This weekend sees the start of a new era in English school rugby with the launch of The Schools Championship.
Four teams will compete over six rounds over the next three months with the winners crowned the inaugural champions of The Schools Championship (TSC).
In this initial season TSC will consist of one league conference of four teams, Millfield, Sedbergh, Wellington College, and Whitgift. In 2023/24 that conference will expand to six teams. However, The Schools Championship will not be limited to only these 6 schools in 2023, with the intention and target that more schools will want to join once they see how the TSC runs this year. The first 4 schools (along with Clifton College guesting at the Sedbergh weekend) will showcase the possibilities of the TSC, both on and off the field.
The vision is for a series of conferences being established giving teams competition against teams of a similar level, whilst also allowing for traditional fixtures to remain firmly in place.
In line with the TSC, a Steering Committee has been formed, which will be open for every School who wishes to join the TSC to have a representative sit on. The ethos and vision of the TSCSC is for Schools to join as a group to share ideas and thoughts on schools rugby.
At the heart of the mission of the TSC is the promotion of schools rugby, and showcase the free-flowing style the game is played, with the goal to encourage participation. Future plans also include a Girls competition too as TSC looks to aid participation in the game at school level.
The Schools Championship represents a new dawn for schools rugby, with every game live streamed by Official Media Partners NextGenXV, and a pitch side and broadcast experience designed to promote and showcase schools rugby and the lifelong memories that it creates.
Former Bath and England prop John Mallett, is the inaugural Chairman of The Schools Championship Steering Committee in this first year, said: “I’m incredibly excited about the season ahead with The Schools Championship.
Schools rugby is such a fantastic advert for the game, the boys are able to express themselves and really enjoy their rugby, and the Committee hope that The Schools Championship will allow a much wider audience to appreciate the quality and value of the school game, while providing all of our players with a great mix of competition and enjoyment.
“This is just the start, and really about creating an opportunity for all schools to have competitive rugby available through the season without compromising block fixtures or adding games into the calendar. We’re massively excited and hopefully Sunday will see some fantastic rugby in the Sedbergh hills!”
Opening Weekend
The tournament launches on Saturday with a dinner at Sedbergh School for the four teams in attendance. On Sunday 11th September The Schools Championship officially begins with the inaugural Super Sunday.
Super Sunday kicks off with Millfield taking on guest side Clifton College at 10.30am, and the first official game of The Schools Championship then kicks off at 12.15pm as Sedbergh host Whitgift.
Clifton College are guesting with a view to possibly joining the TSC in 2023.
Both games will be live streamed by NextGenXV with interviews, build-up, and review included, alongside additional coverage from Rugby Pass and other media outlets.
The broadcasts will be available on the following links:
Millfield vs Clifton College: https://youtu.be/A7HLXMl8b7A
https://youtu.be/A7HLXMl8b7A
Sedbergh vs Whitgift: https://youtu.be/Cdv5kNY6Zy0
https://youtu.be/Cdv5kNY6Zy0
On hosting the inaugural Weekend, Sedbergh School Headmaster, Dan Harrison said: “We’re so proud to be hosting this opening weekend of The Schools Championship, and to welcome these three other schools and their families to Sedbergh for what will be a fantastic day of rugby on Sunday. We love our rugby here at Sedbergh, but positive experiences are what we really want for our players and Sunday should be the perfect example of that, not just for us but for all four schools involved.”
Match Schedule
ALL MATCHES STREAMED LIVE ON NEXTGENXV.
Round 1: The Schools Championship Super Sunday, Sunday 11th September
Millfield v Clifton College: 10.30am @ Sedbergh School – Watch here: https://youtu.be/A7HLXMl8b7A
Sedbergh v Whitgift: 12.15pm @ Sedbergh School – Watch here: https://youtu.be/Cdv5kNY6Zy0
Round 2: Saturday 17th September
Whitgift v Wellington College: 2.30pm @ Whitgift School
Round 3: Saturday 8th October
Wellington College v Millfield: 2.45pm @Wellington College
Round 4: Saturday 18th November
Millfield v Whitgift: 1.30pm @Millfield School
Round 5: Wednesday 23rd November
Wellington College v Sedbergh 6pm @Broadstreet RUFC
Round 6: tbc in December
Millfield v Sedbergh: KO tbc, TBC
