Schools Rugby: Midweek Preview – Mammoth midweek as fixtures come thick and fast

Friday - Hampton

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This week sees a huge amount of school rugby with a number of independent schools packing in a midweek fixture ahead of an exeat weekend for many this weekend.

 

That means that while Saturday’s fixture list may be slightly shortened by so many independent schools being off over the weekend, the midweek schedule is absolutely mouth-watering.

 

The midweek schedule also contains two live streams as we bring you live coverage of Haileybury v Blundell’s at 7.30pm on Wednesday evening, live from Saracens’ Stone X, and then on Thursday it is off to Clifton RFC for live coverage of Clifton College v Kirkham Grammar School, one of the most anticipated games of the season at this early stage.

 

 

Both games are set to be huge occasions and should provide plenty of reason for excitement, Haileybury are looking really promising this season and their nights at StoneX are always special, and it’s a long trip for Blundell’s, who will be determined and excited to perform on the big stage. On Thursday the drama only increases, Clifton College have already pumped in results that suggest they are one of the very best, while Kirkham Grammar are yet to play yet are billed in pre-season as one of the teams to look out for.

 

 

Anticipation here at NextGenXV is high ahead of those two, but there is so much other rugby going on as well, with games on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, including some early Schools Cup games and tidying up of the first round of the Schools Cup, plus some huge regular season fixtures.

 

Midweek Preview:

 

Tuesday

Morrison’s Academy v Glenalmond College

 

Clayesmore v Thomas Hardye (Schools Vase)

King’s Ely v Saffron Walden (Schools Vase)

Marling v St Peter’s, Gloucester (Schools Vase)

Scarisbrick Hall v St Ambrose College (Schools Vase)

St Edmund’s College v Langley (Schools Vase)

Woodbridge v Royal Hospital School (Schools Vase)

 

The Schools Vase dominates Tuesday’s proceedings, with Midlands B looking particularly busy. King’s Ely host Saffron Walden with the winner set to meet Richard Hale, while St Edmund’s College hosts Langley with the victor lined up to face Framlingham College. Woodbridge and Royal Hospital School meet, but the winner will have to wait to find out who they play, Farlingaye or Colchester RGS.

 

South West A also has a couple of games Marling and St Peter’s Gloucester meet for a chance to take on The Crypt next, while Clayesmore and Thomas Hardye also meet, the winner will face the winner of Thursday’s game between Warminster and Gillingham. In North A St Ambrose College take on Scarisbrick Hall and the winner will not have long to wait to find out who they play, with Bolton and Lymm High going head to head on Wednesday.

 

Outside of the Vase there is action is Scotland as Morrison’s Academy welcome Glenalmond College.

 

Wednesday

Ampleforth College v Ripon Grammar

Beth’s Grammar v Simon Langton Grammar

Bridgend College v Llandovery College

Christ College v Tonyrefail Comprehensive

Cokethorpe v Magdalen College

Coleg Sir Gar v Millfield

Ewell Castle v St Benedict’s

Gordon’s 2nd XV v Tiffin

Halliford v Windsor Boys’

Haileybury v Blundells – LIVE STREAM, StoneX Stadium, 7.30pm

Hampton v Campion

Hayes v Shiplake College

Hereford 6th form College v Christ College 2nd XV

KES Five Ways v KES Stratford

King’s Worcester v RGS Worcester (Schools Cup)

Lancaster RGS v QES Kirkby Lonsdale

Leighton Park v Reddam House

Lord Williams’ v Sir Henry Floyd Grammar

Merchant Taylors’ v Liverpool College (Schools Cup)

Millfield 2nd XV v Bishop Wordsworth’s

Plymouth College v Truro College 2nd XV

Queen Mary’s Grammar v Newcastle-Under-Lyme

Ranelagh v St James’

Reading v Burham Grammar

Ryde with Upper Chine v Queen Mary’s Basingstoke

Salesian College v Claires Court

Shrewsbury v Haberdashers’ Abraham Darby

St Aloysius’ College v Glasgow Academy

St Anselm’s College v King’s Macclesfield

Stonyhurst v Ripley St Thomas

Wetherby v Fulham Boys

Wilson’s v Carshalton

 

Bolton v Lymm High (Schools Vase)

Bradford Grammar v Silcoates (Schools Vase)

Bristol Grammar v Backwell (Schools Vase)

Farnborough 6th form College v Lord Wandsworth College (Schools Vase)

Harris City Academy v Kingsdale (Schools Vase)

Ivybridge Community College v Mount Kelly (Schools Vase)

KES Camp Hill v KES Birmingham (Schools Vase)

Reigate Grammar v Richard Collyer (Schools Vase)

Rickmansworth v Haberdashers’ Elstree (Schools Vase)

Samuel Whitbread Academy v Hitchin Boys’ (Schools Vase)

Wallington County Grammar v Saint Cecilia’s (Schools Vase)

 

Wednesday is a massive day and the fixtures look incredibly excited. As discussed at the start of this preview, Wednesday evening sees our live cameras head to StoneX to live stream Haileybury v Blundell’s, and you can check out our preview and the live stream link here: Haileybury v Blundell’s.

 

Elsewhere the massive games keep on coming, perhaps most notably in the trip of Millfield across the border to Wales to take on Coleg Sir Gar. A massive game of rugby between two of the finest sides in each of their respective countries, and indeed the world, and a very special fixture year on year. It’s not to be missed. Millfield’s 2nd XV are also in action, they host Bishop Wordsworth’s in what will be a stern test.

 

Wednesday also sees a couple of early Schools Cup fixtures, perhaps none more so than King’s Worcester v RGS Worcester, a precursor to the Modus Cup that will be taking place in mid-October and therefore a game with double the amount riding on it as they not only seek Cup progress, but also a chance to lay down a huge psychological marker ahead of that derby game in October. Merchant Taylors’, Crosby and Liverpool College also meet in an early Schools Cup fixture, and it promises to be a good one between two strong sides.

 

Hampton are off to a flying start this season with victories over Seaford College and Brighton College, they will be looking to continue that form on Wednesday when Campion come to visit. There is also a massive game at Brunel University as Hayes and Shiplake College meet in what is due to be an incredibly special occasion for both, but particularly for Hayes as part of their strengthening relationship with Ealing Trailfinders.

 

Elsewhere in the South East look out for the ever impressive Halliford hosting Windsor Boys’, while St Benedict’s, such stars last year, have a trip to Ewell Castle. Tiffin, meanwhile, are on the road to take on Gordon’s 2nd XV, their first XV are in ACE action.

 

Simon Langton Grammar head to Beth’s Grammar, with Fulham Boys on the road at Wetherby, Wilson’s meanwhile are playing host to Carshalton. Claires Court have a trip to Salesian, while St James’ travel to Ranelagh and Queen Mary’s are at Ryde with Upper Chine, who were in sparking form over the weekend.

 

Along the road Reading are hosting Burham Grammar, while Sir Henry Floyd Grammar head to Lord Williams’ and Leighton Park welcome Reddam House.

 

Out further West there are come massive games as Magdalen College make the trip to Cokethorpe and KES Five Ways and KES Stratford go head to head in what is almost always a fantastic game of rugby. In the South West Plymouth College take on Truro College’s 2nd XV, their first XV are in ACE action.

 

Over on the very Western edge of England Shrewsbury welcome Haberdashers’ Abraham Darby, whileHereford 6th form College welcome Welsh side Christ College Brecon’s 2nd XV. Over in Wales, the Christ College 1st XV host Tonyrefail, while Bridgend College and Llandovery College go head to head in a real clash of the titans.

 

Moving to the North of England where there are some top fixtures, not least in Yorkshire as Ampleforth College host Ripon Grammar School. Over on the West things are exciting too, King’s Macclesfield’s trip to St Anselm’s College should be excellent, while Lancaster RGS are in action after a few cancellations, hosting QES Kirkby Lonsdale.

 

Stonyhurst are hosting Ripley St Thomas, with Newcastle-Under-Lyme heading up to Queen Mary’s Grammar. Over in Scotland Glasgow Academy head to St Aloysius’ College.

 

The Schools Vase is packed full of action on Wednesday too. North A sees Bolton host Lymm High with the winner, as earlier mentioned, playing Tuesday’s victor from Scarisbrick Hall v St Ambrose College. North B also sees action, with former Cup champions Bradford Grammar hosting Silcoates. The winner of that one will play either Crossley Heath or Rishworth.

 

In Midlands A there is a second round game as KES Camp Hill welcome KES Birmingham  after the two sides progressed from the first round last week. Meanwhile in Midlands B Samuel Whitbread Academy, the former champions, are hosting Hitchin Boys, with the winners facing either Roundwood Park or Sandringham.

 

London & South East A has a couple of games, and in both the second round opponent is known. Reigate Grammar host Richard Collyer, with Worth the prize, while Rickmansworth welcome Haberdashers’ Elstree, with Claires Court awaiting. Over in London & South East B it is the same situation for the teams playing, with their round 2 opponents known. Langley Park await the winner of Harris City Academy v Kingsdale, while it is Emanuel for the victorious side from Wallington County Grammar v Saints Celcilias.

 

South West A sees Bristol Grammar School hosting Backwell, Bristol Grammar’s city rivals Bristol Cathedral being the prize, meanwhile the ever threatening Ivybridge Community College host Mount Kelly, with the winners going on to take on Truro School. South West B meanwhile has one game. Lord Wandsworth College head to Farnborough 6th form College and the winner will meet Windsor Boys.

 

Thursday

Bedford v Radley College

Cheltenham College v Marlborough College

Clayesmore v Bryanston

Clifton College v Kirkham Grammar – LIVE STREAM, Clifton RFC, 7.30pm

Collegiate v Sherborne (Schools Cup)

Dauntsey’s v Canford

Eton College v Tonbridge

King’s Bruton v Wells Cathedral

Merchiston Castle v Fettes College

Monkton Combe v Cathedral School, Llandaff

Queen’s College, Taunton v Clifton High

Rugby v Oundle

 

Beaumont v Gresham’s (Schools Vase) – Midlands B, winner plays BSHS

King’s Canterbury v Chatham & Clarendon (Schools Vase) – LSE B, winner plays St Lawrence College or Herne Bay High

Warminster v Gillingham (Schools Vase) – SW A, winner plays Tuesday’s winner of Clayesmore v Thomas Hardye

 

Thursday features some incredibly high level games, perhaps chief among them being our live streaming of Clifton College v Kirkham Grammar, as discussed at the top of our article. You will be able to watch all of the action LIVE on our YouTube channel, and you can check out our preview here: Clifton College v Kirkham Grammar.

 

Elsewhere the big games come thick and fast on Thursday, not least Bedford v Radley College. Bedford whose start to the season has been electric, beating Oundle handsomely and drawing a thriller with Rugby School. Radley College meanwhile only played their first game on Saturday but enjoyed a fantastic victory over Sherborne. This game is set to be fantastic.

 

All of the teams that they have faced so far are in action on Thursday, indeed both of Bedford’s opponents are, with Rugby hosting Oundle. Both are without a victory so far this season and will be eyeing up Thursday with real intent. Sherborne, meanwhile, look to bounce back from that opening defeat to Radley with a trip to Collegiate, who have started the season in flying form. It should be a fantastic game anyway, but the fact that it doubles up as a Schools Cup game only adds to it, with Collegiate the most successful side in the competition’s history, and Sherborne having reached last year’s semi finals.

 

Staying in the South West the big fixtures just keep on coming, and among the many is Cheltenham College v Marlborough College. It should be fantastic, both have started well with Cheltenham beating Bloxham and only going down narrowly in a tough away trip to Monmouth, while Marlborough are two from two against Canford and Abingdon.

 

Along the road Bryanston are in action at Clayesmore, and Bryanston will be keen to build on a top performance on Saturday. Meanwhile Canford are travelling to Dauntsey’s and King’s Bruton welcome Wells Cathedral. Cathedral School Llandaff make the trip across the border to take on a Monkton Combe side that is absolutely bursting with confidence at the moment, while Queen’s College Taunton are hosting Clifton High.

 

Nearer London there is a classic fixture between two of the oldest and most prestigious rugby playing schools around as Eton College host Tonbridge. Eton are in sparkling form so far this season with 2 from 2 and will be full of confidence, Tonbridge on the other hand arrive looking to spark themselves into form after a couple of tough defeats to open the season.

 

Up in Scotland there is a classic too as two of the country’s finest go head to head, Merchiston Castle and Fettes College, a game that is always a great occasion.

 

There is also a little bit of Vase action on Thursday, and in South West A Warminster and Gillingham go head to head. They will know who they are playing, as their opponent next is the winner of Tuesday’s Clayesmore v Thomas Hardye encounter.

 

Midlands B sees action too, with Gresham’s travelling to Beaumont, the winner of that will face Bishop’s Stortford High School, while in London & South East B King’s Canterbury host Chatham & Clarendon, with the winner playing either St Lawrence College or Herne Bay High.

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