This weekend is a busy weekend on the schools rugby circuit as the fifteen-a-side season and the seven-a-side seasons truly crossover.
There are big 7s tournaments as Portsmouth Grammar School, Shiplake College, Norwich, Pangbourne College, and Durham, as well as smaller tournament around the country.
However there is also some serious fifteen-a-side action, with some major head to heads plus the Scottish Schools Shield semi finals.
Many of the big 7s tournaments are previewed elsewhere, so please follow the links to check those out. Those without a fully published schedule plus the fifteen-a-side fixtures are previewed below.
Friday
There is just the one game on Friday but it should be a fun one under the lights as St James’ and Orleans Park head to the pristine setting that is Grasshoppers RFC for massive game for the two schools and an occasion that should prove thoroughly memorable.
Saturday
There will be ten teams up at Durham School for the Bain 10s, with Durham hosting Ampleforth College, Barnard Castle, Bradford Grammar, Dame Allan’s, Glenalmond College, Pocklington, RGS Newcastle, Sedbergh, and St Peter’s York for their annual tournament. It ought to be a fantastic occasion – and a seriously high level of competition to kick the season off for many, you can check out our preview head: Bain 10s Preview.
On the fifteen-a-side front there is a cracking looking triangular at Northampton School for Boys as they welcome John Fisher and Warwick, for what ought to be a hugely competitive and seriously top-level series of games.
Elsewhere in the Midlands Adams Grammar are hosting St Ambrose College, while KES Camp Hill are in action against local club side Camp Hill RFC, so expect plenty of players to be playing against some that they know incredibly well. Repton are in action against, they face the tricky challenge that is a game against Bablake & King Henry VIII Coventry, while Shrewsbury and Oswestry also go head to head.
Travelling from the West Midlands towards Gloucester are Old Swinford Hospital, who have been highly impressive this season. They have a tough task on their hands on Saturday though as they head over to take on a Sir Thomas Rich’s side that have been absolutely flying of late.
In and around London there are some real crackers, chief among them St Benedict’s v Hampton a game with real bite to it, and one where even the coaching staff have a real sense of excitement and anticipation. This year more so than ever as St Benedict’s have been superb, finished third in the Daily Mail Trophy and playing some wonderful rugby. Hampton will be one of their biggest tests though, a side packed full of quality and able to play some brilliant stuff. It is not to be missed.
One of the few sides to have bettered St Benedict’s are RGS High Wycombe, and they will be looking to continue their brilliant start to 2022 on Saturday when they travel for a tricky fixture against Campion.Elsewhere in the area Gravesend Grammar are welcoming Coopers’ Coborn, while over in Suffolk there is an massive game as St Joseph’s College host a Whitgift side that has been absolutely sensational of late.
The North West, as ever at this time of year, is one of the busiest areas of the country on Saturday. There have been some brilliant performances from teams in the area of late, not least from Manchester Grammar, who have been absolutely brilliant. They host Calday Grange Grammar on Saturday.
Elsewhere, Wirral Grammar are quickly back in action after hosting a fantastic 7s tournament on Wednesday. They host Lancaster RGS, who have been in cracking form. St Anselm’s College are in action at Bolton, while there is a cracking game at Crossley Heath with King’s Macclesfield the visitors. Kirkham Grammar School’s U17s have a trip to Hutton Grammar, while Scarisbrick Hall welcome St Edward’s College.
The two key games in Scotland are the U18 Schools Shield semi finals. Loretto are hosting Preston Lodge with a final at Murrayfield at the start of March the prize, while the other semi final sees Queen Victoria School host Morrison’s Academy, a rearranged fixture after the weather forced a postponement last weekend.
Elsewhere in Scotland Merchiston Castle, who booked their place in the Cup final last week, are hosting club side Ayr RFC, while George Watson’s College, who lost out in last week’s semi finals, welcome Glasgow High School. Glasgow Academy are meanwhile heading to George Heriot’s, while Edinburgh Academy make the trip to Dundee High.
Sunday
Sunday is a huge day of 7s, Shiplake College host their annual Shiplake 7s with the teams playing for the Cracknell Cup, named after old boy Chris Cracknell, and it is an incredibly strong field this year. You can check out our preview here: Shiplake 7s Preview.
Over at Portsmouth Grammar School the South Coast 7s takes place and, like the Shiplake 7s, the field is looking incredibly strong. The road to Rosslyn Park is already looking like it is going to be full of quality. You can check out our South Coast 7s preview here: South Coast 7s Preview.
Over at Norwich School seven sides will be in attendance for a round-robin style tournament, plus there will also be an U16 tournament, featuring 12 sides. You can check out our preview here: Norwich 7s Preview.
Elsewhere, Pangbourne College are hosting a competition that includes the likes of Stowe, Magdalen College, and St Edward’s Oxford, while there is also a competition at Colston’s, and Oakham and Bromsgrove are going ehad to head to kick off their 7s season.
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Friday
St James v Orleans Park
Saturday
Bain 10s at Durham School: See Preview Here
Adams Grammar v St Ambrose College
Bolton v St Anselm’s College
Camp Hill RFC v KES Camp Hill
Campion v RGS High Wycombe
Crossley Heath v King’s Macclesfield
Dundee High v Edinburgh Academy
George Heriot’s v Glasgow Academy
George Watson’s College v Glasgow High
Gravesened Grammar v Coopers’ Coborn
Hutton Grammar v Kirkham Grammar U17
Loretto v Preston Lodge – Schools Shield Semi Final
Manchester Grammar v Calday Grange Grammar
Merchiston Castle v Ayr RFC
NSB Triangular: John Fisher, Northampton School for Boys, Warwick
Queen Victoria School v Morrison’s Academy – Schools Shield Semi Final
Repton v Bablake & King Henry VIII 2nd XV
Scarisbrick Hall v St Edward’s College
Shrewsbury v Oswestry
Sir Thomas Rich’s v Old Swinford Hospital
St Benedict’s v Hampton
St Joseph’s College v Whitgift
Wirral Grammar v Lancaster RGS
Sunday
Colston’s 7s
Norwich 7s: See Preview Here
Oakham v Bromsgrove
Shiplake 7s: See Preview Here
South Coast 7s: See Preview Here
