The 2017/18 Schools Rugby season is upon us, and it looks like we are due another spectacular season.
The calendar is already looking full with the opening fixtures in the Schools Cup (formerly the NatWest Cup) just a few days away, so too the Champions Trophy, while the St Joseph’s Festival gets underway in a little over 6 weeks time.
For some the action begins this weekend, while for most it is the final piece of pre-season preparation, and you can see our look ahead to the weekend’s action here: 2017/18 Opening Weekend Preview.
Over in the pro game there is plenty for those of us involved in the school game to get excited about, with last year’s Brighton College captain, Marcus Smith, starting at fly half for Harlequins and five other of last year’s England U20 group involved for their clubs, Ben and Tom Curry for Sale (Oundle leavers 2016), Alex Mitchell (Lymm HS leaver 2015) and James Grayson (Moulton College leaver 2016) for Northampton Saints, and Nick Isiekwe (Haileybury leaver 2016) for Saracens.
With the season kicking off though, we thought this was a good chance to give you some key dates in the diary for the school season ahead.
September
11th-15th:
U18 Schools Vase Round 1
25th-29th:
Champions Trophy Round 1
U18 Schools Cup Round 1
U18 Schools Vase Round 2
U18 Schools Bowl Round 1
U15 Schools Cup Round 1
U15 Schools Vase Round 1
October
9th-13th:
Champions Trophy Round 2
U18 Schools Cup Round 2
U18 Schools Plate Round 1
U18 Schools Vase Round 3
U18 Schools Bowl Round 2
U15 Schools Cup Round 2
U15 Schools Plate Round 1
U15 Schools Vase Round 2
U15 Schools Bowl Round 1
Saturday 21st
St Joseph’s Festival
Sunday 22nd
St Joseph’s Festival
Monday 27th October
St Michael’s College, Dublin v Kirkham Grammar School
November
Saturday 4th November
Wellington College v Blackrock College, Dublin
6th-10th
Champions Trophy Quarter Finals
U18 Schools Cup Round 3
U18 Schools Plate Round 2
U18 Schools Vase Round 4
U18 Schools Bowl Round 3
13th-17th
U15 Schools Cup Round 3
U15 Schools Plate Round 2
U15 Schools Vase Round 3
U15 Schools Bowl Round 2
20th-24th
Champions Trophy Semi Finals
U18 Schools Cup Round 4
U18 Schools Plate Round 3
U18 Schools Vase Round 5
U18 Schools Bowl Round 4
27th-1st (Dec)
U15 Schools Cup Round 4
U15 Schools Plate Round 3
U15 Schools Vase Round 4
U15 Schools Bowl Round 3
December
4th-8th
U18 Schools Cup Quarter Finals
U18 Schools Plate Quarter Finals
U18 Schools Vase Quarter Finals
U18 Schools Bowl Quarter Finals
Wednesday 6th December
Champions Trophy Final
AASE Final
Saturday 9th December
St Michael’s College, Dublin v Wellington College
January
15th-19th
U15 Schools Cup Round 5
U15 Schools Plate Round 4
U15 Schools Vase Round 5
U15 Schools Bowl Round 4
29th-2nd(Feb)
U15 Schools Cup Quarter Finals
U15 Schools Plate Quarter Finals
U15 Schools Vase Quarter Finals
U15 Schools Bowl Quarter Finals
February
Friday 2nd-Sunday 4th
U20 6 Nations Round 1
Friday 9th-Sunday 11th
U20 6 Nations Round 2
Friday 23rd-Sunday 25th
U20 6 Nations Round 3
Sunday 25th February
Christ College Brecon Invitational 7s
Wednesday 28th February
Middlesex 7s
March
Saturday 3rd March – Sunday 4th March
U18 Schools Cup, Plate, Vase, Bowl Semi Finals (Likely)
U15 Schools Cup, Plate, Vase, Bowl Semi Finals (Likely)
Sunday 4th March
North of England Schools Invitational 7s
Wednesday 7th March
U18 Surrey 7s
Friday 9th-Sunday 11th March
U20 6 Nations Round 4
Tuesday 13th March
U18 Schools Plate Final
U18 Schools Bowl Final
U15 Schools Plate Final
U15 Schools Bowl Final
Wednesday 14th March
U18 Schools Cup Final
U18 Schools Vase Final
U15 Schools Cup Final
U15 Schools Vase Final
Friday 16th-Sunday 18th March
U20 6 Nations Round 5
Monday 19th March – Friday 23rd March – Rosslyn Park 7s Week
Monday 19th March
Junior Waterfall Tournament
Tuesday 20th March
Colts Groups
Wednesday 21st March
Vase Groups
Colts Knockouts
Thursday 22nd March
Cup Groups
Vase Knockouts
U14 Groups
Friday 23rd March
Cup Knockouts
U14 Knockouts
Girls Tournament
Girls AASE Tournament
Prep Schools Waterfall
All in all it looks as though it is going to be another busy and exciting season, and with plenty of School 7s tournaments, U18 Internationals, U20 World Championship, and U18 Academy League fixtures to be announced, it is only going to get even better.
Let’s not forget the usual block fixtures as well some of which kick off this weekend, including the always brilliant Wellington College v RGS High Wycombe fixture. The block fixtures are the bread and butter of the school season and are what makes school rugby the experience and spectacle that it is, with 2,000 plus expected for John Fisher v Whitgift (who only lost on game in South Africa on tour, to Paarl Boys HS, the top school in the country), we can be sure of more of that excitement and spectacle this year.
Enjoy the season and as always do remember that if you have any videos, reports, photos, or general article ideas that you would like to see included on www.fifteenrugby.com then please do get in touch via any or all of the means below!
Have a great season!
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