This Sunday sees the annual Reigate Charity 7s take place, raising money through the Reigate Grammar School Foundation for their Changing Lives campaign.
Thirty-two sides will gather at Reigate Grammar School for the tournament and they will be split into eight groups of four. The winners of each group will head to the Cup quarter finals, while those in second place take part in the Plate quarters. Third place compete for the Shield, while those finishing bottom of the groups will compete in the Bowl quarter finals.
The hosts, Reigate Grammar School, are in Group E and it looks a tricky group. Emanuel and John Fisher are both in there, alongside Champions Trophy winners Dulwich College.
Tonbridge are the reigning champions and they are situated in Group D. Competing for a place in the Cup quarters alongside them are Wimbledon College, Worth, and Portsmouth Grammar School, who won last year’s Shield competition.
The Plate was won by Caterham last year and they are at the top of the draw in Group A. They will surely be competing hard for a place in the Cup draw, but with Berkhamsted, Ardingly, and Eastbourne College also in the group, this looks like it will be one of the most tightly contested.
Brighton College won last week’s Hampton 7s and are likely to be one of the favourites for this year’s competition. Their group is tricky though, last year’s Bowl winners City of London Freemen’s, London Oratory, and Epsom College. Epsom won Sunday’s Christ’s Hospital 7s, beating Brighton’s impressive 2nd VII in the final there.
Brighton were not the only side to impress at the Hampton 7s last week, the hosts Hampton were also highly impressive and they will start as favourites to progress to the Cup from Group C. Reed’s, Christ’s Hospital, and Royal Hospital School will make life very hard though.
Group F will be interesting, Whitgift would ordinarily probably be the headline act, however with a Schools Cup semi final the day before, they are not going to be sending a first string. That will give even more confidence to the Seaford 7s champions, Hurstpierpoint College, while Sutton Valence and Bryanston will also compete hard.
Group G will be incredibly competitive, with KCS Wimbledon, St Paul’s, Trinity, and Wisbech Grammar School all looking as though they could take points off each other. This could be one to keep a real eye on.
Over in Group H, Felsted are surely the favourites, their season has been flying along well, joining them are RGS Guildford, Maidstone Grammar, and Judd, who will be pushing hard for a Cup place.
It all bodes well for a hugely exciting tournament, just so long as the weather holds off!
Hiscox Reigate Charity 7s:
| Group A | Group B | Group C | Group D |
| Berkhamsted | Brighton College | Hampton | Wimbledon College |
| Caterham | City of London Freemen’s | Reed’s | Tonbridge |
| Ardingly | Epsom College | Royal Hospital School | Portsmouth Grammar |
| Eastbourne College | London Oratory | Christ’s Hospital | Worth |
| Group E | Group F | Group G | Group H |
| Dulwich College | Hurstpierpoint College | KCS Wimbledon | Felsted |
| John Fisher | Sutton Valence School | St Paul’s | Judd |
| Emanuel | Bryanston | Trinity | Maidstone Grammar School |
| Reigate Grammar School | Whitgift | Wisbech Grammar School | RGS Guildford |