The shortlist for the School of the Year at the Crabbies National Rugby Awards has been announced.
The awards, hosted at Twickenham Stadium, take place on Wednesday 30th August in the famous Rose Room at the national stadium.
Six teams have been shortlisted in this the third year of the awards, which covers all forms of rugby, including Rugby Team of the Year, Rugby Coach of the Year, and a Lifetime Achievement award.
The first school award was handed to Wellington College in 2015 after their all conquering fifteen-a-side and seven-a-side season, with Kirkham Grammar School picking up the award last year following their unbeaten season.
The 2017 award shortlist includes five senior schools, and one junior school, Howbridge Church of England Junior School.
The senior schools include five of the most recognizable names in school rugby over the last few years.
Warwick School are among them, the Midlands side won this year’s NatWest Cup in sensational style, crushing Bishop Wordsworth’s in the final in what was one of the most intense and memorable performances of any school side at Twickenham Stadium.
Cranleigh School and Brighton College have been almost inseparable this year, meeting in the regular season, at the St Joseph’s Festival, and at various 7s tournaments, including the HSBC Rosslyn Park National School 7s final. Cranleigh won that, and also the St Joseph’s Festival final, thanks to scoring first in a game that ended as a draw, capping a truly memorable season. It is therefore unsurprising to see both schools on the shortlist after a stunning year of quality and rivalry.
Brighton College are primarily in there, though, for their stunning exploits at U16 level as well as 1st XV level, with their U16 A, B, and C teams all going unbeaten last season, a truly outstanding achievement, and one that bodes well for their senior rugby over the next couple of years.
John Fisher have also secured a spot on the shortlist, over the last few year’s some of their performances have been outstanding, while at U13 level this year the only side they have been beaten by is Whitgift.
Rugby School are the final side on the shortlist after the originators of the game secured a fantastic unbeaten season, their first since the 1970’s, no mean feat given what a scalp they are for every visiting school.
Crabbies National Rugby Awards 2017 School of the Year Shortlist:
- The John Fisher School
- Warwick School
- Howbridge Church of England Junior School
- Cranleigh School
- Brighton College
- Rugby School
