In accordance with RFU guidelines the Junior School and Prep School tournaments at the Rosslyn Park HSBC National School 7s from last year took the form of Waterfall tournaments.
Essentially the boils down to the just being groups, every side plays the same number of matches and there are no knockout matches, and in theory no outright winners, though obviously the groups each have winners.
That will apply again this year, with the Junior tournament once again on the Monday, 19th, and the Prep Schools tournament on the Friday, 23rd.
Junior Schools
Last year eight schools finished the entire Junior competition unbeaten. Whitgift were one of them, and they sit in Group A alongside four of the others, QEH, Royal Hospital School, Dubai English Speaking College, and Judd, with Rodillian Academy for company in a tough group.
Solihull were another to go unbeaten, they are in Group B, while in Group C there is another school from Dubai, Dubai College. Over in Group D, Waterloo Schools make the trip from Belgium, they have the likes of St Joseph’s College and Berkhamsted in their group.
Group E contains among its contenders Christ’s Hospital, while St Paul’s and Bristol Grammar are among those in Group F. King’s Macclesfield are among those in Group G.
Group I has plenty of key contenders, not least RGS Newcastle and Shiplake College, while Group J features RGS High Wycombe, and Colston’s sit in Group K. Ysgol Gyfun Glantaf, so strong in recent years in the younger age-groups, are in Group L.
Group M contains New Hall, with Oakham, Merchant Taylors’, and Campion among those in Group N. Pay close attention to Warwick in Group O, they are strong at every level. Group P contains another of last year’s impressive unbeaten sides in KES Bath.
Group Q looks exciting, with Blundell’s and Reed’s among the contenders, Group R sees Porthcawl travel over from Wales. Ivybridge are definitely one to keep an eye on in Group S but with Woodhouse Grove and Barnard Castle among those in their group, it is a tricky one. Group T will be tough too, but The Oratory are always a good side at this level.
Group U looks open, but the likes of Cokethorpe and Prior Park should have plenty of support from their senior school couterparts on the touchlines, so too King’s Worcester in Group V, the final group in the Junior competition.
Of the unbeaten sides last year, only Devonport do not return. With four of those 8 all in group A, it certainly looks as though that one initially will be the one to keep an eye on!
Prep Schools
Cheltenham College Prep were one of the top sides in last year’s Prep tournament, which took place on Friday (as it does this year), meaning that it got plenty of support and encouragement from the U14 and U18 Cup tournaments taking place alongside.
Cheltenham are drawn in Group A this year, alongside Bedford, another side to impress last year, and St Olave’s York, who topped their groups like Cheltenham. Danes Hill also join them, as do Feltonfleet, meaning that four of the five ‘A’ Group winners last year are in the same group, making it something of a supergroup.
Group B contains Aldro, Felsted, Terrington Hall, and King’s Hall, all of whom finished second in ‘A’ Groups last year, plus the ever impressive Millfield Prep.
Group C is headed by Caldicott, one of the most successful Prep Schools at Rosslyn Park, with Dulwich Prep, Thomas’s Clapham, St Paul’s, Mount Kelly, and Cathedral School Llandaff all joining them.
Over in Group D Sedbergh Prep are naturally well known, they are joined by Westbourne House, Downs Malven, Rokeby, King’s House, and Downsend.
Group E consists of Aysgarth, Bromsgrove, the 2016 finalists, Lord Wandsworth College, Wycliffe College, Packwood Hugh, and Merton Court, while Brighton College, Clifton College, Merchiston Castle, Sherborne, St John’s Beaumont, and St John’s Northwood make up a seriously competitive Group F.
The same is true in Group G where St Martin’s Ampleforth, Worth, Epsom College, Barnadiston Hall, and Dean Close all join the prestigious Dragon School. Over in Group H Cumnor House, Cundall Manor, Northcote Lodge, Stonyhurst St Mary’s, Wetherby, and The Oratory Prep all compete.
Group I sees St John’s-on-the-Hill Dean Close, Shrewsbury, Highfield, Cranmore, Beaudesert, and All Hallows together, while Cumnor House, Hall Grove, KCS Wimbledon, Newland House, Prestfelde, and Terra Nova all reside in Group J, the final group.
You can see preview for all of the senior tournaments below:
Rosslyn Park HSBC National School 7s Previews
Junior Schools Draw
| Group A | Group B | Group C | Group D |
| Dubai English Speaking College | Cardiff HS | Churcher’s College | Berkhamsted |
| QEH | Hampton | Dubai College | Penyrheol Comprehensive |
| Rodillian Academy | Lancaster, RGS | Hill House | Pitsford |
| Royal Hospital School | Solihull | Leicester GS | Sidcot |
| Judd | Torquay Boys’ Grammar School | Monmouth | St Joseph’s College |
| Whitgift | Ysgol Gyfun Plasmawr | RGS Guildford | Waterloo Schools |
| Group E | Group F | Group G | Group H |
| Aberdare | Bristol GS | Cardiff & Vale College | Dulwich College |
| Bramhall HS | Cabot Learning Federation | Coopers’ Coborn | Gordon’s |
| Christ’s Hospital | Newcastle School for Boys | Rutlish | Newquay Tretherras |
| Loughborough GS | St Paul’s | King’s Macclesfield | Stockport GS |
| Stanwell | Portsmouth Grammar School | Wallington CGS | Summer Fields |
| Ysgol Gyfun Bro Myrddin | Ysgol Gyfun Cwm Rhymni | Ysgol Gyfun Bro Edern | Ysgol Gyfun Gwyr |
| Group I | Group J | Group K | Group L |
| Barry Comprehensive | Ibstock Place | Bournemouth Collegiate | Dover College |
| Bedford Modern | Norwich | Chislehurst & Sidcup GS | Finborough |
| Prince Henry’s GS | RGS High Wycombe | Colston’s | Hugh Sexey CofE |
| RGS Newcastle | Ryde School with Upper Chine | Fulham Boys | Taunton Prep |
| Shiplake College | St Anselm’s College | Kew House | Willows HS |
| King John School | Whitchuch HS | Ysgol Gyfun Garth Olwg | Ysgol Gyfun Glantaf |
| Group M | Group N | Group O | Group P |
| Lincoln Minster | Brynteg | Akeley Wood | Bishop’s Stortford HS |
| Monkton Combe | Campion | Birkdale | Dartford Grammar School |
| New Hall | KES Birmingham | London Oratory | Manchester Grammar School |
| St Batholomew’s | Merchant Taylors’ | St George’s, Weybridge | KES Bath |
| Y Pant Comprehensive | Oakham | Warwick | St Benedict’s |
| Yarm | UCS | Wisbech Grammar School | Horris Hill |
| Group Q | Group R | Group S | Group T |
| Blundell’s | City of London Freemen’s | Barnard Castle | Burford |
| Colfe’s | Emanuel | Cwmtawe | St Olave’s Grammar School |
| Halliford | Gravesend Grammar School | Ivybridge | The Oratory |
| Reed’s | Mount St Mary’s College | Perins | Treorchy Comprehensive |
| Sevenoaks | Porthcawl Comprehensive | Sir Joseph Williamson’s | Wilmington GS |
| Ysgol Sir Thomas Picton | Queen Ethelburga’s | Woodhouse Grove | Ysgol Gyfun Bryn Tawe |
| Group U | Group V |
| Birchgrove | Claire’s Court School |
| Bishop of Llandaff HS | Llandatwg |
| Cokethorpe | Mary Immaculate HS |
| Prior Park College | Red House Junior School |
| St Cenydd | King’s School, Worcester |
| St Dunstan’s College | Ysgol Dyffryn Taf |
Preparatory Schools Draw
| Group A | Group B | Group C | Group D |
| Bedford Prep | Aldro | Caldicott Prep School | Downsend |
| Cheltenham College Prep | Felsted | Cathedral School, Llandaff | King’s House |
| Danes Hill | King’s Hall | Dulwich Prep School | Rokeby |
| Feltonfleet | Llandovery College | Mount Kelly | Sedbergh Prep |
| Moulsford Prep School | Millfield Prep | St Paul’s | Downs Malvern |
| St Olave’s, York | Terrington Hall | Thomas’s, Clapham | Westbourne House |
| Group E | Group F | Group G | Group H |
| Aysgarth | Brighton College | Barnadiston Hall Prep School | Cumnor House |
| Bromsgrove | Clifton College Prep | Dean Close Prep | Cundall Manor |
| Lord Wandsworth College | Merchiston Castle | Dragon School | Northcote Lodge |
| Merton Court | Sherborne | Epsom College | Oratory Prep School |
| Packwood Hugh Prep | St John’s Beaumont | St Martin’s, Ampleforth | Stonyhurst St Mary’s Hall |
| Wycliffe College Prep | St John’s, Northwood | Worth | Wetherby Prep |
| Group I | Group J |
| All Hallows | Cumnor House School for Boys |
| Beaudesert Park School | Hall Grove |
| Cranmore | KCS Wimbledon Prep |
| Highfield | Newland House School |
| Shrewsbury | Prestfelde Prep School |
| St John’s-on-the-Hill Dean Close | Terra Nova |