It is a packed weekend of 7s tournaments as the season really begins to hot up, and in Rutland Oakham will be hosting their annual U18 and U16 competitions.

In each competition there are twenty teams split into four groups of five, with the winners of each heading to the Cup semi finals, second to the Plate, third to the Bowl, fourth to the Shield, and the fifth placed finishers bowing out.

U18

Bedford are unquestionably the kings of this tournament at U18 level, they have won here at every available opportunity since the tournament’s inception in 2013 bar 2015 when Wellington College entered the fray. The men in red have won in 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017, and most recently in 2019 (the tournament was cancelled in 2018, 2020, and 2021).

Hosts Oakham are drawn in Group A at U18 level and are alongside their great local rivals Uppingham who won the Bowl the last time this competition was run, 2019, as well as the 2013 Plate. Oakham, surprisingly given some of their other 7s performances, are yet to claim U18 silverware at their own tournament. Joining those two in Group A are Campion, ACE side Gordon’s, and King’s Macclesfield, who lost 15-7 to Bedford in that 2019 final.

Reigning champions from 2019, Bedford, are in Group B alongside two of the losing finalists in 2019, Royal Hospital School, who lost to Denstone College in the Plate final, and Leicester Grammar, who lost the Bowl final to Uppingham. Alongside those three are Oakham’s 2^nd VII while there is a spot remaining to be filled.

Group C looks highly competition, Bromsgrove are always a strong side and they are drawn alongside 2013 runners up St Joseph’s College, and well as St Edward’s Oxford, Oundle, and a Finborough side that have really impressed throughout this season.

Over in Group D things get even more competitive. Rugby School are outstanding and they are joined by an Ipswich side that have come a long way from the side that reached the 2017 Plate finals, they are now contenders at ever tournament. Joining them are Norwich and Stamford, who reached the 2016 Plate final, where they lost to Rugby, and Stowe, who have never won here at Oakham but who reached the final in 2017, 2016, and 2014, and on Wednesday booked their place in the U18 Schools Plate final against KCS Wimbledon.

U16

Over in the U16s 2019 Cup runners up and 2017 champions Stowe are in Group A and it’s a tough group, containing Rugby School, St Joseph’s College, 2015 champions Bedford, and 2019 Plate winners St Edward’s Oxford.

2016 champions Uppingham, who also reached the 2017 final, are in Group B alongside 2019 champions Bromsgrove, plus Campion, Ratcliffe College, and with one available spot.

Over in Group C are Sedbergh, who will likely have a very strong side, as well as 2019 Plate runners up Royal Hospital School, plus Welland Park Academy, Abraham Darby, and Oundle.

The hosts, Oakham, are drawn in Group D in the U16s, where their competition will be that superb Ipswich School side, Leicester Grammar School, and Norwich, and there is still a spot remaining.

Overall it should be a great tournament, one that should have plenty of excitement around the school, which is already buzzing after Toby Cousins’ England U18 selection, particularly after nearly three years without the tournament.

Oakham 7s Draws (U18 & U16):

U18

U16