There is a smattering of school rugby this weekend, but perhaps most exciting of all is the big kick off of the 7s season, the Seaford College 7s.
This preview will focus mainly on the fifteen-a-side action though, with the Seaford College 7s covered elsewhere.
Five to Watch
Hampton v St Benedict’s
St Benedict’s have had a tough old ride this year, but this fixture is between two giants of school rugby on the outskirts of the capital. Hampton lost to Warwick last week so they will be keen to right that result this week with a strong performance at home to St Benedict’s.
Prediction: Hampton
Judd v Brighton College
One of the toughest clashes of the weekend, Judd are back to back Schools Cup quarter finalists and have beaten Tonbridge this season. In Brighton College though they face one of the very best sides in the country, and the winners of this season’s St Joseph’s Festival. It ought to be a cracking game of rugby, one of the last before we see both on the 7s circuit.
Prediction: Brighton College
King’s Macclesfield v Wirral Grammar School
Under the lights on Friday night, King’s Macclesfield will host Wirral Grammar School at Widnes Vikings’ ground, Halton Stadium. King’s Macclesfield are in cracking form, including a good win over Sir Thomas Rich’s last week, and will be full of confidence, but Wirral Grammar are always a tricky side to get the win against. Either way, it should be a special occasion.
Prediction: King’s Macclesfield
RGS High Wycombe v Warwick
Aylesbury RFC’s artificial pitch plays host for another top end game of school rugby on Saturday. This is a fixture that is always something of a classic, albeit that this year Warwick’s form is stronger than RGS’. Warwick are chasing back to back Schools Cup titles, and momentum ahead of the semi finals there will be key, it puts the pressure on games like these, and RGS will be keen to pounce if there is a chink.
Prediction: Warwick
Whitgift v St Joseph’s College
This is always a huge game of rugby, all the more so this week because the two also meet at U15 level in the Schools Cup quarter final a few days later, adding a bit of extra narrative to this one. At U18 level though Whitgift will start as favourites, they are Cup semi finalists, facing the champions, and like Warwick this is all about momentum at this stage of the season for them. St Joseph’s are a big potential banana skin though, a passionate side who will want to overturn Whitgift. It should be a cracker.
Prediction: Whitgift
Around the Grounds
There are some massive fixtures in Scotland over the weekend, including a real historical one between Heriot’s and Stewart’s Melville. There’s a big clash between the two big city academies, Edinburgh Academy and Glasgow Academy, while Dollar Academy travel to St Aloysius’ College and Kelvinside Academy make the trip to St Columba’s.
Down in England St Ambrose College have a tricky game away at Adams Gramamr, while Bablake host KES Birmingham. Sticking in the Midlands, Solihull have a big game at Loughborough Grammar, while Old Swinford Hospital host Bishop Vesey’s.
Down towards the capital, the very much in form Dartford Grammar School make the trip to City of London Freemen’s, with Chislehurst & Sidcup Grammar playing hosts ahead of a very tricky fixture against Skinners’.
John Fisher are at home to Tiffin and will be hoping for a solid victory as they move towards 7s season, while Brentwood welcome St George’s Harpenden.
Sir Thomas Rich’s will want to bounce back after defeat last week, which followed that brilliant win over Millfield, it will be hard though, they lost Welsh giants Llandovery College.
In the Northern region Manchester Grammar host Newcastle-Under-Lyme, with Austin Friars making the trip over to Emmanuel College. Silcoates meanwhile welcome Hymers College, while in the Midlands Repton take on Abraham Darby.
Sunday
On Sunday 16 teams will gather at Seaford College of the Seaford 7s. Bedford are the reigning champions, beating Haileybury in the final. Both sides return this year, heading up groups C and B respectively. You can see the full draw and preview here: Seaford College 7s.
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 Weekend Fixtures – Saturday 27th January (predictions in bold):
Five to Watch
Hampton v St Benedict’s
Judd v Brighton College
Kings Macclesfield v Wirral GS (Friday)
RGS High Wycombe v Warwick
Whitgift v St Joseph’s College
Saturday
Adams GS v St Ambrose College
Bablake v KES Birmingham
Brentwood v St George’s, Harpenden
Chislehurst & Sidcup GS v Skinners’
City of London Freemen’s v Dartford GS
Edinburgh Academy v Glasgow Academy
Emmanuel College v Austin Friars
Heriot’s v Stewart’s Melville
John Fisher v Tiffin
Loughborough GS v Solihull
Manchester GS v Newcastle-Under-Lyme
Old Swinford Hospital v Bishop Vesey’s GS
Repton v Abraham Darby
Silcoates v Hymers College
Sir Thomas Rich’s v Llandovery College
St Aloysius College v Dollar Academy
St Columba’s v Kelvinside Academy
Sunday
Seaford College 7s
