The draw for the 2017 HSBC Rosslyn Park National School 7s U18 Vase has been made.
187 teams will compete for the Vase, which used to be known as the Festival. Last year it was won by Tonbridge, with Bedford finishing as runners-up, however both teams have rightly since moved up to the main Cup competition.
Stowe were in that competition last year though, winning the Plate with a 24-12 final victory over Barnard Castle. They find themselves in Group H alongside Royal Hospital School and Richard Huish, as well as South African side Michaelhouse and Welsh side Brynteg Comprehensive.
Following the groups, the winners of each group meet in a knockout elimination round, with the winners going to the Vase quarter finals and the losers heading to the Bowl quarter finals.
King’s Macclesfield won last year’s Bowl, beating St Paul’s in a dramatic final, 14-12. They are drawn this year in a very tough group including Berkhamsted, Colton’s, UCS, and New Zealander’s Nelson College.
St Paul’s, meanwhile, are in Group M alongside Cokethorpe, Downside, Coleg Gwent, and one of the most successful sides in Rosslyn Park history, Ampleforth College.
Other highlights include St Peter’s York in Group C, and NatWest Cup semi finalists Felsted in Group F, alongside the likes of Reigate Grammar and RGS Newcastle.
Epsom College will be one of the toughest sides in the competition, they are in Group N, where the unbeaten KES Bath also reside. Back to back NatWest Cup champions Bromsgrove are in Group P, with this year’s quarter-finalists also there, Judd and Manchester Grammar, as well as Cabot and Trinity.
QEGS Wakefield will be real challengers from Group R, while Group S with Eton College and Seaford College will be one to watch, Blundell’s in Group T could also be dangerous, as could St John’s Leatherhead in Group W. Oakham in Group FF could also go far, particularly given their impressive Champions Trophy performances this year.
HSBC Rosslyn Park National Schools 7s Vase Groups (187 Teams):
| Group A | Group B | Group C | Group D |
| Berkhamsted | AKS Arnold | Hayes | Bishop Gore |
| Colston’s | Christ College Brecon | Hymers College | Hilton College |
| Nelson College | Churcher’s College | Langley | Radley College |
| King’s Macclesfield | Loretto | Shawinigan Lake 2nd VII | RGS Guildford |
| UCS | Shawnigan Lake | St Peter’s York | Ysgol Bro Dinefwr |
| Group E | Group F | Group G | Group H |
| Millfield B | Felsted | Bridgwater College | Brynteg Comprehensive |
| RGS Worcester | Prior Park College | Emanuel | Michaelhouse A |
| Torquay BGS | RGS Lancaster | Kingswood | Richard Huish |
| Welbeck | RGS Newcastle | Royal Alexandra & Albert | Royal Hospital School |
| Ysgol Gyfun Bryn Tawe | Worksop College | Wallington CGS | Stowe |
| Group I | Group J | Group K | Group L |
| Cheltenham College | Dean Close | Bede’s | KCS Wimbledon |
| King’s Bruton | Gower College | Durham | Malvern College |
| Merchant Taylors’ | Lord Wandsworth College | Esher College | New Hall |
| Mount Kelly | Pocklington | Michaelhouse B | King’s Canterbury |
| Ysgol Gyfun Gwyr | Portsmouth GS | Monmouth | Wycliffe College |
| Group M | Group N | Group O | Group P |
| Ampleforth College | Epsom College | Llandaff Cathedral | Bromsgrove |
| College Gwent | KES Bath | Gravesend GS | Cabot |
| Cokethorpe | Shore Sydney CoE | King’s College Taunton | Judd |
| Downside | St Olave’s GS | Reed’s | Manchester GS |
| St Paul’s | Gymraeg Llangynwyd | St David’s | Trinity |
| Group Q | Group R | Group S | Group T |
| Gunnersbury | Gordon’s | Birkdale | Blundell’s |
| KES Stratford | Hill House | Duke of York’s RMS | Bristol Grammar |
| Pangbourne College | QEGS Wakefield | Eton College | Hereford Cathedral |
| Sir William Borlase’s | Sir Joseph Williamson’s | Greenhill | Mount St Mary’s College |
| Wellington | Ysgol Sir Thomas Picton | Seaford College | Taunton |
| Group U | Group V | Group W | Group X |
| Bishop’s Stortford College | Shiplake College | Bedford Modern | Ardingly College |
| Bloxham | Sutton Valence | Christ’s Hospital | Bishop Heber HS |
| Campion | King John | Clayesmore | King’s Worcester |
| St Dunstan’s College | The Oratory | St John’s Leatherhead | Wirral GS |
| Wrekin College | The Perse | Yarm | Worth |
| Group Y | Group Z | Group AA | Group BB |
| Dauntsey’s | Loughborough | Cooper’s Coborn | Liverpool College |
| Ipswich | QEH | Eastbourne College | Latymer Upper |
| Queen’s College Taunton | St Peter’s Gloucester | Plymouth College | Maidstone GS |
| Steyning GS | Truro | Harrodian | Shrewsbury |
| The Leys | Uppingham | Whitchurch | Tiffin |
| Group CC | Group DD | Group EE | Group FF |
| Bablake | Rutlish | Akeley Wood | Ellesmere College |
| Bradford GS | St Edward’s Oxford | Marlborough College | Oakham |
| Ibstock Place | Stonyhurst College | Melksham Oak | Pembrokeshire College |
| Milton Abbey | Ysgol Gyfun Bro Morgannwg | QES Barnet | Sevenoaks |
| Treorchy Comprehensive | Ysgol Y Preseli | Wisbech GS | St John’s College Southsea |
| Group GG | Group HH |
| Coleg Sir Gar B | Ashville College |
| Eltham College | Bassaleg |
| Stafford GS | Brentwood |
| Stockport GS | Queen Ethelburga’s |
| Weston College | Windsor Boys’ |
To see the draws for the other competitions at Rosslyn Park, please click the following links:
HSBC Rosslyn Park National Schools 7s Schedule:
Monday 20 March
Junior Waterfall Tournament
Tuesday 21 March
Colts (U16) Tournament begins
Wednesday 22 March
Vase Tournament begins
Colts Finals
Thursday 23 March
Cup Tournament begins
U14 Tournament begins
Vase Finals
Friday 24 March
U18 Girls Tournament
U18 Girls AASE Tournament
Prep School Waterfall Tournament
U14 Finals
Cup Finals
2016 Winners:
U18 Cup
Cranleigh (bt Harrow 27-19)
U18 Plate
Stowe (bt Barnard Castle 24-12)
U18 Vase
Tonbridge (bt Bedford 26-10)
U18 Bowl
King’s Macclesfield (bt St Paul’s 14-12)
Colts
Brighton College (bt New Hall 20-19)
U14
Ivybridge Community College (bt Warwick 27-19)
U14 Plate
Ysgol Gyfun Cwm Rhymni (bt City of London Freemen’s 26-14)
Prep
Caldicott (bt Bromsgrove 12-5)
Juniors
Wimbledon College (bt Ysgol Gyfun Glantaf 15-7)
Girls
Ysgol Dyffrin Amman (bt Christ’s Hospital 29-7)
Girls AASE
Hartpury College (bt Bishop Burton College 28-0)