The U18 Boys Vase competition at the Rosslyn Park HSBC National School 7s is always one of the most hotly anticipated of the entire competition.
Always a hot topic for debate with some schools pushing the boundaries of what constitutes a ‘Vase Team’, that debate and the sheer numbers in the Vase, 192 this year, mean that it is always a hive of activity and has a real Festival feel to it.
Taking place across Tuesday 22nd and Wednesday 23rd March, the Vase sees U6th players pulling on their school kit for the very last time. It is a competition full of emotion, as well as the undeniable quality as well.
The 192 sides are split into 48 groups of 4, and by the end of Day 1 the winners of those Groups will play an Elimination Round game to determine what will happen on Day 2.
On Day 2 the elimination round winners head into 8 Pools of 3, with the winners of those progressing to the quarter finals, and then for winners of those the Semi Finals and ultimately the Vase final. Losers of the initial elimination round will go into the Bowl competition, which essentially mirrors the Vase.
In 2019 Bromsgrove won the Vase, as such they are in Group A, where Emanuel, Bassaleg, and Ysgol Y Preseli are their company. Rugby were the runners up in 2019 but they have stepped up to the Cup competition in 2022, where they will add a huge amount.
The Bowl in 2019 was won by RGS Newcastle, who are placed in Group B with local rivals Durham for company, as well as Coleg Gwent from Wales, and Belgian side Sint-Jan Berchmanscollege. Felsted were the side that they beat in the final of that 2019 Bowl competition, and they are situated in Group Z where QES Barnet, Sutton Valence, and Cathedral School Llandaff are their competition.
A number of sides that are in the U18 Cup competition, the flagship competition, have also entered 2nd VIIs into the Vase competition, among them Millfield, whose 2nd VII are in Group GG alongside QEH, Pocklington, and Bedford Modern. Look out for their 2nd VII, they could well be a force given the depth at their disposal.
Others that could make real waves include Seaford College in Group C, Stowe in Group K, Epsom College in Group Y, Daily Mail Trophy champions Berkhamsted in Group BB, and a couple of monster head to heads including Monmouth and Kirkham Grammar being drawn together in Group U, two real dark horses, and KCS Wimbledon and Trinity meeting in Group AA, two absolute star sides of the fifteen-a-side season.
It ought to be another intensely fought competition, long awaited after two years of sadly enforced absences.
U18 Boys Vase Draw – Tuesday 22nd/Wednesday 23rd March
| Group A | Group B | Group C | Group D |
| Bromsgrove | Sint-jan Berchmanscollege | St Paul’s | Jumeirah English Speaking School |
| Emanuel | Durham | Brynteg Comprehensive | Reed’s |
| Bassaleg | RGS Newcastle | Seaford College | Hereford Cathedral School |
| Ysgol Y Preseli | Coleg Gwent BGLZ | Wisbech Grammar | Gateshead College |
| Group E | Group F | Group G | Group H |
| Marlborough College | Royal Wootton Bassett | Federacion De Rugby De La Comunidad | Cwm Rhymni |
| Christ College, Brecon | Tiffin | Radley College | Solihull |
| Bradford Grammar | Eastbourne College | Hampton | Wellington College |
| Richard Collyer | Harris City Academy | Cheltenham College | Shiplake College |
| Group I | Group J | Group K | Group L |
| Sherborne 2nd VII | Ballyclare | Loughborough Grammar | Dollar Academy |
| Rydal Penrhos | Queen’s College, Taunton | Manchester Grammar | Gower College |
| Grammar School at Leeds | Bristol Grammar | Stowe | Birkenhead |
| New Hall | Hills Road | Sir Joseph Williamson’s | Canford |
| Group M | Group N | Group O | Group P |
| Forest | Hill House | Gordon’s | Ryde with Upper Chine |
| Campion | Thomas Hardye | Churcher’s College | King’s Macclesfield |
| Rhydywaun | Park House | The Leys | London Oratory |
| Magdalen College | St Olave’s Grammar | Maidstone Grammar | Simon Langton |
| Group Q | Group R | Group S | Group T |
| Shrewsbury | Oundle | Malvern College | King’s Ely |
| The Perse | Penwith College | Coventry College | Eltham College |
| Windsor Boys | Exeter | Ampleforth College | Abingdon |
| Royal Hospital School | Wimbledon College | Ibstock Place | Clayesmore |
| Group U | Group V | Group W | Group X |
| Monmouth | Bryanston | Fulham | Birkdale |
| RGS Worcester | Colfe’s | Callywith | King’s Canterbury |
| Kirkham Grammar | Dean Close | St Joseph’s College | Mill Hill |
| Pangbourne College | Ratcliffe College | Gravesend Grammar | George Watson’s College |
| Group Y | Group Z | Group AA | Group BB |
| Epsom College | Felsted | KCS Wimbledon | Royal Alexandra & Albert |
| Wellingborough | QES Barnet | Haileybury | Berkhamsted |
| Stockport Grammar | Sutton Valence | Trinity | West Buckland |
| Ellesmere College | Cathedral School, Llandaff | Newcastle-Under-Lyme | Trent College |
| Group CC | Group DD | Group EE | Group FF |
| Hereford 6th form College | Hymers College | KES Stratford | Trinity, Sevenoaks |
| Embley | Worth | Norwich | Reigate Grammar |
| Stamford | RGS Guildford | Mount Kelly | Wallington County Grammar |
| Ravens Wood | QEGS Wakefield | Portsmouth Grammar | QES |
| Group GG | Group HH | Group II | Group JJ |
| QEH | Seevic College | The Oratory | Sir Henry Floyd |
| Millfield 2nd VII | Wycliffe College | King’s College, Taunton | Coopers’ Coborn |
| Pocklington | KES Bath | Peter Symonds’ College | St Edward’s, Oxford |
| Bedford Modern | Lord Wandsworth College | Riddlesdown Collegiate | Weston College |
| Group KK | Group LL | Group MM | Group NN |
| Ysgol Gyfun Gwyr | Lancaster RGS | Queen Mary’s College | Bishop Wordsworth’s |
| Sevenoaks | Newman College | Samuel Ryder Academy | Caterham |
| King’s Worcester | King’s Grantham | Coleg Sir Gar | Wirral Grammar |
| Downside | Isle of Man | Farlingaye | Duke of York’s Royal Military |
| Group OO | Group PP | Group QQ | Group RR |
| Prior Park College | Tonbridge | Glenalmond College | Stonyhurst College |
| Colyton Grammar | Haverfordwest | St Peter’s, Gloucester | Winchester College |
| Uppingham | Blundell’s | Leicester Grammar | City of London Freemen’s |
| Gresham’s | Monkton Combe | Nottingham High | Kingham Hill |
| Group SS | Group TT | Group UU | Group VV |
| Mount St Mary’s College | Sir William Borlase’s | Taunton | Colston’s |
| Queen Ethelburga’s | Giggleswick | Reading | Plymouth College |
| Bishop’s Stortford High | St Peter’s, York | Bloxham | Oakham |
| The Grange | Hayes | Merchiston Castle | KES Birmingham |