There are some exciting schools rugby fixtures this weekend, though with the weather closing in it seems likely that a few may fall foul of it.
Nonetheless, if you have not been able to get your hands on the gold dust that is a Six Nations ticket the school game is set to provide ample entertainment.
Chief among that are games between two sides that will be heading to the U18 Schools Cup semi finals at Allianz Park on Saturday 9th March, Warwick and Whitgift. Warwick will face Woodhouse Grove in theirs while Whitgift will face Marlborough College.
On Saturday both are in action and both are looking to keep up the momentum that they have built with unbeaten runs through 2019 so far. Warwick have a tricky task as they host a Sir Thomas Rich’s side playing some lovely rugby at the moment, while Whitgift face an almighty challenge themselves in the form of a travelling Hampton side, who will be determined.
Of course this weekend is also an U18 Academy League weekend, meaning many schools’ star players are unavailable, however that ought to do little to dampen the quality of the games.
Bishop Vesey’s are in good form and enjoyed a midweek win over KES Birmingham, they now travel to Welbeck and will want to double up for the week undoubtedly. Elsewhere St George’s Harpenden travel to Tiffin, while in a game to really whet the appetite, St Benedict’s host RGS High Wycombe in what ought to be a top quality game of rugby.
Moving further north there is a really competitive looking game between St Ambrose College and Lancaster RGS, who will be reeling after their Lancashire Cup final against Manchester Grammar was postponed in midweek. Manchester Grammar themselves are also in action, hosting St Edward’s College. King’s Macclesfield meanwhile travel down from the North West to take on Solihull in another game that should prove close and competitive.
Staying in the Midlands, Old Swinford Hospital host Loughborough Grammar, while Repton welcome Oswestry, King Henry VIII Coventry meanwhile make the trip to Shrewsbury.
There is some excellent looking rugby up in Scotland this weekend, not least a triangular between Merchiston Castle, Stewart’s Melville, and Friends School from County Antrim in Northern Ireland. Elsewhere Kelvinside Academy host Edinburgh Royal High, while Hutcheson’s host Queen Victoria School, and George Heriot’s welcome Glasgow Academy.
There is an exciting Anglo-Scots clash as Newcastle School for Boys travel to Edinburgh Academy, meanwhile in the all-Scots clashes Dundee High School welcome Morrison’s Academy, and Dollar Academy are in action at home to Wellington School.
Back in the South East of England there are four good clashes, not least St Joseph’s College’s trip to Campion, a trip with plenty of history behind it. Campion’s 2nd XV meanwhile travel to Brentwood, while Judd are in action at Cooper’s Coborn, and Dartford Grammar host Chislehurst & Sidcup Grammar.
A reminder that we welcome any photos, videos, and reports from your school’s games – the more the merrier! You can send them in to us via any of the methods below:
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Schools Rugby Weekend Fixtures – Saturday 2nd February (predictions in bold):
Brentwood v Campion 2nd XV
Campion v St Joseph’s College
Cooper’s Coborn v Judd
Dartford GS v Chislehurst & Sidcup GS
Dollar Acadedmy v Wellington, Ayr
Dundee HS v Morrison’s Academy
Edinburgh Academy v Newcastle School for Boys
George Heriot’s v Glasgow Academy
Hutcheson’s GS v Queen Victoria
Kelvinside Academy v Edinburgh Royal HS
Manchester GS v St Edward’s College
Merchiston Castle v Stewart’s Melville v Friends School, Co Antrim (Triangular)
Old Swinford Hospital v Loughborough GS
Repton v Oswestry
Shrewsbury v King Henry VIII, Coventry
Solihull v King’s Macclesfield
St Ambrose College v Lancaster RGS
St Benedict’s v RGS High Wycombe
Tiffin v St George’s, Harpenden
Warwick v Sir Thomas Rich’s
Welbeck v Bishop Vesey’s GS
Whitgift v Hampton
