’s v Harrogate GS

Grammar School at Leeds v Bradford GS

Hymers College v Ashville College

Judd v Cranbrook

KES Southampton v Churcher’s College

Old Swinford Hospital v Sir Thomas Rich’s

Pangbourne College v Harrow

Pocklington v Mount St Mary’s College

QEH v Prior Park College

QES Barnet v St Columba’s College

Ravens Wood v Bishop’s Stortford HS

RGS Lancaster v Giggleswick

St Ambrose College v Ellesmere College

St Olave’s v Wimbledon College

St Paul’s v London Oratory

Tiffin v Reigate GS

Wilmslow HS v Sandbach