After a weather hit weekend last week, where over half the games were cancelled, hopefully this weekend’s fixture list will see most go ahead.
It is a busy fixture list, and also sees a tentative start to the 7s season, hard as that might be to believe, given the temperatures.
Friday
The action all begins on Friday, with a huge game at Aylesbury RFC on their new artificial surface as QEGS Wakefield travel down to take on RGS High Wycombe, in what is always a superb game of rugby. The pitch, incidentally, will also be in use by schoolboy players on Sunday as the ISRFC Lambs open their season against the Irish Exiles at 3pm.
Saturday
Saturday sees plenty of excitement, Millfield are aiming for a fifth win in five against Welsh opposition as they host the Welsh Academicals, while unbeaten Brighton College, who played in that exciting and innovative tournament with Millfield last week, are at home against Campion on Saturday morning.
One of the biggest games of the weekend sees Warwick take on Hampton. Meetings between these two are always good encounters, but for Warwick this one is crucial as they look to secure some match practice and form ahead of the NatWest Cup semi finals in early march.
Moving North, St Ambrose College are in action away to Audenshaw, while in form Manchester Grammar are hosting Crossley Heath, and Queen Ethelburga’s, who enjoyed an excellent win in midweek, host King’s Macclesfield.
There are some huge games in Scotland, Edinburgh Academy host Dollar Academy, and George Watson’s College travel to Stewart’s Melville.
The battle of the King Edward’s Schools sees Camp Hill host KES Stratford, King Henry VIII Coventry, meanwhile, are in action away at Wrekin College, where they will hope to build on last week’s stunning 70 point showing.
Elsewhere Ardingly travel to Harrodian, Wilmington host St Olave’s Grammar, Cooper’s Coborn travel to St George’s Harpenden, and Welbeck welcome Bishop Vesey’s Grammar School to town.
The very much in form Sir Thomas Rich’s are looking for another excellent victory as they make the trip to former Schools Cup winners St Peter’s Gloucester. Another former Cup winner, Whitgift, are at home against City of London Freemens’s.
Moving north, there is a huge game as Silcoates travel to Hymers College, while in the midlands Solihull are hosting Loughborough. There is a massive game in the South East as St Benedict’s travel to New Hall, two sides playing some excellent rugby and with some top players.
Sunday
Sunday sees a small 7s tournament take place as St Edward’s Oxford welcome Bromsgrove, Dean Close, and Magdalen College for their first chances to stretch their legs in the shortened format.
As mentioned, Sunday also sees the ISRFC Lambs start their season with a game against Irish Exiles at Aylesbury RFC. You can see their team for that game here: ISRFC Lambs XV v Irish Exiles.
If you have any photos, videos, or reports from the week’s school rugby, please do send them in via email (writers@fifteenrugby.com ), Facebook (www.facebook.com/FifteenRugby ), or via Twitter (@FifteenRugbyXV).
Schools Rugby Weekend Fixtures (predictions in bold):
Friday
QEGS Wakefield v RGS High Wycombe
Saturday
Audenshaw v St Ambrose College
Brighton College v Campion
Edinburgh Academy v Dollar Academy
Harrodian v Ardingly
Hymers College v Silcoates
King Edward VI Camp Hill v KES Stratford
Manchester GS v Crossley Heath
Millfield v Welsh Academicals
New Hall v St Benedict’s
Queen Ethelburga’s v King’s Macclesfield
Solihull v Loughborough
Stewart’s Melville v George Watson’s College
St George’s Harpenden v Cooper’s Coborn
St Peter’s Gloucester v Sir Thomas Rich’s
Warwick v Hampton
Welbeck v Bishop Vesey’s GS
Whitgift v City of London Freemen’s
Wilmington GS v St Olave’s GS
Wrekin College v King Henry VIII Coventry
Sunday
Teddies Oxford 7s: Bromsgrove, Dean Close, Magdalen College, St Edwards’s Oxford.
