A hectic midweek of schools rugby follows hot on the heels of an intense opening weekend of the school season.
There are some massive fixtures going on across the country, as well as the opening fixtures of the U18 Schools Vase, although we will cover that elsewhere.
Outside of that, some of the biggest names in schools rugby are right back into action just a few days after kicking off their seasons, among them Warwick, Denstone College, and Canford.
There are plenty of others too, with Lancaster RGS, who feature in this week’s Top 5 School Teams of the Weekend, in action too, among others.
Wednesday
Wednesday sees a number of massive fixtures, not least a second home game in of the season for reigning Schools Cup Champions, Warwick, they entertain one of last year’s strongest sides, Denstone College. Both enjoyed important wins at the weekend, Warwick beating Bromsgrove and Denstone beating last year’s Vase champions, Langley. Expect a huge contest on Wednesday between two of the best around.
Elsewhere Lancaster RGS will hope to build on that fantastic start against QEGS last week as they travel to QES Kirkby Lonsdale on Wednesday, meanwhile Christ’s Hospital are home to Ryde, while there is a fantastic looking matchup between Pangbourne College and Reading.
The Oratory kick their season off as they welcome Forest School, with Shrewsbury 6th form College travelling to Abraham Darby and St Dunstan’s making the trip to Bethany. Shrewsbury meanwhile welcome a tricky Wrekin College side, with King’s College Taunton making the trip to Richard Huish after their all-Taunton triangular at the weekend.
One of the other huge contests of the week sees St Joseph’s College make their first charge of the season as they begin preparations ahead of their prestigious Festival towards the end of October. They welcome high calibre opposition in the form of Henley College for what ought to be a top game of schools rugby.
Thursday
Thursday sees a slightly smaller fixture list but an equally exciting one. Canford look to get back on the horse after that tough start against Millfield on Saturday. It will certainly have them battle-hardened though as they welcome Bryanston for their first official game of the season.
Dean Close were off to a fine start on Saturday with a good win over RGS Worcester, they will be hoping to make it two from two on Thursday, but it will not be easy, they travel to Magdalen College who have a win of their own already this season too.
As do Monkton Combe, they had a storming win over Clayesmore at the weekend and will be full of confidence as they welcome opposition from across the Severn in the form of Cathedral School Llandaff. As well as England and Wales, there are also Scottish sides in action on Thursday as two of Scotland’s most well known schools go head to head, Loretto and Fettes College in what ought to be a fine game of rugby.
Friday
Friday is packed with exciting fixtures, among them a great derby between Mill Hill and St Albans, a game that is always a real spectacle.
Pate’s Grammar School have a tricky trip ahead of them to the mighty Hartpury College, while Mount St Mary’s College look to maintain their winning start when they welcome Birkdale.
There is another derby on Friday, this time out near Birmingham where KES Five Ways host KES Birmingham in what is expected to be a really well-contested affair that should produce plenty of entertainment. Warminster, meanwhile, welcome Wells Cathedral on Friday evening too.
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Schools Rugby Midweek Fixtures (predictions in bold):
Wednesday
Abraham Darby v Shrewsbury 6th form College
Bethany v St Dunstan’s
Christ’s Hospital v Ryde
The Oratory v Forest School
Pangbourne College v Reading
QES Kirkby Londsdale v Lancaster RGS
Richard Huish College v King’s College, Taunton
Shrewsbury v Wrekin College
St Joseph’s College v Henley College
Warwick v Denstone College
Thursday
Canford v Bryanston
Loretto v Fettes College
Magdalen College v Dean Close
Monkton Combe v Cathedral School, Llandaff
Friday
Hartpury College v Pate’s GS
KES Five Ways v KES Birmingham
Mill Hill v St Albans
Mount St Mary’s College v Birkdale
Warminster v Wells Cathedral
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