This Sunday Ipswich School kick the second half of term off with the Ipswich School 7s, featuring tournaments at U18 and U16 level.

In the last couple of years Ipswich have truly put themselves on the map with some fantastic work on and off the field and a real determination to go and test themselves against the best.

That includes pulling together these two twelve team tournaments on Sunday, which will see some of the region’s finest going head to head.

U18s

The U18 competition sees the twelve teams split into three groups of four, with the top two in each group plus the two best third placed teams going through to the Cup quarter finals, the remaining four teams head to the Plate semi finals.

Group 1 features local rivals Royal Hospital School, who have been magnificent this season and will fancy their chances, as well as Farlingaye High, a strong Bedford School side, and Harlequins ACE side Gordon’s.

The hosts, Ipswich, reside in Group 2, and they will be among the tournament favourites. Their biggest challenge in this group is likely to come from St Benedict’s, who finished third in the Daily Mail Trophy this year, though Bishop’s Stortford College and New Hall will provide plenty of competition themselves.

Group 3 sees big local rivalries right from the start, Ipswich’s 2^nd VII are going to be going head to head with near neighbours St Joseph’s College. Also in the group are two others that will not be travelling far, Finborough, who have had a strong season, and the ever impressive Felsted.

Overall it should be a strong competition at U18 level, and a great way to kick-start the second half of term and as the 7s tournaments start to roll in thick and fast.

U16s

The U16s tournament follows the same format as the U18s, only with a few tweaks to the teams. Group 1 contains Bedford and St Joseph’s College, who are both in the U18 draw, as well as Robert Clack and Norfolk’s Langley.

Over in Group 2 Finborough and New Hall also send U16s as well as the previously mentioned U18s sides, and joining their U16s in this group are Samuel Whitbread Academy, and Tonbridge, who will be among the big favourites.

Group 3 meanwhile sees local rivals Ipswich and Royal Hospital School up against each other, both of those also have sides in the U18 draw. Meanwhile joining them exclusively for the U16s tournament are Woodlands and Uppingham School, who have so many pupils living in the nearby area.

If you have any photos, video, reports, or any other content from the week’s U18 Academy League rugby then please do send it in via our social media channels or admin@nextgenxv.com and if you are interested in us live streaming one of your games or an event then please do get in touch!

Don’t forget our Talent Hub is now live! Whether you are looking for talent or are a talent looking to be noticed sign up by clicking here.

Ipswich 7s U18 Groups:

Ipswich 7s U16 Groups: