After a thrilling weekend of rugby, it keeps on coming with a busy midweek schedule, including the beginning of some of this year’s knockout rugby.
The U18 Schools Vase officially begins this week, while the reigning U18 Schools Cup champions, Whitgift, are also in action this week as they start their campaign off early against St Olave’s Grammar School on Wednesday.
Should the champions win, they will face either local rivals Trinity or their opposition, Langley Park. Those two meet at the official start of the Cup competition in a fortnight’s time.
There is plenty on Wednesday outside of the knockouts too though, not least a massive game between two school rugby giants Hampton and John Fisher, a game that could prove a real marker of form ahead of the rest of the season.
Elsewhere Lancaster RGS are in action at QES Kirkby Lonsdale, while Leicester Grammar host Welbeck, and Cranbrook welcome Gravesend, meanwhile in the South West there is a bit of a blockbuster, with Ivybridge Community College taking on Plymouth College.
Scotland sees Cup action as Kelvinside Academy host Jordanhill, outside of that Cup Hutchesons’ welcome Glasgow Academy, over in Wales Bynteg head to Christ College for an exciting midweek game.
There is a triangular tournament also as Katharine Lady Berkley’s, King’s Gloucester, and Cleeve all take each other on.
Thursday also sees action, Mount St Mary’s begin their season with an exciting game against a strong Argentinian touring side, Cardinal Newman, a game that should be both a brilliant occasion and a real test of their rugby ahead of a big season.
Elsewhere Monkton Combe head to Cathedral School, Llandaff, while Downside host Beechen Cliff’s non-AASE side and Pate’s Grammar travel to Hartpury College to take on their non-AASE team.
(Head to the foot of the page for full fixtures & predictions)
U18 Schools Vase Round 1 Fixtures (brackets if fixture date confirmed):
North A
QEGS Penrith v Austin Friars
Bye v Bye
QEHS Hexham v Gateshead College
Yarm v Bye
Newcastle School for Boys v Tyne Metropolitan College
Emmanuel College v Bye
KES Morpeth v Bede Academy
Bye v Bye
Bye v Bye
Ampleforth College v Ripon GS
Bye v Bye
Ilkley GS v Harrogate GS
Bye v Bye
Rodillian v Crossley Heath
Runshaw College v AKS Lytham
Sandbach v Bye
North A sees plenty of exciting fixtures, though as yet confirmed to us for this week (many will be though. Yarm enjoy a bye in the top section of the draw and will play either QEHS Hexham or Gateshead College in round two, with the winner of that facing either QEGS Penrith or Austin Friars in round 3.
Newcastle School for Boys could be a side to watch, they face Tyne Met College, with the winner facing Emmanuel College, meanwhile the winner of KES Morpeth v Bede Academy will be straight into the third round and awaiting them.
The winner of Ampleforth College v Ripon Grammar will also head straight to the third round, where they will face the winner of Ilkley Grammar v Harrogate Grammar, who have the same type of draw. Similarly the winner of Rodillian v Crossly Heath are straight into the third round. The winner of RUnshaw College v AKS Lytham faces a good Sandbach side in the second round.
North B
Rydal Penrhos v Bishop Heber (Wednesday)
Oswestry v Shrewsbury (Wednesday)
Liverpool College v Birkenhead
St Anselm’s College v St Edward’s College
King William’s College v Castle Rushen
Altrincham GS v Sale GS
Bolton v The Grange
Bye v Bye
Bye v Bye
Newcastle Under Lyme v Adams GS (Wednesday)
St Joseph’s College v Thomas Alleynes
Birkdale v Lady Manners
Nottingham HS v Priory Ruskin
King’s Grantham v Carre’s GS
Thomas Rotherham College v Hill House
South Hunsley v Bye
North B is a fuller draw than North A and includes some fully confirmed fixtures for this weeks, Rydal Penrhos v Bishop Heber and Oswestry v Shrewsbury are both on Wednesday with the winners facing each other next up. Newcastler Under Lyme are also confirmed to be meeting Adams Grammar on Wednesday and the winners will head straight to the third round, much like the winners of Bolton v The Grange.
Elsewhere, in the top half Liverpool College host Birkenhead, St Anselm’s College welcome St Edward’s College and Altrincham Grammar host Sale Grammar, while Castle Rushen are in the Isle of Man against King William’s College.
In the bottom half of the draw St Joseph’s welcome Thomas Alleynes, Birkdale host Lady Manners, and Nottingham High welcome Priory Ruskin, the winner of which will face the winner of Carre’s trip to King’s Grantham. The winner of Thomas Rotherham College v Hill House meanwhile will meet South Hunsley in Round 2.
Midlands A
Hereford Cathedral School v Hereford 6th form College
RGS Worcester v Prince Henry’s (Wednesday)
KES Stratford v Kenilworth (Wednesday)
Princethorpe v KES Camp Hill
Bablake v King Henry VIII, Coventry (Wednesday)
KES Five Ways v KES Birmingham (Wednesday)
Bye v Bye
Queen Mary’s GS v KES Lichield
Bye v Bye
KES Aston v Birmingham Metropolitan
Bye v Bye
Loughborough College v Ratcliffe College (Wednesday)
Bishop Stopford v Bye
Leicester GS v Robert Smyth
Bye v Bye
Wellingborough v Royal Latin (Wednesday)
The Midlands A section looks brilliant, and has some great derbies. Not least Hereford Cathedral School v Hereford 6th form College, who will know their reward for a win after RGS Worcester host Prince Henry’s on Wednesday.
Also on Wednesday is KES Stratford v Kenilworth, who have form in this competition, with the winner facing either Princethorpe or KES Camp Hill. Another massive derby on Wednesday is Bablake v King Henry VIII Coventry, the winner of that one faces either KES Five Ways or KES Birmingham, who also meet on Wednesday. The winner of Queen Mary’s Grammar v KES Lichfield head straight to the third round.
As does the winner of KES Aston v Birmingham Met and Loughborough College v Ratcliffe College, which takes place on Wednesday, while either Leicester Grammar or Robert Smyth will head on to play Bishop Stopford in round two. The winner of Wednesday’s Wellingborough v Royal Latin clash though will be straight into the third round.
Midlands B
Aylesbury GS v Sir William Borlase’s GS (Wednesday)
Roundwood Park v St Columba’s College (Wednesday)
Sir John Lawes v Sandringham (Wednesday)
Beaumont v Samuel Ryder
Richard Hale v St Edmunds College (Wednesday)
The Perse v Bye
Hitchin Boys v Knights Templar
Bye v Bye
Saffron Walden v Hills Road
Mark Rutherford v Hitchingbrooke
Spalding GS v Gresham’s
Bye v Bye
Wymondham College v Langley
Culford v Thomas Mills
Ipswich v Woodbridge
RGS Colchester v Bye
There is plenty on throughout Wednesday in Midlands B too, particularly in the top half of the draw with Aylesbury Grammar v Sir William Borlase’s and Roundwood Park v St Columba’s both taking place, the winners of those two face each other next up. Sir John Lawes v Sandringham is also on Wednesday, the winner will then place Beaumont or Samuel Ryder. Ware rivals Richard Hale and St Edmund’s College meet on Wednesday for the chance to meet The Perse, who could be among the favourites, in Round 2. The winner of Hitchin Boys v Knights Templar will head straight to the third round.
In the bottom half of the draw Saffron Walden play Hills Road and Mark Rutherford host Hitchingbrooke, meanwhile the winner of Spalding Grammar v Gresham’s will head right to the third round. Wymondham have a tough assignment at home to Langley, who won the tournament in 2018 and are now back after a year in the Cup. The winner of that plays either Culford or Thomas Mills. Meanwhile the winner of Ipswich v Woodbridge will face RGS Colchester in Round 2.
London & South East A
Tring v Hemel Hempstead
John Hampden GS v Chesham GS
Longdean v Parmiter’s
Rickmansworth v QES Barnet (Wednesday)
Isleworth & Syon v Orleans Park
Grey Court v Saint Cecilia’s (Wednesday)
Rutlish v Esher College
Glyn v Wallington CGS (Wednesday)
George Abbot v Harris City Academy (Wednesday)
Bye v Bye
London Oratory v Royal Alexandra & Albert (Wednesday)
Reigate GS v Bye
Bye v Bye
Worth v Richard Collyer (Wednesday)
Bye v Bye
Worthing v Eastbourne College (Wednesday)
There is plenty of action in this section of the draw on Wednesday, not least in the bottom half of the draw. A wonderful performance on Saturday could have earmarked Eastbourne College as a side to watch in this competition, and should they win at Worthing they will be straight into the third round. The same is true of Worth v Richard Collyer, which is also on Wednesday, and George Abbot v Harris City Academy. Meanwhile the winner of Wednesday’s London Oratory v Royal Alexandra & Albert on Wednesday will head to the second round where Reigate Grammar reside.
In the top half Glyn v Wallington, Grey Court v Saint Cecilia’s, and Rickmansworth v QES Barnet all take place on Wednesday, meanwhile Rutlish v Esher College, Isleworth & Syon v Orleans Park, Longdean v Parmiter’s, John Hampden v Chesham, and Hemel Hempstead trip to Tring are all to be completed too.
London & South East B
Davenant v Robert Clack
Bye v Bye
Coopers Coborn v Bye
Southend HS v King John
Beths GS v Dartford GS
Bye v Bye
Wilmington GS v Gravesend GS
Bye v Bye
Chislehurst & Sidcup GS v St Dunstan’s College (Wednesday)
Darrick Wood v Hayes (Wednesday)
Skinners’ v Oakwood Park GS (Wednesday)
Maidstone GS v Sutton Valence (Wednesday)
Chatham & Clarendon v St Lawrence College
Bye v Bye
Duke of York’s RMS v Bye
Sir Roger Manwood’s v Kent College (Wednesday)
In the other London section there is a route straight to the third round for either Davenant or Robert Clack should they win their game, while Beth’s Grammar v Dartford Grammar has the same scenario, as does Wilmington Grammar v Gravesend Grammar. Coopers Coborn await the winner of Southend v King John, meanwhile.
In the bottom half of the draw Chislehurst & Sidcup welcome St Dunstan’s College, while last year’s semi finalists Hayes are in action at Darrick Wood, both on Wednesday. Also on Wednesday are Skinners’ v Oakwood Park and Maidstone Grammar v Sutton Valence, so too Sir Roger Manwood’s v Kent College, with the winner of that facing Duke of York’s RMS in the second round. It’s a route to the third round, meanwhile, for the winner of Chatham & Clarendon v St Lawrence College.
South West A
Mount Kelly v Plymouth College
Torquay Boys’ GS v Wellington (Wednesday)
Woodroffe v Thomas Hardye
Yeovil College v The Gryphone
Wells Cathedral v Backwell
Bristol Cathrdral Choir v Frome College
St Laurence v Hardenhuish
Sheldon v Malmesbury
St Peter’s, Gloucester v Bye
Royal Wootton Bassett v Cirencester College
Bye v Bye
Marling v Wycliffe College (Wednesday)
Bye v Bye
Holmleigh Park HS v Tewkesbury
Bye v Bye
St Edward’s, Cheltenham v The Cotswold
Wednesday sees Torquay Boys v Wellington and Marling v Wycliffe College confirmed in South West A, the winner of the latter game having a bye to the third round. As do the winners of St Edward’s v The Cotswold School and Holmleigh Park v Tewkesbury. The winner of Royal Wootton Bassett v Cirencester College meanwhile face former Cup winners St Peter’s Gloucester in Round 2.
The top half of the draw is full up, with Mount Kelly v Plymouth College, Woodroffe v Thoams Hardye, Yeovil College v The Gryphone, Wells Cathedral v Backwell, Bristol CC v Frome College, St Laurence v Hardenhuish, and Sheldon v Malmesbury all taking place as well as Wednesday’s Torquay/Wellington fixture.
South West B
St Edward’s, Oxford v Lord Williams’ (Wednesday)
The Oratory v Maiden Erlegh
Forest v Windsor Boys’
Gordon’s v Howard of Effingham
Farnborough 6th form College v Godalming College
Bye v Bye
Kennet v St Bartholomew’s
Park House v Bye
Bye v Bye
Peter Symonds’ College v KES Southampton (Wednesday)
Bye v Bye
Exeter v Bye
Bye v Bye
Brockenhurst College v Bournemouth
Bye v Bye
Clayesmore v Poole GS
The South West B section is a little thinner, though the top half has a good amount of fixtures. St Edward’s Oxford host Lord Williams on Wednesday and the winner will play either The Oratory or Maiden Erlegh, while Forest play Windsor Boys and Gordon’s host Howard of Effingham. The winner of Farnborough v Godalming will be straight into the third round, while the winner of Kennet v St Bartholomew’s will meet Park House in round 2.
In the bottom half there is a blockbuster round 1 tie on Wednesday, Peter Symonds’ College v KES Southampton. For the winner though the news is a trip deep into the tournament as they will not have an opponent until Exeter in Round 3, which will be Exeter’s first game of the tournament. The winners of Brockenhurt College v Bournemouth and Clayesmore v Poole meanwhile will face each other in the third round.
Schools Rugby Midweek Fixtures (predictions in bold):
Tuesday
Clifton College v The Grange (Chile)
Wednesday
QES Kirkby Lonsdale v Lancaster RGS
Christ College v Brynteg
Cranbrook v Gravesend GS
Hampton v John Fisher
Ivybridge Community College v Plymouth College
Katharine Lady Berkley’s v King’s Gloucester v Cleeve (Triangular)
Kelvinside Academy v Jordanhill (Scottish Schools Cup)
Whitgift v St Olave’s GS (Schools Cup)
Hutchesons’ GS v Glasgow Academy
Leicester GS v Welbeck
Thursday
Cathedral School, Llandaff v Monkton Combe
Downside v Beechen Cliff 2nd XV
Hartpury College 3rd XV v Pate’s GS
Mount St Mary’s College v Cardinal Newman (Argentina)
