Wednesday sees the annual Hampton School Founders’ Day 7s take place, a welcome return after a year’s absence for one of the key competitions on the Road to Rosslyn Park.

Traditionally it has been one of the strongest tournaments of the year, and it looks no different this year with an incredibly strong field that includes some of the biggest names in schools rugby.

There is also a 2^nd VII competition, which will see Gordon’s, Hampton, John Fisher, and St Benedict’s go head to head in what should be a fantastic competition.

In the 1^st VII competition there are ten teams going head to head, split across two pools of 5. The winners of the two Pools meet in the Cup Final, while the runners up meet in the Plate Final.

Hampton won the last edition of this tournament, beating Cranleigh 31-12, a reversal of the outcome from the year before when Cranleigh won 27-14. In fact Hampton have won the competition in three of the last five years, 2020, 2017, and 2016, as well as reaching the 2019 and 2015 finals, while winning the Plate in 2018. Cranleigh meanwhile have reached every final in the last five editions, only winning once in that period, 2019.

The two sides are in opposite pools, Hampton are in Group 1 alongside 2018 and 2014 champions Brighton College. Those two are joined by Hurstpierpoint College, ACE College Gordon’s, who host a 7s tournament of their own on Friday night, and Ipswich, who are competing in tournaments on Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday this week.

Over in Group 2 Cranleigh are joined by Epsom College, who have such a strong 7s record and have already showed strong form this year. Along with those two are ACE College Bishop Wand, who have taken over from St Paul’s Catholic College as the London Irish ACE side, who reached the Plate final in 2020, 2018, 2017, and 2015 – they will be a force this year too. 2015 champions John Fisher, who also won the Plate in 2016 and 2014 are also in the pool alongside St Benedict’s, whom them beat in that 2016 Plate final and who have a strong side this year.

It should be a superb afternoon of 7s at Hampton on Wednesday afternoon, with an incredibly strong field. It seems certain that a number of these sides will be competing right at the sharp end of a number of the biggest tournament this year. Wednesday afternoon will be an early chance to see them all going head to head.

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Hampton Founders’ Day 7s Draw:

2^nd VIIs Draw: Gordon’s, Hampton, John Fisher, St Benedict’s