The quarter finals draw for the U15 Schools Cup, Plate, Vase, and Bowl were made on Friday lunchtime, with some fantastic fixtures thrown up across the four tournaments.
The quarter finals are due to take place on the week of the 12th February, with the semi finals this year all happening at the home school’s venue on the week of the 4th March. The Cup and Vase final will take place on Thursday 19th March at Twickenham Stadium, while the Plate and Bowl finals will take place on Tuesday 17th March, with a venue to be confirmed, most likely Allianz Park or similar.
U15 Schools Cup
Wellington College won the title for the second time in three years last year and have a chance of making it back to back titles after emerging as the South West A champions this year. They have been drawn at home for their quarter final against Ivybridge Community College, the South West B champions that have been on some fantastic runs in this competition in recent years.
Last year’s Plate winners, Trinity, have also made it through to the Cup quarter finals. They beat Brighton College in midweek to seal the London & South East B title but face a very tricky quarter final as they travel to Harrow, who were in great form in the week against Wimbledon College to seal the London & South East A honours.
The other half of the draw sees an impressive young Stockport Grammar earn a home quarter final. The North A winners will be hosting Stowe, who emerge from Midlands A and who will be hoping that this is a yeargroup on which they can start to become a real force after a quiet couple of years following the school careers of the two Segun brothers.
Sedbergh won the title back in 2016 and will be eager for another shot at it this year. They wrapped up the North B title in midweek and have a home quarter final, however they must yet wait of the result of the Midlands A final between Bromsgrove and Oakham to find out their opponents.
U15 Schools Cup Quarter Final Draw:
Stockport GS (North A) v Stowe (Midlands B)
Sedbergh (North B) v Bromsgrove/Oakham (Midlands A)
Wellington College (SW A) v Ivybridge Community College (SW B)
Harrow (LSE A) v Trinity (LSE B)
U15 Schools Plate
The Plate draw looks incredible strong, with some of the biggest names in schools rugby involved. North B champions Grammar School at Leeds, whose U18 side once reached the Champions Trophy final, were first out of the hat and will be hosting Stamford, who won Midlands A in some truly challenging conditions in midweek.
Merchant Taylors came through North A and will be hosting a very special quarter final as they welcome the founders of the game, Rugby School, who come through as the Midlands B champions, setting up for a hugely exciting quarter final.
John Fisher have also reached the quarter finals after an impressive London & South East B campaign. They have a bit of waiting to do to find out their opponents and venue though, with Clarendon Academy and Truro School yet to meet in the South West B final.
In the other London & South East section, Haberdashers’ have reigning supreme. Unlike John Fisher, they have a home quarter final, but like the other London & South East side they have a bit of a wait to see who they will host, with Marlborough College and Ryde still yet to play in the South West A final.
U15 Schools Plate Quarter Final Draw
Grammar School at Leeds (North B) v Stamford (Midlands A)
Merchant Taylors’ (North A) v Rugby (Midlands B)
Clarendon Academy/Truro (SW B) v John Fisher (LSE B)
Haberdashers’ (LSE A) v Marlborough College/Ryde (SW A)
U15 Schools Vase
Northampton School for Boys reached last year’s Cup final but they are back in the Vase this year and having been ticking along very nicely. Winning the Midlands B section has earned them a quarter final trip to St Edward’s College, Liverpool, after they sealed the North A section.
North B, meanwhile, was won by King’s Grantham, who now sit and observe the goings on in the Midlands B final, where the winner of RGS Worcester v Pate’s Grammar School will be their quarter final opponent.
St John’s Leatherhead are another big name in this quarter final draw, they won the London & South East A section and now face a big away trip for the quarter finals, with South West A champions Torquay Boys Grammar School the hosts for that one.
The final names out of the pot saw London & South East B champions St Lawrence College named as the home side, they will be welcoming a strong champion side from South West B in the form of The Crypt.
U15 Schools Vase Quarter Final Draw:
St Edward’s College (North A) v Northampton School for Boys (Midlands B)
King’s Grantham (North B) v RGS Worcester/Pate’s GS (Midlands B)
Torquay Boys GS (SW A) v St John’s, Leatherhead (LSE A)
St Lawrence College (LSE B) v The Crypt (SWB)
U15 Schools Bowl
The Southern section of the Bowl quarter final draw ended up keeping the regions tight, with London & South East B winners, Duke of York’s Royal Military School, hosting the London & South East A winners, Warden Park. Meanwhile South West B champions Marling will be hosting Plymouth College, who sealed the South West A section.
The Northern half of the draw still has a couple of games to be completed. North A winners Scarborough College will be away but must await the outcome of the Midlands B final between Redbourn and Farlingaye to find out their opponents. Similarly King Henry VIII Coventry came through from Midlands A, they will host their quarter final but await the result of the Calday Grange Grammar v Birkdale North B final to find out their opponents.
U15 Schools Bowl Quarter Final Draw:
Redbourn/Farlingaye (Midlands B) v Scarborough College (North A)
King Henry VIII, Coventry (Midlands A) v Calday Grange GS/Birkdale (North B)
Marling (SW B) v Plymouth College (SW A)
Duke of York’s RMS (LSE B) v Warden Park (LSE A)
