This week is a massive week in the world of Schools Rugby with the Champions Trophy semi finals and the Schools Cup regional finals.
However there is so much more schools rugby going on besides that, including some of the very best sides in the country going head to head.
Here we will focus on those other games, while you can read our previews ahead of the Champions Trophy, Schools Cup, and Schools Plate via the links below.
Champions Trophy Semi Finals Preview
Schools Cup Regional Finals Preview
Schools Plate Regional Finals Preview
Tuesday
After their game against Warwick was cancelled on Saturday, Sedbergh have hastily arranged a fixture against Haileybury, which will pit two sides with unbeaten records against each other. It should be a fantastic occasion at the Hertfordshire school, it will be by far Haileybury’s toughest test, but one they will utterly relish, while for Sedbergh it will be a key game in the build up to a period of the year that will define their season.
Elsewhere Clifton High School host Sidcot while Milton Abbey welcome Kingston Maurward College. While in the U18 Schools Vase there is a massive Regional Final in the South West as St Edward’s Oxford host Exeter School, a game that really could go either way.
Wednesday
There is plenty of Vase action on Wednesday, St Peter’s Gloucester hosting Tewkesbury wile Sutton Valence travel to Dartford Grammar and a strong Eastbourne College side head to Glyn for what should be a good one.
The Schools Bowl is also busy on Wednesday, Wallington County Grammar welcoming Worthing College with Ampleforth College in action at Tyne Metropolitan College, and Sandringham hosting Abraham Darby. Meanwhile Plymouth College will host Marling.
Elsewhere there are plenty of other big games, not least King’s Macclesfield v Stonyhurst College, a big game that really could go either way.
Old Swinford Hospital meanwhile head to Five Ways while Reigate Grammar host Gordon’s, and St Mary’s College welcome Manchester Grammar.
In form Bloxham are in action at Cokethrope, while Caterham v Trinity is a game that has a huge amount of promise about it. In Suffolk, meanwhile, Culford host St Joseph’s College, which could be a really exciting game if both are at their best.
Meanwhile Durham are travelling to Dame Allan’s and Pangbourne College travel to Shiplake College for what really should be an excellent game of rugby.
However the game of the day is surely going to be Denstone College v Kirkham Grammar School. These are two outstanding teams that have performed with aplomb all season. Kirkham are undefeated, while Denstone have only lost to Sedbergh. Without question this should be Kirkham’s toughest test of the season. Performances at the St Joseph’s Festival suggest a Kirkham edge, but expect a serious game of rugby on Wednesday evening.
Thursday
There is a whole lot to get excited about on Thursday, not least one of the classic schools rugby fixtures as Eton College host Harrow.
Cheltenham College look to bounce back from defeat to Millfield when they host Sir Thomas Rich’s for what should be a brilliant game, while Prior Park host King’s Bruton.
Radley College will be eager to get back on the horse after their derby day defeat to Abingdon, they host a Bedford side though that will be equally determined as they search for that victory to reward their efforts. Elsewhere Poole Grammar host Clayesmore and there is a battle of the Cathedral Schools as Wells take on Llandaff.
Oundle are in action at Gresham’s and that should be a game well worth keeping an eye on, meanwhile King’s Grantham host Ratcliffe College, and in the Scottish Schools Cup Stewart’s Melville host Marr College.
In the U18 Schools Vase Bablake welcome Leicester Grammar School, a game that really feels as though it could go either way.
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Schools Rugby Midweek Fixtures (predictions in bold):
Tuesday
Clifton HS v Sidcot
Haileybury v Sedbergh
Milton Abbey v Kingston Maurward College
St Edward’s, Oxford v Exeter School (Schools Vase)
Wednesday
AKS Lytham v Liverpool College
Aylesbury GS v Sir Henry Floyd GS
Bedford Modern v St Columba’s College
Bethany v Kent College
Bloxham v Cokethorpe
Caterham v Trinity
Ceders v Colfe’s
Christ College v Crawshay’s Welsh
Christ’s Hospital v Tiffin
Coopers’ Coborn v King John
Culford v St Joseph’s College
Dame Allan’s v Durham
Dartford GS v Sutton Valence (Schools Vase)
Denstone College v Kirkham GS
Dr Challoner’s GS v Royal Latin
Dundee HS v George Heriot’s
Emmanuel College v St Thomas More
Glyn v Eastbourne College (Schools Vase)
Haberdashers’ v St Clement Danes
Hayes v Oakwood Park
Hutchesons’ GS v Jordanhill (Scottish Schools Plate)
Hymers College v Read
KES Aston v Princethorpe College
KES Five Ways v Old Swinford Hospital
King’s Macclesfield v Stonyhurst College
Lord Williams’s v Sir William Borlase’s GS
Oswestry v Adams GS
Pangbourne College v Shiplake College
Pate’s GS v Cheltenham Bournside
Plymouth College v Marling (Schools Bowl)
Prince Henry’s GS v Pocklington
Reigate GS v Gordon’s
Ripley St Thomas v QES Kirkby Lonsdale
Rossall v Rishworth
Sandringham v Saffron Walden CHS (Schools Bowl)
Shrewsbury v Abraham Darby
Simon Langton GS v St Lawrence College
St Mary’s College v Manchester GS
St Peter’s, Gloucester v Tewkesbury (Schools Vase)
Tyne Metropolitan College v Ampleforth College (Schools Bowl)
Wallington CGS v Worthing College (Schools Bowl)
Wetherby v Cardinal Vaughan (Schools Bowl)
Thursday
Bablake v Leicester GS (Schools Vase)
Cheltenham College v Sir Thomas Rich’s
Eton College v Harrow
Gresham’s v Oundle
King’s Grantham v Ratcliffe College
Poole GS v Clayesmore
Prior Park College v King’s Bruton
Radley College v Bedford
Stewart’s Melville v Marr College (Scottish Schools Cup)
Wells Cathedral v Llandaff Cathedral