The school season is underway and the fixtures now come flying through thick and fast!
This midweek sees the start of the U18 Schools Vase, although actually is kicked off a touch early with Loughborough Grammar School’s opening round defeat of Ratcliffe College, 29-3.
It is not just the Vase though, there is plenty more to be found elsewhere, with some absolutely fantastic fixtures, and it is with those that we begin our preview.
Tuesday
Downside v Craighouse, Chile (Tour)
Fettes College v Glenalmond College
Sherborne v Bishop Wordsworth’s
Sherborne finished off pre-season well on Saturday with a defeat of Bryanston and a draw with Cranleigh, they will look to continue that into the start of the season proper on Tuesday against a Bishop Wordsworth’s side whose own season is also awaiting it’s start and who will be excited to get underway.
Scotland sees a return to action after the weekend’s cancelations, with Fettes College and Glenalmond College going head to head on Tuesday. Meanwhile back in England Downside welcome Chilean side Craighouse for their latest tour fixture, the Chileans are regular tourists of England and always a popular side to face.
Wednesday
Ewell Castle v Wetherby
Llandovery College v Whitchurch High
Old Swinford Hospital v RGS Worcester
Rendcomb College v Kingham Hill
St Edward’s Cheltenham v Sibford
After the weekend’s action Old Swinford Hopsital v RGS Worcester simply leaps off the page on Wednesday after both had such close fixtures on Saturday. Old Swinford won a thriller at Monmouth 31-29, while RGS Worcester had a thriller themselves, albeit one they lost out in 22-21 against Collegiate. If Wednesday provides even half the drama, we are in for a cracker.
Elsewhere Ewell Castle host Wetherby and Kingham Hill travel to Rendcomb College, with Sibford heading to St Edward’s Cheltenham, but it is in Wales where so many eyes will steer due to two giants going head to head, Llandovery College and Whitchurch High, two of Wales’ most familiar names across the Severn due to their willingness to travel and take on English sides. This one could be spectacular, and plenty of eyes will be on it.
Thursday
Canford v Craighouse, Chile (Tour)
King’s Rochester v Bethany
Loretto v Edinburgh Academy
Milton Abbey v Sexey’s
Thursday sees more action in Scotland as Loretto welcome Edinburgh Academy, two of Scotland’s biggest names going head to head. Craighouse’s South Western tour of England continues on Thursday too, the Chilean side head to Canford for what should be a special occasion.
Meanwhile also in the South West is Milton Abbey versus Sexey’s, while in the South East King’s Rochester will welcome Bethany.
Schools Vase
North A
Ullswater v Austin Friars (Wednesday)
QEGS Penrith v Giggleswick (Wednesday)
Ripley St Thomas v Elmsted’s Grammar (TBC)
Runshaw College v AKS Lytham (TBC)
St Mary’s College v St Edward’s College (TBC)
St Anselm’s v Bye
Birkenhead v Calday Grange Grammar (Wednesday)
King William’s College v Wirral Grammar (Wednesday)
Scarisbrick Hall v St Ambrose College (Tuesday 20th)
Bolton v Lymm High (Monday 19th)
Altrincham Grammar v The Grange (Wednesday)
Bye v Bye
Bishop Heber v Ellesmere College (Wednesday)
Newcastle Under Lyme v St Joseph’s College (Wednesday)
Sandbach v Haberdashers’ Adams (TBC)
Wrekin College v Shrewsbury (Wednesday)
Wednesday is the big day in North A, and perhaps the fixture to look out for is Wirral Grammar’s trip to the Isle of Man to take on King Williams’, it’s a tricky away trip but Wirral could go far if they nail it. Look out too for Lymm High on Monday 19th and St Ambrose College the day after, two sides with strong history in this competition, among others.
North B
Newcastle School for Boys v Dame Allan’s (Tuesday)
Bede Academy v Emmanuel College
Ripon Grammar v Yarm (Wednesday)
Durham v Harrogate Grammar (Wednesday)
Scarborough College v Ampleforth College (Wednesday)
Ilkley Grammar v Hymers College (TBC)
Pocklington v St John Fisher (Wednesday)
Ashville College v Prince Henry’s Grammar (Wednesday)
Trent College v King’s Grantham (Thursday 22nd)
Carre’s Grammar v Nottingham High (Wednesday)
Hill House v Worksop College (Wednesday)
Lady Manners v Mount St Mary’s College (TBC)
Rishworth v Crossley Heath (TBC)
Bradford Grammar v Silcoates (Wednesday 21st)
Birkdale v Manchester Grammar (Thursday)
Wilmslow High v Fallibroome Academy (TBC)
Plenty of rich history in this section too, not least through Cup legends Durham and Bradford Grammar, who have tough games against Harrogate Grammar and Silcoates respectively. The reigning champions, Mount St Mary’s College, are also in this section, and are once again a side to really look out for.
Midlands A
Hereford 6th form College v Prince Henry’s High (TBC)
Hereford Cathedral v South Bromsgrove (TBC)
KES Camp Hill v KES Aston (Wednesday)
KES Five Ways v KES Birmingham (TBC)
Royal Wolverhampton v Queen Mary’s Grammar (Wednesday)
KES Lichfield v Bishop Vesey’s Grammar (Wednesday)
Fairfax Academy v Princethorpe College (Wednesday)
Coventry College v Kenilworth (TBC)
Loughborough Grammar 29-3 Ratcliffe College (Saturday)
Leicester Grammar v Robert Smyth Academy (Thursday)
KES Stratford v Warriner (Wednesday)
St Edward’s, Oxford v Royal Latin (Wednesday)
Vandyke v Aylesbury Grammar (Wednesday)
Tring v Chesham Grammar (TBC)
Dr Challoner’s v St Celement Danes (Wednesday)
Hemel Hempstead v Longdean (TBC)
Midlands A already has one result in, that 29-3 victory for Loughborough Grammar over Ratcliffe College. It’s a strong section, featuring the likes of St Edward’s Oxford, Coventry College, and Bishop Vesey’s Grammar.
Midlands B
Spalding Grammar v Oundle (Tuesday)
King’s Cathedral v Wellingborough (TBC)
Bishop Stopford v Impington College (TBC)
St Albans v The Leys (Tuesday)
Samuel Whitbread Academy v Hitchin Boys (Wednesday 21st)
Roundwood Park v Sandringham (Thursday)
The Perse v St Columba’s College (Wednesday)
Parmiter’s v Watford Grammar (TBC)
King’s Ely v Saffron Walden (Tuesday 20th)
Verulam v Richard Hale (TBC)
Beaumont v Gresham’s (Thursday 22nd)
Bishop’s Stortford College v Bishop’s Stortford High (Wednesday)
St Edmund’s College v Langley (TBC)
Framlingham College v Culford (Thursday)
Woodbridge v Royal Hospital School (Tuesday 20th)
Farlingaye v Colchester RGS (TBC)
Over in Midlands B the action that’s on Tuesday with a good looking game between St Albans and The Leys, elsewhere look out for former winners Samuel Whitbread Academy next week, as well as Langley, and a Royal Hospital School group that are going to be worth keeping a real eye on.
London & South East A
Claires Court v John Hampden Grammar (Wednesday)
Rickmansworth v Haberdashers’ (Wednesday)
Isleworth & Syon v London Oratory (TBC)
Orleans Park v Mill Hill (Wednesday)
QES Barnet v Grey Court (Wednesday)
UCS v Robert Clack (Wednesday)
Brentwood v Coopers’ Coborn (Wednesday)
USP College v Southend High (TBC)
Salesian v Halliford (Wednesday)
St George’s College, Weybridge v Reed’s (Wednesday)
Howard of Effingham v St John’s, Leatherhead (TBC)
Christ’s Hospital v City of London Freemen’s (Wednesday)
St Andrew’s v Worth (Wednesday)
Richard Collyer v Reigate Grammar (Wednesday 21st)
Riddlesdown Collegiate v Richard Challoner (TBC)
Glyn v Tiffin (Wednesday)
The derby between St George’s Weybridge and Reed’s is an obvious highlight in London & South East A, but the likes of St John’s Leatherhead, Worth, Reigate Grammar, and Halliford have strong chances, and Glyn v Tiffin could have plenty of spark.
London & South East B
St Lawrence College v Herne Bay High (Tuesday)
King’s Canterbury v Chatham & Clarendon Grammar (Thursday 22nd)
Simon Langton Grammar v Duke of York’s RMS (TBC)
Marsh Academy v Sutton Valence (Wednesday)
Tunbridge Wells Grammar v Maidstone Grammar (Wednesday)
Skinners’ v Oakwood Park (Wednesday)
Trinity Sevenoaks v Gravesend Grammar (Wednesday)
St Olave’s v Sevenoaks (Wednesday)
Wilmington Grammar v Beth’s Grammar (Wednesday)
Dartford Grammar v Chislehurst & Sidcup (Wednesday)
Ravens Wood v Eltham College (Wednesday)
Hayes v Colfe’s (Wednesday)
Saint Cecilia’s v Wallington County Grammar (Wednesday 21st)
Emanuel v Carshalton (Wednesday)
Cedars v Langley Park (Wednesday)
Kingsdale v Harris City Academy (Wednesday 21st)
Skinners’ are off to a flyer so their game against Orleans Park is going to be an interesting one. Duke of York’s have been excited about their potential and will be very much up for Simon Langton. Elsewhere Ravens Wood v Eltham College could be a top game, and Hayes are a side to really look out for with a potential deep run.
South West A
Old Swinford Hospital v Tewkesbury (TBC)
Magdalen College v Dean Close (Thursday)
St Peter’s, Gloucester v Marling (Tuesday 20th)
The Crypt v Wycliffe College (Tuesday)
QEH v Bristol Cathedral (Wednesday)
Bristol Grammar v Backwell (Wednesday)
Chew Magna v Bridgwater & Taunton College (TBC)
Downside v Bye
Warminster v Gillingham (Thursday 22nd)
Clayesmore v Thomas Hardye (Tuesday 20th)
Bryanston v Gryphon (Wednesday)
Wellington v West Buckland (Wednesday)
Woodroffe v Wells Cathedral (TBC)
Torquay Boys’ Grammar v Exeter School (Wednesday)
Ivybridge Community College v Mount Kelly (Wednesday 21st)
Truro School v Plymouth College (Monday)
Real strength in South West A, Old Swinford Hospital and Dean Close could compete against many in the Cup, while the likes of Plymouth College, Truro, Exeter, and Ivybridge are in a similar boat. It could become an incredibly competitive section as the rounds go on.
South West B
Lord Williams’s v Cokethorpe (TBC)
Cotswold Academy v Royal Wootton Bassett (TBC)
Hardenhuish v St Laurence (TBC)
Monkton Combe v Dauntsey’s (Thursday)
Poole Grammar v Bournemouth (TBC)
Bournemouth Collegiate v Brockenhurst College (Monday)
Embley Hampshire v KES Southampton (Wednesday)
Portsmouth Grammar v Ryde with Upper Chine (Wednesday)
Eastbourne College v Worthing College (Wednesday)
The Weald v Churcher’s College (Wednesday)
Farnborough 6th form v Lord Wandsworth College (Wednesday)
Windsor Boys’ v St James’ (Wednesday)
Great Marlow v Sir William Borlase’s Grammar (Wednesday)
Shiplake College v The Oratory (Wednesday)
Reading Blue Coat v Park House (TBC)
Reddam House v St Bartholomew’s (Wednesday)
Reading Blue Coat became a firm NextGenXV fixture last season during their Cup run, and look out for them on our live stream on Saturday morning this week. They will hope for a strong start v Park House. Shiplake College v The Oratory looks as though it will be an absolute cracker of a game. Eastbourne College v Worthing College has the potential to really light up too, so too Monkton Combe v Dauntsey’s.
