Following an epic weekend of schools rugby a busy midweek is now upon us and there is going to be some classic action throughout the week.
There is Vase action, a little bit of Cup action, plenty of regular fixtures and also an exciting number of touring fixtures, bringing a fitting international flavor to a week that will culminate in the opening games of the 2019 Rugby World Cup.
Monday
The action all begins on Monday evening when South African tourists Maritzburg College take on Eltham College. It is a fast turnaround for Eltham, who were in action at Campion on Saturday, but expect a great occasion and a fun game of rugby.
Tuesday
Things get slightly busier on Tuesday, and there are another couple of touring games that ought to attract some healthy crowds on the touchline. RGS Newcastle will have a development side out against Argentine side, St Andrews while their countrymen at St Albans College will be in action away at KES Southampton.
The Schools Vase also has some exciting action (the full round 1 & 2 draw is at the foot of this piece), 2018 champions Langley make the trip to Wymondham College in Midlands B, the winner there will be through to the second round to play either Culford or Thomas Mills. In the same section Gresham’s make the trip to Spalding Grammar, with the winner there in a great position as they receive a bye straight to round 3.
Elsewhere King’s Macclesfield host Cheadle Hulme and Mount Kelly welcome Plymouth College, while in the Scottish Schools Cup Glenalmond College host Earlston High School.
Wednesday
There are two big U18 Schools Cup games on Wednesday, in Midlands B the 2019 Vase champions, Samuel Whitbread Academy, will travel to Bedford Modern as they aim to replicate last year’s Vase success in the main tournament. A tie against either Bishop’s Stortford College or The Perse is the reward for the winner. Meanwhile in London & South East B Seevic College host Colfe’s, with the winner there facing a Campion side that made it through to the second round thanks to an excellent win over Eltham College on Saturday.
Over in the Vase there is plenty of action on Wednesday, North A sees Runshaw College host AKS Lytham, the winner faces Sandbach in Round 2 after they received a first round bye. Meanwhile in North B Lady Manners travel to Birkdale, with either St Joseph’s College or Thomas Alleynes the reward for the winner.
Midlands A sees Princethorpe College host KES Camp Hill, KES Stratford await the winners of that one, while over in London & South East A Rutlish and Esher College go head to head for the chance to meet Glyn in Round 2. London & South East B sees Dartford Grammar travel to Beth’s Grammar, with the winner earning a bye straight to Round 3.
Elsewhere on Wednesday outside of the knockouts Abraham Darby welcome Queen Mary’s Grammar, while Shrewsbury travel to Wrekin College. There should be a cracking game in the North West as Wirral Grammar and Lymm High School go head to head, and with the likes of St Ambrose College v Altrincham Grammar and Stockport Grammar v Wilmslow High School also going on, there is some fantastic rugby on offer in the region.
Over in the South East Watford Grammar host Merchant Taylors’ and Trinity look to build on their Croydon derby success from Saturday as they host Gordon’s. Simon Langton, meanwhile, host Maidstone Grammar and Ewell Castle travel to Royal Alexandra & Albert.
Skinners’ travel the short hop to Cranbrook, and Harris City Acaedmy host Reigate College. Meanwhile last year’s U18 Vase semi finalists, Hayes, look to carry on their brilliant for of the last couple of years as they host Glyn.
Denstone College have been tearing up trees in this opening couple of weeks and have another opportunity to show their class on Wednesday as they welcome what will be a tough Worksop College outfit, while elsewhere RGS Worcester travel to The Crypt and Shebbear College make the journey to Exeter School.
Elsewhere there are some good looking contests such as King Henry VIII Coventry v KES Aston and KES Five Ways v St Joseph’s, while further south Bancroft’s travel to KEGS Chelmsford and Latymer Upper host Saint Cecilia’s, meanwhile King’s Gloucester welcome Katherine Lady Berkeley’s and Marling host Cleeve, with Richard Hale hosting Enfield Grammar.
The big touring games continue on Wednesday and this one will be a mammoth one as Millfield look to recover from Saturday’s disappointment against RGS High Wycombe when they welcome what is sure to be a very powerful and impressive South African group from Maritzburg College, not a game to be missed.
There are also three Scottish Schools Cup games on Wednesday as Glasgow Academy host Gordonstoun, Hutchesons’ Grammar welcome Boroughmuir High School, and Strathallan travel to Linlithgow Academy.
Thursday
Thursday has some massive fixtures including the last of the midweek Vase games as Ipswich host local rivals Woodbridge in Midlands B, RGS Colchester await the winners of that.
Arguably the game of the day will be Cheltenham College v Marlborough College. Both have perfect records so far this season and, unusually, already have a common opponent in the form of Stowe. Cheltenham beat them 38-21 on Saturday, while on the opening weekend Marlborough won 24-10, suggesting that Thursday’s clash could be a bit of a classic.
It will also be worth casting an eye towards Bedford who have had a tough start to their campaign, struggling against Oundle and Rugby. They face Uppingham on Thursday and will be eyeing it up as a chance to bounce back, particularly as they have a strong record against them down the years. However Uppingham are off to a flying start, beating first the Leys and then putting fifty past The Perse. They will fancy this one too.
Elsewhere Monkton Combe host Sexey’s and in another exciting tour game St Albans host their namesakes, St Albans College of Argentina. Meanwhile in Scotland there is a top clash as Stewart’s Melville welcome Loretto.
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Schools Rugby Midweek Fixtures (predictions in bold):
Monday
Eltham College v Maritzburg College (South Africa)
Tuesday
Glenalmond College v Earlston HS (Scottish Schools Cup)
KES Southampton v St Albans College (Argentina)
King’s Macclesfield v Cheadle Hulme
Mount Kelly v Plymouth College
RGS Newcastle v St Andrews (Argentina)
Spalding GS v Gresham’s (Schools Vase)
Wymondham College v Langley (Schools Vase)
Wednesday
Abraham Darby v Queen Mary’s GS
Bedford Modern v Samuel Whitbread (Schools Cup)
Beth’s GS v Dartford GS (Schools Vase)
Birkdale v Lady Manners’ (Schools Vase)
Cranbrook v Skinners’
Crypt v RGS Worcester
Denstone College v Worksop College
Duke of York’s RMS v Sir Roger Manwood’s (Schools Vase)
Exeter v Shebbear College
Glasgow Academy v Gordonstoun (Scottish Schools Cup)
Harris City Academy v Reigate College
Harrogate GS v Yarm
Hayes v Glyn
Hutchesons’ GS v Boroughmuir HS (Scottish Schools Cup)
KEGS Chelmsford v Bancroft’s
KES Five Ways v St Joseph’s
King Henry VIII, Coventry v KES Aston
King’s Gloucester v Katherine Lady Berkeley’s
Latymer Upper v Saint Cecilia’s
Linlithgow Academy v Strathallan (Scottish Schools Cup)
Marling v Cleeve
Merchant Taylors’, Crosby v Ashton 6th form College
Millfield v Maritzburg College (South Africa)
Princethorpe College v KES Camp Hill (Schools Vase)
Richard Hale v Enfield GS
Royal Alexandra & Albert v Ewell Castle
Runshaw College v AKS Lytham (Schools Vase)
Rutlish v Esher College (Schools Vase)
Seevic College v Colfe’s (Schools Cup)
Simon Langton GS v Maidstone GS
St Ambrose College v Altrincham GS
St Andrew’s v St Bede’s
Stockport GS v Wilmslow HS
Trinity v Gordon’s
Watford GS v Merchant Taylors’
Wirral GS v Lymm HS
Wrekin College v Shrewsbury
Thursday
Bedford v Uppingham
Cheltenham College v Marlborough College
Ipswich v Woodbridge (Schools Vase)
Monkton Combe v Sexey’s
St Albans v St Albans College (Argentina)
Stewart’s Melville v Loretto
U18 Schools Vase Draw:
North A
Round 1
QEGS Penrith 7-40 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 12-20 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
Round 2
Austin Friars v Bye
QEHS Hexham/Gateshead College v Yarm
Newcastle SfB/Tyne Metropolitan v Emmanuel College
KES Morpeth/Bede Academy v Bye
Ripon GS v Bye
Ilkley GS/Harrogate GS v Bye
Rodillian/Crossley Heath v Bye
Runshaw College/AKS Lytham v Sandbach
North B
Round 1
Rydal Penrhos v Bishop Heber
Oswestry 0-45 Shrewsbury
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
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
Round 2
Rydal Penrhos/Bishop Heber v Shrewsbury
Liverpool College/Birkenhead v St Anselm’s College/St Edward’s College
King William’s/Castle Rushen v Altrincham GS/Sale GS
Bolton/The Grange v Bye
Newcastle Under Lyme/Adams GS v Bye
St Joseph’s College/Thomas Alleynes v Birkdale/Lady Manners
Nottingham HS/Priory Ruskin v King’s Grantham/Carre’s GS
Thomas Rotherham/Hill House v South Hunsley
Midlands A
Round 1
Hereford Cathedral School v Hereford 6th form College
RGS Worcester 28-0 Prince Henry’s
KES Stratford 39-7 Kenilworth
Princethorpe v KES Camp Hill
Bablake 22-7 King Henry VIII, Coventry
KES Five Ways 28-14 KES Birmingham
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
Bishop Stopford v Bye
Leicester GS v Robert Smyth
Bye v Bye
Wellingborough 12-10 Royal Latin
Round 2
Hereford Cathedral/Hereford 6th form v RGS Worcester
KES Stratford v Princethrorpe/KES Camp Hill
Bablake v KES Five Ways
Queen Mary’s GS/KES Lichfield v Bye
KES Aston/Birmingham Met v Bye
Loughborough College/Ratcliffe College v Bye
Bishop Stopford v Leicester GS/Robert Smyth
Wellingborough v Bye
Midlands B
Round 1
Aylesbury GS 56-5 Sir William Borlase’s GS
Roundwood Park 21-31 St Columba’s College
Sir John Lawes 31-15 Sandringham
Beaumont v Samuel Ryder
Richard Hale v St Edmunds College
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
Round 2
Aylesbury GS v St Columba’s College
Sir John Lawes v Beaumont/Samuel Ryder
Richard Hale/St Edmund’s College v The Perse
Hitchin Boys/Knight Templar v Bye
Saffron Walden/Hills Road v Mark Rutherford/Hitchingbrooke
Spalding GS/Gresham’s v Bye
Wymondham College/Langley v Culford/Thomas Mills
Ipswich/Woodbridge v RGS Colchester
London & South East A
Round 1
Tring v Hemel Hempstead
John Hampden GS v Chesham GS
Longdean v Parmiter’s
Rickmansworth 7-14 QES Barnet
Isleworth & Syon v Orleans Park
Grey Court v Saint Cecilia’s
Rutlish v Esher College
Glyn 22-21 Wallington CGS
George Abbot 24-36 Harris City Academy
Bye v Bye
London Oratory 36-0 Royal Alexandra & Albert
Reigate GS v Bye
Bye v Bye
Worth 5-12 Richard Collyer
Bye v Bye
Worthing 17-24 Eastbourne College
Round 2
Tring/Hemel Hempstead v John Hampden/Chesham
Longden/Parmiter’s v QES Barnet
Isleworth & Syon/Orleans Park v Grey Court/Saint Cecilia’s
Rutlish/Esher College v Glyn
Harris City Academy v Bye
London Oratory v Reigate GS
Richard Collyer v Bye
Eastbourne College v Bye
London & South East B
Round 1
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 43-0 St Dunstan’s College
Darrick Wood 0-46 Hayes
Skinners’ 58-10 Oakwood Park GS
Maidstone GS 17-28 Sutton Valence
Chatham & Clarendon v St Lawrence College
Bye v Bye
Duke of York’s RMS v Bye
Sir Roger Manwood’s v Kent College
Round 2
Davenant/Robert Clack v Bye
Coopers Coborn v Southend/King John
Beth’s/Dartford GS v Bye
Wilmington/Gravesend GS v Bye
Chislehurst & Sidcup v Hayes
Skinners’ v Sutton Valence
Chatham & Clarendon/St Lawrence College v Bye
Duke of York’s RMS v Sir Roger Manwood’s/Kent College
South West A
Round 1
Mount Kelly v Plymouth College
Torquay Boys’ GS 14-42 Wellington
Woodroffe v Thomas Hardye
Yeovil College v The Gryphone
Wells Cathedral v Backwell
Bristol Cathedral 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 5-15 Wycliffe College
Bye v Bye
Holmleigh Park HS v Tewkesbury
Bye v Bye
St Edward’s, Cheltenham v The Cotswold
Round 2
Mount Kelly/Plymouth College v Wellington
Woodroffe/Thomas Hardye v Yeovil College/The Gryphone
Wells Cathedral/Backwell v Bristol Cathedral/Frome College
St Laurence/Hardenhuish v Sheldon/Malmesbury
St Peter’s Gloucester v Royal Wootton Basset/Cirencester College
Wycliffe College v Bye
Holmleigh Park/Tewkesbury v Bye
St Edward’s Cheltenham/The Cotswold v Bye
South West B
Round 1
St Edward’s, Oxford 64-21 Lord Williams’
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
Bye v Bye
Exeter v Bye
Bye v Bye
Brockenhurst College v Bournemouth
Bye v Bye
Clayesmore v Poole GS
Round 2
St Edward’s Oxford v The Oratory/Maiden Erlegh
Forest/Windsor Boys v Gordon’s/Howard of Effingham
Farnborough/Godalming College v Bye
Kennet/St Bartholomew’s v Park House
Peter Symonds’ College/KES Southampton v Bye
Exeter v Bye
Brockenhurst/Bournemouth v Bye
Clayesmore/Poole GS v Bye