For most schools this is the first week back at school after the half term break and it is a massive week of schools rugby to head straight into.
Throughout the week there are huge fixtures, not least the Champions Trophy quarter finals and the Schools Cup regional semi finals, as well as the Schools Plate regional semis. However this article will cover the rest of the schools midweek action, including the U18 Schools Vase – you can find links to the Champions Trophy, Schools Cup, and Schools Plate previews below.
Champions Trophy Quarter Finals Preview
Schools Cup Regional Semis Preview
Schools Plate Regional Semis Preview
The midweek action actually started on Monday when Leicester Grammar School progressed to the regional final in the Midlands A section of the Schools Vase thanks to the tightest of 23-22 victories over Loughborough College.
Tuesday
Scotland dominates Tuesday’s action, not least the Scottish Schools Cup quarter finals where Dollar Academy host Stewart’s Melville and George Watson’s College welcome Strathallan. Elsewhere Merchiston Castle travel to Robert Gordon’s College, Loretto welcome Boroughmuir High, and Dundee High head to Glenalmond College.
Meanwhile in England the big game is a huge derby in Bishop’s Stortford, with Bishop’s Stortford College hosting Bishop’s Stortford High School.
Wednesday
Wednesday sees some massive Schools Vase action. In the 4th Round in North A a strong Newcastle School for Boys side heads to Austin Friars, while in Midlands A KES Stratford are hosting Bablake. London & South East B meanwhile sees a Sutton Valence side that has had some fantastic results welcome a good Duke of York’s Royal Military School side. St Edward’s Oxford, fresh from victory on Saturday, will be hosting Farnborough 6th form College in South West B Round 4, and in the same section Exeter welcome Poole Grammar.
There are also a couple of Round 3 catch up fixtures, Midlands B sees Gresham’s travel to Cambridge to take on Hills Road 6th form College, with 2018 champions Langley the prize in Round 4. London & South East A meanwhile sees Harris City Academy host Reigate Grammar School, Eastbourne College await the winners there.
There is action in the Schools Bowl this week too, not least Ampleforth College hosting Rodillian Academy. Elsewhere Wallington County Grammar travel t Hemel Hempsted, with Maidstone Grammar hosting Chatham & Clarendon, King John hosting Beth’s, and Worthing College travelling to Royal Alexandra & Albert.
There is County Cup action for Cheadle Hulme and Wilmslow High School after their postponed game prior to half term, while in Scotland Hutchesons’ Grammar host Lasswade High in the Plate.
Some of the biggest games of the day take place outside of the knockouts though, chief among them surely the fixture between two legends of schools rugby, Llandovery College and Millfield, Llandovery are one of the most decorated sides in Wales, while Millfield are one of the most decorated in England. It should be a fantastic occasion.
Elsewhere, in Croydon Trinity take on Hayes in what should prove a close contest, while in the north west Stonyhurst College welcome QES Kirkby Lonsdale and Bolton head to Rossall.
Yarm will meanwhile be in action at Emmanuel College, with George Ford’s old school, Rishworth, heading to AKS Lytham. Elsewhere KES Five Ways host Abraham Darby, with Isleworth & Syon taking on Grey Court, and Bedford Modern hosting Samuel Whitbread’s 2nd XV.
Thursday
Thursday is a quieter day, in the Schools Bowl Ratcliffe College take on Royal Latin at home, while Sir Roger Manwood’s will be hosting King’s Rochester.
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Schools Rugby Midweek Fixtures:
Monday
Leicester GS 23-22 Loughborough College (Schools Vase, MA Rd 4)
Tuesday
Bishop’s Stortford College v Bishop’s Stortford HS
Dollar Academy v Stewart’s Melville (Scottish Schools Cup QF)
Glenalmond College v Dundee HS
George Watson’s College v Strathallan (Scottish Schools Cup QF)
Loretto v Boroughmuir HS
Robert Gordon’s College v Merchiston Castle
Wednesday
AKS Lytham v Rishworth
Ampleforth College v Rodillian Academy (Schools Bowl)
Austin Friars v Newcastle School for Boys (Schools Vase, NA Rd 4)
Bedford Modern v Samuel Whitbread 2nd XV
Cheadle Hulme v Wilmslow HS (County Cup)
Emmanuel College v Yarm
Exeter v Poole GS (Schools Vase, SWB Rd 4)
Harris City Academy v Reigate GS (Schools Vase, LSEA Rd 3)
Hemel Hempstead v Wallington CGS (Schools Bowl)
Hills Road v Gresham’s (Schools Vase, MB Rd 3)
Hutchesons’ GS v Lasswade HS (Scottish Schools Plate)
Isleworth & Syon v Grey Court
KES Five Ways v Abraham Darby
KES Stratford v Bablake (Schools Vase, MA Rd 4)
King John v Beth’s GS (Schools Bowl)
Llandovery College v Millfield
Maidstone GS v Chatham & Clarendon GS (Schools Bowl)
Rossall v Bolton
Royal Alexandra & Albert v Worthing College (Schools Bowl)
Shrewsbury v Oswestry
St Edward’s, Oxford v Farnborough 6th form College (Schools Vase, SWB Rd 4)
Stonyhurst College v QES Kirkby Lonsdale
Sutton Valence v Duke of York’s RMS (Schools Vase, LSEB Rd 4)
Trinity v Hayes
Thursday
Ratcliffe College v Royal Latin (Schools Bowl)
Sir Roger Manwood’s v King’s Rochester
