After a brilliant opening weekend of the season it feels like a fast turnaround for what looks like being a thrilling second weekend of action.
Indeed for a few schools this is the first weekend and first game, so there will still be a fair few sides bursting with energy and excitement to simply get out there on the pitch.
It is an interesting weekend too, there are a few games around with extra weight added on them as the double up as knockout games. The first game of this years Champions Trophy will be taking place (see the full draw here), and there a few Schools Cup games too after champions Whitgift kicked the tournament off on Wednesday with a thumping win (you can also see that draw here).
First though we begin, as ever, with the our ten ‘Focus On’ fixtures, ten key fixtures that we have picked out for the weekend, and it begins with that Champions Trophy game.
Focus On
Bedford v Rugby (Champions Trophy)
There are actually only four first round Champions Trophy games, with swathes of byes early on. Clifton v Monmouth and RGS Guildford v Bryanston are on the 26th, while on the 2nd October Hampton host Tonbridge. Before all of that though the 2015 champions, Bedford, host new entrants Rugby School. Bedford got off to a tough start to the season with a loss at Oundle, while Rugby have been earmarked as a side to watch and proved it with a superb win at home to Oakham last week. It suggest that Rugby are favourites, but at home in a competition they love, Bedford are not a side to overlook at all. Either way, it’s the Champions Trophy so drama is almost guaranteed! (Click here for the full first round draw.)
Prediction: Rugby
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Bromsgrove v Oundle
Two sides that got themselves off to fantastic starts last weekend. Oundle were in fine form at home to Bedford and showed plenty of promise for the season. Bromsgrove meanwhile were up against their old rivals Warwick and were really in fantastic form. They took the win and did so in fairly commanding fashion within the context of the game, marking them out as a side to watch. We should learn a lot for the season ahead from this game, both sides started with good wins over historically strong opponents, a second such victory would mark a very strong start.
Prediction: Bromsgrove
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Hurstpierpoint College v Brighton College
This is a fixture that over the last couple of years has developed into a really good rivalry, starting really when Hurstpierpoint stunned everyone with a victory over Brighton. Brighton have continued to stay right at the top of the school game while Hurstpierpoint have grown and grown, to the point where this year both are considered to be likely to be top sides. Hurstpierpoint were dealt a blow last week though, losing their opener to a very good Seaford College side and a 0-2 start would be tough to take, however facing a superb Brighton College side that were looking good in victory over St John’s last week means they have a big challenge. What that should mean is that we get a fantastic contest on Saturday, a real game to keep and eye on.
Prediction: Brighton College
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Oakham v Stamford
This is always a fun local derby between two sides that in the last five years or so have generally had one or the other up there among the tip sides around. Stamford got off to a flyer away at Nottingham High School last week and to back that up with victory at Oakham really would put a huge amount of wind in their sails. Oakham will not make it easy for them though, having lost at Rugby last weekend you can be sure that on their return to Doncaster Close they will be full of energy and excitement and ready to impress what is sure to be a big pitchside crowd.
Prediction: Oakham
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QEGS Wakefield v Woodhouse Grove
A massive West Yorkshire battle between two sides that in the last three or four years have been absolutely magnificent. QEGS had a bit of a down year last year after a long period of real consistency, while Woodhouse Grove were without doubt one of the very best around. However, Woodhouse Grove lost to another Yorkshire powerhouse, St Peter’s York, in their opener last week and will be very keen to get straight back to winning ways. A trip to QEGS is no easy task though, so expect a bit of a schools rugby classic to unfold especially in what should be superb conditions.
Prediction: Woodhouse Grove
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RGS High Wycombe v Millfield
Two sides with so much history in the school game, and both got off to winning starts on Saturday. RGS have had a quiet couple of seasons by their exceptional standards but got off to a winning start on Saturday, albeit a tight one against Reading Blue Coat. Millfield will be an altogether different proposition though, they are always right in amounts the best four of five in the country and got their season off to a strong start with a win at Canford. They will be eager to get some real momentum behind them in this early stage of the season and start as favourites, but nonetheless, this is a game between two of the real historical heavyweights of the school game, one that has seen some absolute classics down the years.
Prediction: Millfield
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Seaford College v Eastbourne College
Off the back of last week’s results, this was a fixture that absolutely screamed out at us. Both ended up in our Top 5 School Teams of the Weekend as a result, and are absolutely one of the fixtures we will be keeping a beady eye on this week. Seaford College made a real statement with their victory at home to Hurstpierpoint College, a result that marked them out as a side to look out for, while Eastbourne College were in simply stunning form away at Portsmouth Grammar. They won that 50-7 and then backed it up in midweek with a Schools Vase win over Worthing, could they make it three in 8 days? It will be a tough ask, but one well worth watching.
Prediction: Seaford College
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Sedbergh v RGS Newcastle
Both sides were in our Focus On fixtures last week and both sides won, Sedbergh with a superb performance at their Buskhome ground vs Whitgift, and RGS Newcastle looking dominant against Durham at Newcastle Falcons’ Kingston Park. It is a meeting of two dominant sides from last year, Sedbergh winning the Daily Mail Trophy, Rosslyn Park 7s, and Sedbergh 10s for the second straight year, and RGS winning the prestigious St Joseph’s Festival. It should make for a fantastic afternoon on Saturday, certainly one of the blockbuster fixtures of the weekend, and one that should tell us a lot about these two sides.
Prediction: Sedbergh
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Sherborne v Radley College
It’s a first foray of the season for Radley College, who had a fine season last year that included a victory in the corresponding fixture. A repeat of that would be a strong achievement, Sherborne got off to a cracking start last year with a fairly dominant victory over Bishop Wordsworth’s so they will arrive with their tails up. Nevertheless, they will face a Radley side that’ll be bouncing full of energy, eager to kick off their season. The first twenty minutes could be lightening fast, particularly as conditions look set to be fast and dry. Whatever happens, it should be fun!
Prediction: Sherborne
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St Joseph’s College v Dulwich College
This fixture is a welcome addition to the Saturday block schedule. In years gone by these two have met often at the St Joseph’s Festival but you have to go back to some of Dulwich’s runs to Schools Cup glory for full length fifteen-a-side meeting, and boy were they some cracking contests. The two got off to contrasting starts last week, St Joseph’s sailed to victory at home to Bishop’s Stortford, while Dulwich had a tough trip to Wellington College. Do not read too much into that though, these are two fine rugby schools and teams. What you can read into last weekend though and this fixture is that St Joseph’s are now giving their pre-Festival fixtures everything. In years gone by they perhaps were more experimental early on, now it’s full gas from the off.
Prediction: St Joseph’s College
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Saturday Fixtures
Of course the good rugby does not end with those ten fixtures though, not by a long stretch. Up and down the country the quality and intrigue of fixtures is enormous. There are two Schools Cup games that should be of plenty of interest too, in London & South East Campion will host Eltham College in what should be a really cracking contest, Campion had a brilliant win last week while Eltham lost a thriller, leaving this one feeling like it could go either way. Over in South West B Portsmouth Grammar School make the trip to Lord Wandsworth College and will want to get right back on the horse after a tough old loss last weekend.
For the full Schools Cup draw, click here
There are plenty of other cracking games on the calendar too, Eton College v Berkhamsted being one, both sides lost last week, to John Fisher and Harrow respectively, and will be eager to bounce back fast and we could well see a great game.
John Fisher meanwhile will want to back that win up from Saturday after losing out to Hampton in midweek. It is the first Croydon derby of the season as they host Trinity in what is the sky blues’ first official game of the season.
Harrow v Warwick promises to be an absolute blockbuster of a fixture. These two have been among the best in the game in recent seasons and will surely be again. Both had tough games last weekend, Harrow coming through against an excellent Berkhamsted side while Warwick lost out to their great local rivals, Bromsgrove. Warwick will be a wounded animal, but Harrow are a top class side. It could go either way.
Kirkham Grammar got off to an absolute flyer last week and will hope to back that up against a tricky Wirral Grammar side. Across in Yorkshire, St Peter’s host Mount St Mary’s, two sides that have started well with wins over Woodhouse Grove and Argentina’s Cardinal Newman respectively, it could make for one of the games of the weekend. Meanwhile further north there is a massive game in Scotland as two of the biggest names in Scottish schools rugby go together, George Watson’s College and Merchiston Castle.
Both St Paul’s and Abingdon had decent starts last week, St Paul’s may have lost to Epsom but it was a decent contest, while Abingdon won the Oxford derby against Teddies, so this one between them should be a cracker. As should Stowe v Cheltenham College, traditionally always a fun fixture it should be again, Stowe want to bounce back from defeat, while Cheltenham want to build on victory over Malvern College.
In the South West there are some cracking games this weekend, not least Canford v Blundell’s, two sides that have had cracking times in recent years. Look out also for Clifton College v Sir Thomas Rich’s, both had excellent seasons last year and could put on a bit of a show.
Moving back towards London there is an interesting fixture at Cranleigh, they got off to a fine start last week and will hope for more of the same, however they face a wounded Bishop Wordsworth’s side that will be eager to bounce back from last week’s loss to Sherborne. Up the road a bit more, Epsom College are looking two make it two from two when they host RGS Guildford, who are also looking for a solid 2/2 start to the season.
Back in the Northern section, Barnard Castle enjoyed a stunning victory last week and will be after more of exactly the same at home to Hymers College on Saturday, meanwhile Lancaster RGS host a wounded King’s Macclesfield in what is often a superb game of rugby.
Also looking to bounce back are Caterham, they welcome King’s Canterbury, who are also looking for a win after the narrowest of losses last weekend. Elsewhere it is worth keeping an eye on Leicester Grammar v Langley, which could be an exciting game, so too The Perse’s trip to Uppingham, both got off to winning starts last weekend.
It is just a ten minute drive from Shiplake College to Reading Blue Coat, so expect Saturday to have plenty of pitchside support, and indeed a superb game of rugby. There could also be a cracking game in Hertfordshire as Haileybury welcome Felsted to town, both were in good form last week.
There is an exciting new fixture on the card as Wellington College, the schools rugby legends, make the trip to Northampton School for Boys, whose record in recent years is absolutely magnificent. The hosts will be absolutely firing for this one and we should get a passionate and high quality game. Whitgift are also in action, looking to bounce back from defeat to Sedbergh against a Wimbledon College side, who had a strong victory last time out. Sevenoaks and Reigate Grammar both had really strong wins last week and now meet on Saturday in what could be a superb game based on last week’s indications.
A game that really captures the imagination is Marlborough College v St Edward’s, Oxford. Two big traditional bases going head to head. Marlborough got off to a good start last week with a win over Stowe, while Teddies lost out to Abingdon in the Oxford derby. So Marlborough probably start as favourites, but expect a good game.
There are also a couple of triangulars, St John’s Leatherhead host a really high level duo in the form of Tonbridge and Hampton after the success of last year’s meeting between the three. Expect plenty of experimentation, but also some seriously top quality rugby. The other takes place in the South West as Mount Kelly, West Buckland, and Exeter come together for what should also be a really fun few games of rugby.
Schools Rugby Weekend Fixtures – Saturday 14th September (predictions in bold):
Focus On
Bedford v Rugby (Champions Trophy)
Bromsgrove v Oundle
Hurstpierpoint College v Brighton College
Oakham v Stamford
QEGS Wakefield v Woodhouse Grove
RGS High Wycombe v Millfield
Seaford College v Eastbourne College
Sedbergh v RGS Newcastle
Sherborne v Radley College
St Joseph’s College v Dulwich College
Saturday
Adams GS v King Henry VIII, Coventry
Altrincham GS v Wilmslow HS
Austin Friars v Newcastle SfB
Bablake v KES Camp Hill
Bancroft’s v Colfe’s
Barnard Castle v Hymers College
Bedford Modern v St Albans
Bishop’s Stortford College v St Edmund’s College
Bishop Vesey’s GS v Nottingham HS
Bloxham v Malvern College
Brentwood v Judd 2nd XV
Campion v Eltham College (Schools Cup)
Canford v Blundell’s
Cardinal Vaughan v Gunnersbury
Caterham v King’s Canterbury
Cheadle Hulme v St Anselm’s College
Chislehurst & Sidcup GS v Langley Park
Clifton College v Sir Thomas Rich’s
Cranbrook v St Olave’s GS
Cranleigh v Bishop Wordsworth’s
Crossley Heath v Bradford GS
Dame Allan’s v Ampleforth College
Dauntsey’s v Bryanston
Denstone College v Solihull
Duke of York’s RMS v St Dunstan’s College
Edinburgh Academy v Dollar Academy
Ellesmere College v Christ College
Epsom College v RGS Guildford
Eton College v Berkhamsted
Fettes College v Loretto
Framlingham College v Ipswich
George Watson’s College v Merchiston Castle
Glyn v City of London Freemen’s
Grammar School at Leeds v Durham
Gravesend GS v Maidstone GS
Gresham’s v The Leys
Haberdashers’ v Hitchin Boys
Haileybury v Felsted
Harrow v Warwick
Hereford Cathedral School v Wycliffe College
John Fisher v Trinity
Kelvinside Academy v St Aloysius’ College
KES Bath v Bristol GS
KES Stratford v Lawrence Sheriff
King’s Bruton v Clayesmore
King’s College, Taunton v Dean Close
King’s Worcester v St Peter’s, Glocuester
Lancaster RGS v King’s Macclesfield
Latymer Upper v Cobham International
Leicester GS v Langley
Llandovery College v Plymouth College
Lord Wandsworth College v Portsmouth GS (Schools Cup)
Marlborough College v St Edward’s, Oxford
Mill Hill v Watford GS
Monkton Combe v Prior Park College
Monmouth v Old Swinford Hospital
Mount Kelly v West Buckland v Exeter (Triangular)
Newcastle Under Lyme v Birkenhead
New Hall v Bishop’s Stortford HS
Northampton SfB v Wellington College
The Oratory v KES Southampton
Pangbourne College v St George’s College, Weybridge
Pocklington v Giggleswick
Princethorpe College v Ratcliffe College
QEH v Wellington
Queen’s College, Taunton v Downside
Reading Blue Coat v Shiplake College
Reed’s v KCS Wimbledon
RGS Colchester v Culford
RGS Worcester v Colston’s
Richard Hale v UCS
Robert Gordon’s College v Dundee HS
Royal Hospital School v Norwich
Sandbach v Lymm HS
Sevenoaks v Reigate GS
Silcoates v Yarm
Sir Joseph Williamson’s v Simon Langton GS
Skinners’ v Ravens Wood
St Benedict’s v London Oratory
St Columba’s College v Aylesbury GS
St Ignatius College v QES Barnet
St John’s Leatherhead v Tonbridge v Hampton (Triangular)
St Paul’s v Abingdon
St Peter’s, York v Mount St Mary’s
Stockport GS v Manchester GS
Stonyhurst College v AKS Lytham
Stowe v Cheltenham College
Strathallan v Stewart’s Melville
Taunton v Kingswood
Trent College v Loughborough GS
Uppingham v The Perse
Wallington CGS v Tiffin
Whitgift v Wimbledon College
Whitgift 2nd XV v Christ’s Hospital
Wirral GS v Kirkham GS
Wisbech GS v Wellingborough
Woodbridge v King’s Ely
Worth v Wellington College 3rd XV
Wrekin College v Abraham Darby
Friday
Glenalmond College v Cardinal Newman (Argentina)
Hartpury College 3rd XV v Pate’s GS