After a brilliant weekend of schools rugby we head into a key few days of midweek action.
The Schools Cup gets fully underway, there is Champions Trophy action, Vase action, and plenty else. We will cover the Schools Cup opening round elsewhere (you can see that preview here), this will focus on the rest of the goings on across the schools rugby world this midweek.
We will go through it day by day, with out predictions for the fixtures below as usual, but you can see the full Champions Trophy draw and the Schools Vase Round 1 and Round 2 draws at the foot of the page.
Tuesday
There are three big Schools Vase games on Tuesday, In Midlands A Leicester Grammar School travel to Bishop Stopford, with a place in the third round against Wellingborough, who have a bye, the prize.
In London & South East B St Lawrence College host Chatham & Clarendon in Round 1, while over in South West A Wells Cathedral host Backwell.
South Africa side Martizburg College continue their tour on Tuesday with a trip to Oakham, having faced Eltham College, Millfield, and Christ College last week. Meanwhile in on of the biggest games of the week Clifton College will host Millfield at 7pm, with Clifton looking very strong it will be a tough game and will tell us a huge amount about both sides as we look ahead to the rest of the season.
Meanwhile in the Scottish Schools Cup Loretto host Lasswade High School.
Wednesday
Wednesday sees plenty of exciting Vase action, in North B Shrewsbury host Bishop Heber in the second round, while in Midlands A Hereford Cathedral are host RGS Worcester in what should be an excellent game, like KES Five Ways travel to Bablake for another games that looks as though it should be highly competitive.
In the Midlands B section Aylesbury Grammar, fresh from an impressive victory over Teddies on Saturday, host St Columba’s College, with The Perse travelling to Richard Hale, both are second round games.
London & South East A will see Glyn travel to Esher College, while in the B section there are two second round games. Last year’s semi finalists, Hayes, are in great form but have a tricky trip to Chislehurst & Sidcup, while Skinners’ host a good Sutton Valence side.
The South West also sees action, with two games both in the B section. Gordon’s travel to Forest, while in a massive clash St Edward’s Oxford will host The Oratory in what could be one of the ties of the round.
The early shoots of the Schools Plate also start on Wednesday as Isleworth & Syon host Saint Cecilia’s and former Cup champions St Peter’s Glocuester welcome Royal Wootton Bassett.
The Bowl will also be kicking off, Darrick Wood head to St Dunstan’s College, with Sir William Borlase’s hosting Roundwood Park, and George Abbot welcoming Royal Alexandra & Albert.
Up in the Scottish School Cup Dollar Academy look to build on a superb weekend as they host Dundee High School. Outside of the Cup Hutchesons’ host St Columba’s, while back in England Lymm High School, who are playing well right now, host South Africa tourists Benoni High School.
That is far from the only big game in the Northern region of the country though as Woodhouse Grove host Harrogate Grammar as they look to bounce back from defeat to Sedbergh, at the same time St Ambrose College will make the trip to Bolton, while QEGS Penrith travel to QES Kirkby Lonsdale.
Elsewhere Cokethorpe host Royal Latin with Dame Alice Owens welcoming Broxbourne and Beth’s Grammar travelling to Gravesend Grammar. There is a massive game in the South West too as Truro School host Ivybridge Community College, who are always a threat.
One of the big games of the day will be Lord Wandsworth College’s trip to Shiplake College, who were excellent in victory over Caterham on Saturday. Meanwhile Duke of York’s RMS head to Sir Roger Manwood’s with Coopers’ Coborn at Saffron Walden, and Reading hosting Claires Court.
One of the biggest games of the day will be there very last game of the day as Haileybury welcome Welsh giants Llandovery College to Saracens’ Allianz Park. Haileybury are absolutely flying this season with some tight but hugely morale boosting victories over old rivals such as Felsted and Oundle. They will be itching to get out there and show their skills.
Thursday will be dominated by the two Champions Trophy games. As you will see if you scroll down to the draw, the Champions Trophy is short of names in the first round. That means that there are only four first round games ahead of the next round, the round of 16, which has 12 sides earning byes.
The first of those four games took place on Saturday 14th, with Rugby School in sensational form against Bedford for a 66-7 victory. Thursday sees the next two take place as Clifton College host Monmouth, a big ask just two days after hosting Millfield. Clifton are among the favourites, but will no doubt have to rest players, which could give Monmouth some confidence. The other game sees RGS Guildford host Bryanston in a game that looks as though it could be very evenly matched. The round will be finished off on Wednesday next week with a fascinating encounter between Hampton and Tonbridge to see who will join St Paul’s, Oakham, Berkhamsted, Hurstpierpoint College, Bristol Grammar, Kingswood, Blundell’s, St John’s, Epsom College, Dulwich College, Uppingham, and Wellington College, plus the other three first round winners, in the second round.
Elsewhere on Thursday there is Vase action in Midlands B as former champions Langley host Culford in Midlands B. There is also Bowl action with Wallington County Grammar travelling to Rutlish.
Outside of the knockouts there is one of the biggest games of the season so far as Rugby, who are in such sensational form at the moment, travel to Harrow, who have won two from three in three incredibly tight games. Rugby by contrast have been very comfortable in every game, perhaps Harrow will be the first to really push them to the limit.
Another that should be fascinating is Tonbridge’s trip to Eton College. Suspicion is that these two are relatively matched but Thursday will naturally tell us much more in what promises to be a fantastic game of rugby.
Elsewhere Monkton Combe are hosting Kingswood in what should be another good game, so too Cathedral School Llandaff’s trip to Wycliffe College, while Beechen Cliff’s non-AASE side will head to Prior Park College.
Another that should be a good game of rugby is King’s Canterbury’s trip to Worth, two schools that are often very well matched.
As we say every season and every week, please do get in touch with your stories, photos, videos, reports, and opinions from the week’s rugby. It all makes a massive difference and allows us to feature your school and your team! You can get in touch via any of the below methods:
Twitter: @FifteenRugbyXV
Facebook: www.facebook.com/FifteenRugby
Instagram: @fifteenrugbyxv
Email: writers@fifteenrugby.com
Schools Rugby Midweek Fixtures (predictions in bold):
Tuesday
Bishop Stopford v Leicester GS (Schools Vase)
Clifton College v Millfield (7pm KO)
Loretto v Lasswade HS (Scottish Schools Cup)
Oakham v Maritzburg College (South Africa)
St Lawrence College v Chatham & Clarendon (Schools Vase)
Wells Cathedral v Backwell (Schools Vase)
Wednesday
Aylesbury GS v St Columba’s College (Schools Vase)
Bablake v KES Five Ways (Schools Vase)
Bolton v St Ambrose College
Chislehurst & Sidcup GS v Hayes (Schools Vase)
Cokethorpe v Royal Latin
Dame Alice Owens v Broxbourne
Dollar Academy v Dundee HS (Scottish Schools Cup)
Esher College v Glyn (Schools Vase)
Forest v Gordon’s (Schools Vase)
George Abbot v Royal Alexandra & Albert (Schools Bowl)
Gravesend GS v Beth’s GS
Haileybury v Llandovery College – Allianz Park
Hereford Cathedral v RGS Worcester (Schools Vase)
Hutchesons’ GS v St Columba’s
Isleworth & Syon v Saint Cecilia’s (Schools Plate)
Lymm HS v Benoni HS (South Africa)
QES Kirkby Londsdale v QEGS Penrith
Reading v Claires Court
Richard Hale v The Perse (Schools Vase)
Saffron Walden v Coopers’ Coborn
Shiplake College v Lord Wandsworth College
Shrewsbury v Bishop Heber HS (Schools Vase)
Sir Roger Manwood’s v Duke of York’s RMS
Sir William Borlase’s GS v Roundwood Park (Schools Bowl)
Skinners’ v Sutton Valence (Schools Vase)
St Dunstan’s College v Darrick Wood (Schools Bowl)
St Edward’s, Oxford v The Oratory (Schools Vase)
St Peter’s, Gloucester v Royal Wootton Bassett (Schools Plate)
Truro v Ivybridge Community College
Woodhouse Grove v Harrogate GS
Thursday
Clifton College v Monmouth (Champions Trophy)
Eton College v Tonbridge
Harrow v Rugby
Langley v Culford (Schools Vase)
Monkton Combe v Kingswood
Prior Park v Beechen Cliff 2nd XV
RGS Guildford v Bryanston (Champions Trophy)
Rutlish v Wallington CGS (Schools Bowl)
Worth v King’s Canterbury
Wycliffe College v Cathedral School, Llandaff
Champions Trophy Round 1 Draw:
Bedford 7-66 Rugby (Saturday 14th September)
Clifton College v Monmouth (Thursday 26th September)
Hampton v Tonbridge (Wednesday 2nd October)
RGS Guildford v Bryanston (Thursday 26th September)
St Paul’s v BYE
Oakham v BYE
Berkhamsted v BYE
Hurstpierpoint College v BYE
Bristol GS v BYE
Kingswood v BYE
Blundell’s v BYE
St John’s, Leatherhead v BYE
Epsom College v BYE
Dulwich College v BYE
Uppingham v BYE
Wellington College v BYE
Champions Trophy Round Dates:
Round 1 – w/c 23rd September
Round 2 – w/c 7th October
Quarter Finals – w/c 4th November
Semi Finals – w/c 18th November
Final – Wednesday 4th December
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 27-20 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 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 14-28 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 w/o Robert Smyth
Bye v Bye
Wellingborough 12-10 Royal Latin
Round 2
Hereford Cathedral/Hereford 6th form v RGS Worcester
KES Stratford v 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
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 8-45 Gresham’s
Bye v Bye
Wymondham College 10-60 Langley
Culford v Thomas Mills
Ipswich 51-0 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
Gresham’s v Bye
Langley v Culford/Thomas Mills
Ipswich 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 43-10 Orleans Park
Grey Court v Saint Cecilia’s
Rutlish 19-24 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 v Grey Court/Saint Cecilia’s
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 5-21 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 w/o Kent College
Round 2
Davenant/Robert Clack v Bye
Coopers Coborn v Southend/King John
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 45-5 Sir Roger Manwood’s
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 44-7 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 v Bye
Exeter v Bye
Brockenhurst/Bournemouth v Bye
Clayesmore/Poole GS v Bye
Leave a Response