The draw for the 2016 Reigate Charity 7s at Reigate Grammar School on Sunday 6^th March has been announced.

Forty teams will compete in one of the biggest pre-Rosslyn Park tournaments of the season, and it will be a huge stepping stone on the way to that, with the Rosslyn Park 7s just over a week after.

There is also a girls tournament, with twelve teams competing for the honours.

The boys are split into eight groups of four, with the winners going into the Cup knockout, second place the Plate, third the Shield, and fourth the Bowl. With international referee Wayne Barnes helping out, and Wasps star Elliot Daly handing out the trophies, it is sure to be a great occasion.

Wellington College won the title last year, one of many in that extraordinary campaign of their, but it does them no favours this year as they are handed one of the toughest draws of all. They are in Group D alongside Berkhamsted, Dulwich College, and Cranbrook.

Hosts Reigate, the U16 HSBC Rosslyn Park National School 7s holders, will be looking to bring that junior 7s form into the seniors this year. They are in Group A alongside Caterham, Eastbourne College, and Hurstpierpoint College.

Last year’s beaten finalists, Brighton College, are in Group G alongside St Paul’s, Culford, and City of London Freemen’s. Meanwhile the 2014 winners, Tonbridge, are in a tricky Group C along with John Fisher, London Oratory, and last year’s Shield winners, Portsmouth Grammar School.

Whitgift lifted the Plate last year but they will be hoping to be in the Cup competition this season, they must get past KCS Wimbledon, Judd, and Wallington County Grammar first though,

The Bowl was won last year by Royal Hospital School, they have a tricky task ahead of them this year, with Hampton, Harrow, and Sutton Valence to contend with.

Epsom College won the Cup back in 2012, they also face a very tricky group though, with Trinity, Christ’s Hospital, and Reed’s alongside them in Group E. Finally to Group B, which features Felsted, RGS Guildford, Wisbech Grammar, and the excellent St John’s Leatherhead.

With the HSBC Rosslyn Park National Schools 7s week commencing just over a week later, and the Surrey 7s just three days after this tournament, the Reigate Charity 7s is once again going to be one of the season’s key tournaments.