After the final full weekend of the term, there is a fairly busy midweek schedule coming up as a number of teams look to squeeze in one last fixture before the end of term.
There are also a few exciting tour games with a couple of Australian sides in town, and some big end of term derbies to really whet the appetite.
Tuesday
On Tuesday afternoon Warwick take on Australian side King’s Paramatta, who a regular tourists to the UK and a strong side, it should be a fantastic game against the Schools Cup semi finalists, who are aiming for a fourth final in a row.
Also in action are King’s Ely, they host Woodbridge and, if the home side can seal the victory, it would secure an unbeaten season. It would be a stunning achievement, the pinnacle of schools rugby achievement for most teams.
Stamford, who have been excellent this year, are also in action. They travel to Leicester Grammar, who have reached the semi finals of the U18 Schools Vase this year. There is also a big game at St Albans RFC, where Skinners’ are on the road to take on St Albans in what should be a superb contest.
Wednesday
On Wednesday there are stacks of games taking place, one of the big ones being Denstone College hosting Australian side Ipswich Grammar. It should be an exciting finish to the year for Denstone, who have been good all year and in stunning form of late.
Meanwhile at Macclesfield RUFC King’s Macclesfield and Lymm High School go head to head in what should be a massive game between two sides that should be really well matched.
There is also a key game between Oakham and St Peter’s York, two sides that have performed well throughout the season. Both will be targeting this game for a strong and memorable finish to the year, and for St Peter’s it will decide whether they will secure a top 25 finish in the Daily Mail Trophy.
Old Swinford Hospital and King’s Worcester also go head to head in a big Trophy game, the two old rivals look well matched for Wednesday’s encounter. Elsewhere The Crypt host Cokethorpe and Dam Alice Owens welcome Samuel Ryder Academy, while Princethorpe College are at home against Kenilworth.
There are some big County Cup games, Churcher’s College v Peter Symonds’ College and Brockenhurst College v Lord Wandsworth College among them. Merchant Taylors’ and St Mary’s College meet at Waterloo RFC on Wednesday evening in the Lancashire Cup semi final.
Gordon’s have had a strong season and will look to finish up on a continuing high note when they travel to Wallington County Grammar on Wednesday, meanwhile Tiffin will be hosting Saint Cecilia’s and QES Barnet will host Haberdashers’, Royal Latin meanwhile travel to Sir Henry Floyd’s Grammar.
Magdalen College host St Benedict’s in what promises to be a huge finish to the season for both, so too Judd v Cranbrook and Bishop’s Stortford College v Richard Hale, chances for a big finish for all.
There is a massive cross-border clash as Durham make the trip up to Edinburgh Academy, a game that promises to be a fantastic occasion. Meanwhile in an all-Scottish clash, Strathallan host Dundee High School.
Elsewhere KES Stratford head to Alcester Grammar, with Christ’s Hospital at home to The Cedards, and Gravesend Grammar welcoming King’s Rochester. Along the road Kent College host Oakwood Park, while Coopers’ Coborn make the trip to KEGS Chelmsford.
There are a couple of games for teams against strong schools’ 2nd XVs, Austin Friars host the RGS Newcastle U17s, while Ilkley Grammar welcome Woodhouse Grove’s 2nd XV. Back in all 1st XV affairs, QES Kirkby Lonsdale are at AKS Lytham, with Cleeve hosting Balcarras, King’s Gloucester hosting Beaufort Academy, and Wetherby travelling to Ewell Castle. Windsor Boys meanwhile welcome Claires Court, while Sir William Borlase’s and Sir Roger Manwood’s host Great Marlow and Dover Grammar respectively.
Thursday
There are some huge games to finish off the midweek action on Thursday, not least the Cruise Cup between Truro School and Woodhouse Grove at Yarnbury RFC.
Thursday also sees King’s Paramatta in action, they play their second tour game of the year, and again it is an almighty challenge. They travel to the St Joseph’s Festival and back-to-back Champions Trophy winners, Wellington College, for what should be a very special game of rugby.
Elsewhere Burford host Wood Green and Sandringham welcome Chancellor’s, while in the South West Colston’s and Beechen Cliff go head to head in what should be a fun season finale for both.
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
King’s Ely v Woodbridge
Leicester GS v Stamford
St Albans v Skinners – St Albans RFC
Warwick v Kings Paramatta, Australia
Wednesday
AKS Lytham v QES Kirkby Lonsdale
Alcester GS v KES Stratford
Austin Friars v RGS Newcastle U17
Bishop’s Stortford College v Richard Hale
Brockenhurst College v Lord Wandsworth College (County Plate Final)
Christ’s Hospital v The Cedars
Churcher’s College v Peter Symonds’ College
Cleeve v Balcarras
Crypt v Cokethorpe
Dame Alice Owens v Samuel Ryder Academy
Denstone College v Ipswich GS, Australia
Edinburgh Academy v Durham
Ewell Castle v Wetherby
Gravesend GS v King’s Rochester
Ilkely GS v Woodhouse Grove 2nd XV
Judd v Cranbrook
Kent College v Oakwood Park
KEGS Chelmsford v Coopers’ Coborn
King’s Gloucester v Beaufort Academy
King’s Macclesfield v Lymm HS – Macclesfield RUFC
Magdalen College v St Benedict’s
Merchant Taylors’ v St Mary’s College (County Cup) – Waterloo RFC
Oakham v St Peter’s, York
Old Swinford Hospital v King’s Worcester
Princethorpe College v Kenilworth
QES, Barnet v Haberdashers’
Sir Henry Floyd GS v Royal Latin
Sir Roger Manwood’s v Dover GS
Sir William Borlase’s v Great Marlow
Strathallan v Dundee HS
Tiffin v Saint Cecilia’s
Wallington CGS v Gordon’s
Windsor Boys v Claires Court
Thursday
Burford v Wood Green
Colston’s v Beechen Cliff
Sandringham v Chancellor’s
Truro v Woodhouse Grove – Yarnbury RFC
Wellington College v King’s Paramatta, Australia
