After a well earned half term break the school season kicks back into gear this Wednesday, before really firing again on Thursday.

There has been a little action over the half term break though, not least a wonderful St Joseph’s Festival on the first weekend of half term, won in stunning fashion by Brighton College.

You can read our Festival report here: 2017 St Joseph’s Festival

Whilst that was going on Sedbergh were stretching their legs once again, this time with a stunning 73-5 win over Welsh legends Llandovery College, with Hymers College also in great form with a 66-7 win against Wolfreton.

Monday saw a tough defeat for Kirkham Grammar School to St Michael’s College, Dublin. The Irishmen won over an admittedly depleted Kirkham side 65-0, a truly outstanding result regardless of an injuries at Kirkham and one that makes that upcoming Wellington College v Blackrock College fixture even more interesting.

Later in midweek Gresham’s were on tour in Portugal, losing two tight games, 36-12 to Cajasol Seville Rugby on Tuesdy and 21-15 to GD Direito on Thursday. Wednesday meanwhile saw Gowerton triumph 18-12 over Christ College Brecon in a key game in Wales.

Saturday gave us a couple of big results in Scotland, a 60-5 win for Dollar Academy over Glasgow High School, while Glasgow Academy secured a 53-5 win over Marr College.

King’s Macclesfield, meanwhile, went down 43-12 to Irish visitors Glenstal Abbey, just another example of the strength of Irish school rugby at the moment.

Midweek Fixtures

Wednesday brings us back into the more heavy duty traffic that we are used to though as teams return from half term.

It is to the Schools Cup that we will turn first as well, with two exciting games. The Champions, Warwick, are in action at Newcastle-Under-Lyme School, where a win will see them into the Regional Final against either Solihull or KES Five Ways.

Also in action are RGS High Wycombe and Sir Thomas Rich’s in what promises to be one of the ties of the Cup so far. They are a round behind, so the winners already know what they are playing for, a place in the regional semi final, where they will host a bang in form Dean Close side.

There is also action in the Vase, where St George’s Harpenden host St Columba’s College, the winner will face either Mill Hill or London Oratory in the next round.

Over in the Bowl Reigate Grammar host Brighton, Hove, and Sussex for the chance to play St George’s Weybridge in the next round, while Verulam host QES Barnet in the same section. The winner there will await the winner of that eventual game between the Reigate/Brighton winners and St George’s Weybridge.

The Daily Mail Trophy also resumes on Wednesday with Old Swinford Hospital hosting St Peter’s Gloucester, and Emanuel making the trip to KCS Wimbledon. There are also a couple of County Cup fixtures, Worth hosting Richard Collyer and Ratcliffe College making the trip to AASE side Brooksby Melton College.

Another AASE side, Bishop Burton College, will warm up for their first League game of this half of term next week when they travel to Queen Ethelburga’s. There is also one proper AASE fixture, a tidy up from the first half of term as Gosforth Academy host Myerscough College.

Elsewhere Glyn host Christ’s Hospital, with Churcher’s College travelling to City of London Freemen’s, while Cooper’s Coborn travel to KEGS Chelmsford. Dame Allan’s, meanwhile, travel to QEGS Penrith and Wrekin College host Shrewsbury.

There is one game on Thursday as the Schools Vase returns for a second day running, with Yarm hosting QES Hexham in North B with a home tie against Ripon Grammar the carrot.

As always, if you have any videos, photos, or reports from the weekend’s rugby, please feel free to send them in via Twitter (@FifteenRugbyXV), Facebook (www.facebook.com/FifteenRugby), Instagram (@fifteenrugbyxv), or through email (writers@fifteenrugby.com).

Schools Rugby Midweek Fixtures (predictions in bold):

Tuesday

Glenalmond College v Edinburgh Academy (Scottish Cup)

Wednesday

Brooksby Melton College v Ratcliffe College (County Cup)

City of London Freemen’s v Churcher’s College

Glyn v Christ’s Hospital

Gosforth Academy v Myerscough College (AASE)

KCS Wimbledon v Emanuel (Daily Mail Trophy)

KEGS Chelmsford v Cooper’s Coborn

Newastle-Under-Lyme v Warwick (Schools Cup)

Old Swinford Hospital v St Peter’s, Gloucester (Daily Mail Trophy)

QEGS Penrith v Dame Allan’s

Queen Ethelburga’s v Bishop Burton College

Reigate Grammar v Brighton, Hove, & Sussex (Schools Bowl)

RGS High Wycombe v Sir Thomas Rich’s (Schools Cup)

St George’s Harpenden v St Columba’s College (Schools Vase)

Verulam v QES Barnet (Schools Bowl)

Worth v Richard Collyer (County Cup)

Wrekin College v Shrewsbury

Thursday

Yarm v QEHS Hexham (Schools Vase)

Schools Rugby Half Term Results:

Hymers College 66-7 Wolfreton

Sedbergh 73-5 Llandovery College

St Michael’s College, Dublin 65-0 Kirkham Grammar School

Cajasol Seville Rugby, Portugal 12-36 Gresham’s

Gowerton 18-12 Christ College

GD Direito, Portugal 21-15 Gresham’s

Dollar Academy 60-5 Glasgow HS

Glasgow Academy 53-5 Marr College

King’s Macclesfield 12-43 Glenstal Abbey, Ireland