With Christmas behind us and the New Year almost a week old, school rugby returns on Saturday with a handful of games to kick things off.
The main focus of the weekend is likely to be the Premiership Rugby U18 Academy League third round, which we will be previewing tomorrow once more of the team news is in, however Saturday also sees a few school sides lace on the boots again.
This term usually sees a few weeks of fifteen-a-side action for a few hardy schools before attention turns to the 7s season as February dawns.
Saturday sees some cracking action though, not least at Hampton School were they, Brighton College, and Tiffin all go head to head in a triangular despite some notable absentees due to the U18 Academy League.
The spread of the Omicron variant has already caused a few cancellations and could yet cause a few more, but as it stands there are plenty of other exciting games too, not least as Sir Thomas Rich’s host Solihull, two sides that enjoyed some strong performances last term.
The North West is where the bulk of England’s action is, King’s Macclesfield host St Ambrose College in what should be a well fought game, while Wirral Grammar, so impressive at times last term, face a trip to St Anselm’s College. Along the road Birkenhead welcome Calday Grange Grammar.
Kirkham Grammar proved themselves to be one of the finest in the country last term, but they will be without a number of Sale Sharks players for their trip to the impressive Old Swinford Hospital on Saturday, so keep an eye on how that one goes. Meanwhile Manchester Grammar welcome Bolton School, while over in Wales St David’s, who were so impressive and enthusiastic last term, welcome Scarisbrick Hall.
Scotland was all set for a busy weekend but already a number of games have been lost, however there are still a couple that survive so far. George Watson’s College and George Heriot’s go head to head in a contest between two of the great names in Scottish Schools Rugby, and indeed Scottish club rugby through their FP sides, while Kelvinside Academy host St Columba’s School in Scotland’s other remaining game at present.
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Saturday 8th January
Birkenhead v Calday Grange Grammar
George Watson’s v George Heriot’s
Hampton Triangular – Brighton College, Hampton, Tiffin
Kelvinside Academy v St Columba’s
King’s Macclesfield v St Ambrose College
Manchester Grammar v Bolton
Old Swinford Hospital v Kirkham Grammar
Sir Thomas Rich’s v Solihull
St Anselm’s v Wirral Grammar
St David’s v Scarisbrick Hall
