The draw for the 2016 Oakham 7s on Sunday 28^th February has been announced.

Oakham will host a twenty team U18 tournament alongside a sixteen team U16 tournament, which will see some of the best sides in the region, a fair few from outside it, come together for what promises to be a highly entertaining day of school 7s.

The U18 tournament is split into four groups of five, with the top team from each group entering the Cup semi finals, while second place in each group goes into the Plate semi finals.

The U16 competition is divided into four groups of four, with each side having the chance to progress into a trophy semi finals, first place compete for the Cup, second the Plate, third the Vase, and fourth the Shield.

Last year the U18 competition was won by Wellington College, just one step in that remarkable season of theirs. Unfortunately they will not be defending that title, but the side that they beat 38-10 in that final, Denstone College, are in attendance.

They face a tricky task to go that far this time though, for the Shiplake 7s champions, and one of the top sides on the circuit, Bedford, await them in Group 2. Also in that Group are The Oratory, Worksop College, and Leicester Grammar School.

Bedford came close to silverware here last year, losing 14-10 in the Plate final to one of Oakham’s local rivals, Stamford.

Stamford are in Group 3 this year, where they will face the formidable challenge of Stowe, as well as the likes of Loughborough Grammar School, The Perse, and Langley.

The hosts, Oakham, are in Group 1, where they will face their fierce local rivals Uppingham, who are just six miles down the road in Rutland. Also challenging in that group are Culford, Trent College, and King’s Ely.

Surely the most dangerous looking group of all though is Group 4, which includes Rugby, St Joseph’s College, and Bromsgrove, three truly outstanding rugby schools. Add to that mix Nottingham High School and Ashville College, and this really is a group to keep an eye on.

The U16 draw has a similar group, Group 3, which sees Bedford, Bromsgrove, Stowe, and Royal Hospital School all drawn together.

Oakham are again in Group 1, with The Perse, Langley, and Stamford for company, Uppingham, meanwhile, are in Group 2 alongside Leicester Grammar, St Joseph’s College, and The Oratory.

Group 4 includes Denstone College, Loughborough Grammar, Trent College, and Ipswich School.

Once again, the Oakham 7s looks likely to be an afternoon of highly competitive school 7s, and a hugely valuable staging post on the road to Rosslyn Park.