This week is a huge week of school rugby, with key fixtures across a range of different competitions.
The bulk of the focus will, naturally, be on the Champions Trophy and U18 Schools Cup, and you can see our previews for the fixtures in those games via the links below, however there is plenty going on elsewhere too, not least in the U18 Schools Plate, Vase, and Bowl, which are also nearing the national stages.
There is action throughout the week, and not just in the Cups, the Daily Mail Trophy sees some key fixtures and there are massive game from elsewhere too.
Tuesday
The Scottish Cup looks like the big news story of Tuesday, with two massive games. George Watson’s College host Strathallan, while Fettes College make the trip to Glenalmond College.
Over in the Schools Vase there is a big game in South West A as Dauntsey’s and Taunton School meet in the regional final. The winner will head into the national quarter final draw, and there will be a few sides joining them later in the week.
Outside of the Cups, Akeley Wood travel to Wellingborough, while in the County Cup Dame Alice Owens host Birchwood High School.
Wednesday
The U18 Schools Plate kicks off again on Wednesday, with KES Southampton hosting St Peter’s Gloucester, former Cup winners, in South West A, with the winner heading to the national quarter final draw.
Over in London & South East B, meanwhile, Peter Symonds’ make the trip to Trinity, again with a place in the quarter final re-draw at stake.
It is also likely that Richard Huish v Downside in South West B and Wrekin College v KES Birmingham in Midlands B will take place on Wednesday.
Over in the U18 Schools Vase Hayes host Sutton Valence in London & South East A, a massive game for both sides, both of whom have been truly outstanding in this Cup run so far. For both, a place in the quarter final draw would be a remarkable achievement.
Up in North B Ripon Grammar School host Worksop College, again with a quarter final place at stake. South West B sees Sir William Borlase’s host The Crypt in the regional final.
In unconfirmed but likely Wednesday fixtures, Midlands A looks likely to see Adams Gramar host King’s Worcester, while in North A Wirral Grammar are scheduled to travel to Giggleswick. Reed’s should host St George’s Harpenden in London & South East B.
There are three games in the Schools Bowl confirmed for Wednesday, with Beth’s Grammar School heading to Ravens Wood in the London & South East A regional final.
In Midlands A Shrewsbury host King Henry VIII Coventry, while Midlands B sees Loughborough Grammar School travel to Samuel Whitbread.
There are various County Cup fixtures on Wednesday too, UCS hsot the Hampton 2nd XV in Middlesex, with Stonyhurst College also travelling to Liverpool College and Birkenhead hosting Cheadle Hulme, as well as Isleworth & Syon welcoming Enfield Grammar, and Richard Hale’s trip to Haileybury.
There is more Scottish Cup action as Gordonstoun travel to Kelvinside Acaedemy, while there is an important Daily Mail Trophy fixture in the North West as St Ambose College host Lancaster RGS.
There is plenty of other important school rugby happening in the northern regions outside of the various competitions, with top side St Peter’s York making the trip to Hymers College, and Rossall hosting Bolton.
Elsewhere Plymouth College have a mammoth task as they host AASE side Truro College, meanwhile there is a huge game between Lord Wandsworth College and Pangbourne College.
In the Midlands Wolverhampton Grammar host Abraham Darby, Lawrence Sheriff welcome Bloxham, while Princethorpe College make the trip to KES Aston.
Elsewhere there is a cracking looking game between Cokethorpe and Shiplake College, with Norwich travelling to Framlingham College, and a huge game in Wales as Christ College welcome invitational side Crawshays Welsh XV.
Thursday
There is one game in the Schools Plate on Wednesday as Uppingham, whose path to the last 16 has been full of byes, travel to Gresham’s for a place in the quarter finals.
There are also three huge games in the Daily Mail Trophy. Dean Close are through to the Schools Cup last 16, but their tie does not take place until next week, freeing them up for an exciting trip to Monmouth on Thursday.
Fresh from victory in the Oxford derby, Radley College host Bedford, who were also victorious on Saturday, with a strong win at home to Stowe, meanwhile Merchant Taylors’, following their hugely successful ‘rugby week’ last week, host Eton College, victors over St Paul’s on Saturday.
There is a big game for KES Bath too, they beat Beechen Cliff on Friday night but face another challenge on Thursday in the form of a trip to Bryanston. Downside, who are also in good form this year, travel to Milton Abbey.
Friday
The knockout action continues into Friday when Colfe’s host New Hall in the London & South East A section on the U18 Schools Plate, with a place in the wuarter finals at stake.
Elsewhere Oakham and Dentone College meet for what should be a brilliant clash under the lights, so too Latymer Upper v Emanuel, as well as Robert Clack against a confident Wisbech Grammar side following their brilliant win at Worksop College at the weekend.
As always, if you have any videos, photos, or reports from the week’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 Preview (predictions in bold)
Tuesday
Dame Alice Owens v Birchwood HS (County Cup)
Dauntsey’s v Taunton (Schools Vase)
George Watson’s College v Strathallan (Scottish Cup)
Glenalmond College v Fettes College (Scottish Cup)
Wellingborough v Akeley Wood
Wednesday
Birkenhead v Cheadle Hulme (County Cup)
Christ College v Crawshay’s Welsh
Cokethorpe v Shiplake College
Framlingham College v Norwich
Haileybury v Richard Hale (County Cup)
Hayes v Sutton Valence (Schools Vase)
Hymers College v St Peter’s, York
Isleworth & Syon v Enfield GS (County Cup)
Kelvinside Academy v Gordonstoun (Scottish Cup)
KES Aston v Princethorpe College
KES Southampton v St Peter’s, Gloucester (Schools Plate)
Lawrence Sheriff v Bloxham
Liverpool College v Stonyhurst College (County Cup)
Lord Wandsworth College v Pangbourne College
Plymouth College v Truro College
Ravens Wood v Beth’s GS (Schools Bowl)
Ripon GS v Worksop College (Schools Vase)
Rossall v Bolton
Samuel Whitbread v Loughborough GS (Schools Bowl)
Shrewsbury v King Henry VIII, Coventry (Schools Bowl)
Sir William Borlase’s v The Crypt (Schools Vase)
St Ambrose College v Lancaster RGS (Daily Mail Trophy)
Trinity v Peter Symonds’ (Schools Plate)
UCS v Hampton 2nd XV (County Cup)
Wolverhampton GS v Abraham Darby
TBC
Adams GS v King’s Worcester (Schools Vase)
Giggleswick v Wirral GS (Schools Vase)
Reed’s v St George’s Harpenden (Schools Vase)
Richard Husih v Downside (Schools Plate)
Wrekin College v KES Birmingham (Schools Plate)
Thursday
Bryanston v KES Bath
Gresham’s v Uppingham (Schools Plate)
Merchant Taylors’ v Eton College (Daily Mail Trophy)
Milton Abbey v Downside
Monmouth v Dean Close (Daily Mail Trophy)
Radley College v Bedford (Daily Mail Trophy)
Friday
Colfe’s v New Hall (Schools Plate)
Latymer Upper v Emanuel
Oakham v Denstone College
Wisbech GS v Robert Clack
