The 2020 Shakespeare Invitational 7s takes place at KES Stratford on Wednesday afternoon, a vital springboard into the 7s season for many in the Midlands.

Last year Bromsgrove’s victory at the tournament helped them on their way to the Vase at the Rosslyn Park HSBC National School 7s and had them viewed as a side that would have gone well in the Cup, too.

They are back again this year and join a strong lineup that includes the likes of Warwick, Solihull, and Stowe. In total there are sixteen teams, split into four groups of four, with the winners of those groups heading to the Cup semi finals. Second place in the groups go to the Plate semis, third to the Bowl, and fourth to the Shield.

Bromsgrove return as champions and one of the favourites but they face a loaded group, alongside them are the 2018 champions, Magdalen College, while Old Swinford Hospital are also in Group D after a fantastic season, so too Princethorpe College.

In 2017 Warwick and Solihull shared the title, and they are grouped together this year in Group C. Warwick could be one of the favourites, but with a Schools Cup semi final against Northampton School for Boys to come on Sunday, they may well rest plenty of bodies for this one. Either way, the group is stacked, Solihull are excellent and alongside them are Kenilworth and RGS Worcester, both capable of superb berformances.

The hosts, KES Stratford are in Group A. They last won the tournament back in 2016 and would surely like to do so again. In order to do so though they must navigate a very tricky group that includes Malvern College, King’s Worcester, and KES Camp Hill, making for a wide open set of games there.

Finally to Group B, where 2015 champions Stowe reside. For company they have The Crypt, Bishop Vesey’s Grammar School, and KES Birmingham, in what looks like another wide open group that really could go any direction.

In truth though, they key thing about this tournament is that it is actually happening. After such a stuttering start to the 7s season as a result of cancellations, this will be some much needed game time for each and every one of these teams and should make for a fantastic tournament.

Shakespeare Invitational 7s Draw: