This is a huge week of schools rugby, not least because of the Champions Trophy and AASE finals on Wednesday.
However we will cover those games in more detail elsewhere, because there is also a huge amount of other rugby going on, including a huge number of the U18 Schools Cup, Plate, Vase, and Bowl quarter finals. Indeed by the end of the week ten of the sixteen semi final finalists from across the four tournament will be known.
Tuesday
The Schools Plate will be the headline act on Tuesday as Abingdon host Christ’s Hospital in the opening quarter final of the competition.
Elsewhere Royal Hospital School host Woodbridge in what should be a good game, while the massively in form Stamford will host Welbeck.
Wednesday
As mentioned, Wednesday is already a huge day because of Epsom College v Wellington College in the Champions Trophy final and Beechen Cliff v Hartpury College in the AASE League final, but we shall cover those elsewhere and there is a huge amount of other rugby to look at on Wednesday.
In the Schools Cup there is a massive game as unbeaten Wirral Grammar host current Plate holders Woodhouse Grove, who are surely considered among the favourites this year.
Also in the Cup the back to back champions, Warwick, are in action at home to Rugby, who currently sit second in the Daily Mail Trophy after a stunning season to date. This really could be an absolute blockbuster.
Over in the Schools Plate Hymers College host Old Swinford Hospital, while in the Vase there are two games. Hayes host current Bowl holder St George’s College Weybridge, while Worksop College welcome Bishop Vesey’s. Meanwhile in the Schools Bowl Wycliffe College host Glyn.
There is plenty to get excited about outside of the Cups too not least one of the biggest games of the season as Millfield make the trip up to the now back to back winners of the Daily Mail Trophy. Both have been outstanding this season, Sedbergh are unbeaten while Millfield were stunning in the first half of term before a few injuries took their toll of late. This one is always massive for both schools, and you can expect a classic on Wednesday lunchtime.
There are a number of County Cup games too, including Churcher’s College v Peter Symonds’, Cokethorpe v St Edward’s Oxford.
There is also a massive game up in Scotland, the Scottish Schools Cup final at BT Murrayfield as the outstanding Merchiston Castle take on this determined St Aloysius’ College side at 7.45pm
Thursday
Thursday sees more action in the Schools Vase as Dauntsey’s host The Oratory, two sides that have looked good this year.
Outside of the national competitions Plymouth College host Wellington School while Cathedral School Llandaff take on Clifton High School.
Friday
One of Friday’s headline acts is a County Cup final between Pangbourne College and The Downs, meanwhile QES Barnet take on Watford Grammar in a real classic clash, and St Columba’s College take on Latymer Upper.
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Schools Rugby Midweek Fixtures (predictions in bold):
Tuesday
Abingdon v Christ’s Hospital (Schools Plate QF)
Royal Hospital School v Woodbridge
Stamford v Welbeck
Wednesday
Ampleforth College v Hill House
Bradford GS v Prince Henry’s GS
Brockenhurst v Lord Wandsworth College
Churcher’s College v Peter Symonds’ College (County Cup Final)
Cokethorpe v St Edward’s, Oxford (County Cup Final)
Dame Allan’s v QEGS Penrith
Dr Challoner’s GS v Haberdashers’
Eltham College v St Olave’s GS
Emanuel v Sutton Valence
Emmanuel College v St Thomas More
Epsom College v Wellington College (Champions Trophy Final, 1pm Allianz Park)
Gordon’s v Reigate GS
Hayes v St George’s College, Weybridge (Schools Vase QF)
Howard of Effingham v George Abbot
Hymers College v Old Swinford Hospital (Schools Plate QF)
KES Five Ways v Bablake
KES Southampton v Ryde
Merchiston Castle v St Aloysius’ College (Scottish Schools Cup Final, 7.45pm, BT Murrayfield)
QES Kirkby Lonsdale v Ermysted’s GS
Roundwood Park v Dame Alice Owens
Rutlish v Tiffin
Sedbergh v Millfield
Warwick v Rugby (Schools Cup QF)
Wirral GS v Woodhouse Grove (Schools Cup QF)
Wisbech GS v Spalding GS
Worksop College v Bishop Vesey’s GS (Schools Vase QF)
Wrekin College v Tettenhall College
Wycliffe College v Glyn (Schools Bowl QF)
Thursday
Clifton HS v Cathedral School, Llandaff
Dauntsey’s v The Oratory (Schools Vase QF)
Plymouth College v Wellington School
Friday
Latymer Upper v St Columba’s College
Pangbourne College v The Downs (County Cup Final)
QES Barnet v Watford GS
Schools Cup, Plate, Vase, & Bowl Quarter Finals Schedules:
Cup
Warwick v Rugby – Wednesday 5th
Wirral Grammar v Woodhouse Grove – Wednesday 5th
Whitgift v Ivybridge – 9th January
Seaford College v Dean Close/Marlborough College – TBA
Plate
Abingdon v Christ’s Hospital – Tuesday 4th
Hymers College v Old Swinford Hospital – Wednesday 5th
Sherborne v Skinners’ – Tuesday 11th
Cheadle Hulme v Bloxham – Wednesday 12th
Vase
Hayes v St George’s College – Wednesday 5th
Worksop College v Bishop Vesey’s – Wednesday 5th
Dauntsey’s v The Oratory – Thursday 6th
Samuel Whitbread v Newcastle School for Boys – TBA
Bowl
Wycliffe College v Glyn – Wednesday 5th
Hitchin v Ampleforth College – Wednesday 12th
King’s Worcester v Lady Manners – TBA
Ravens Wood v Mount Kelly – TBA
