It was a brilliant and busy weekend of school rugby and the action continues through to midweek with some massive fixtures, including the remaining U18 Schools Cup opening round fixtures.

It’s a packed schedule, with a busy Tuesday followed by a bumper Wednesday and a few games on Thursday too. With the season now into its second month, the games are coming through thick and fast.

Tuesday

Beaumont v Bishop’s Stortford College (Schools Bowl)

Berkhamsted v New Hall (Schools Cup)

Dauntsey’s v Milton Abbey

Farlingaye v Woodbridge (Schools Bowl)

Ipswich v Finborough (Schools Cup)

Morrison’s Academy v Edinburgh Academy

Oundle v Wellingborough (Schools Vase)

St Edmund’s College v Culford (Schools Bowl)

St Lawrence College v King’s Canterbury (Schools Vase)

Taunton v Sidcot

The two Schools Cup ties dominate Tuesday’s agenda, and one in particular is causing plenty of chatter – Ipswich v Finborough in Midlands B. Ipswich’s rise is well documented, they are looking like one of the top ten or so sides in the country and ran Sedbergh closer than anyone else this season in wet and wild conditions on Saturday. But Finborough have risen too, just more quietly. A couple of weeks ago they beat Northampton School for Boys, a side that had beaten Ipswich. Victory on Tuesday would be a huge statement and against a local rival as well. A massive game. The winner will play either Campion or Felsted, the only game remaining in the first round.

Tuesday’s other Schools Cup tie is in London & South East B as reigning Daily Mail Trophy champions Berkhamsted host New Hall. Berkhamsted reached the quarter finals last year and will be aiming to go even further this year but first they will need to get past a determined New Hall side. The winner will then have to wait 24 hours to find out who they will be travelling to in Round 2 as St Benedict’s host Harrow on Wednesday.

There are a couple of games in the Vase too, King’s Canterbury travelling to a St Lawrence College side that a sounding very excited about this one. It promises to be a good game in London & South East B. Meanwhile Oundle are at home against Wellingborough in a bit of a Northamptonshire derby in Midlands B.

The Schools Bowl is also getting underway, Beaumont hosting Bishop’s Stortford College and Woodbridge travelling to Farlingaye, meanwhile St Edmund’s College welcome Culford from Suffolk to Hertfordshire.

Outside of the knockout competitions Dauntsey’s host Milton Abbey and Taunton School welcome Sidcot. Meanwhile in Scotland Edinburgh Academy look to build on that magnificent victory at Merchiston Castle on Saturday when they travel to Morrison’s Academy.

Wednesday

Ashville Harrogate v St John Fisher (Schools Bowl)

Aylesbury Grammar v Tring (Schools Vase)

Birkdale v Fallibroome Academy (Schools Bowl)

Bishop Heber v The Grange

Bishop’s Stortford High v Gresham’s (Schools Vase)

Burnham Grammar v Leighton Park

Bolton v Liverpool College (Schools Vase)

Bryanston v Wellington School (Schools Vase)

Cheadle Hulme v St Ambrose College

Claires Court v Halliford

Coleg Llandrillo v Llandovery College

Cotswold v Burford

Dr Challoner’s Grammar v Longdean (Schools Vase)

Ellesmere College v Christ College

Ermysted’s Grammar v AKS Lytham (Schools Vase)

Gordon’s v Saint Cecilia’s

Grey Court v St James’

Haberdashers’ Adams v Shrewsbury (Schools Bowl)

Hartpury College 2rd XV v Samuel Whitbread Academy

Hayes v St Olave’s Grammar

Hill House v Hymers College

Ibstock Place v Harrodian

Kelvinside Academy v St Aloysius’ College

KES Morpeth v RGS Newcastle 2^nd XV

KES Stratford v St Edward’s, Oxford (Schools Vase)

King’s College Taunton v Torquay Boys Grammar

Kirkbie Kendal v Lancaster RGS 2^nd XV

Langley Park v Kingsdale (Schools Vase)

London Oratory v Mill Hill (Schools Vase)

Mount Kelly v Plymouth College (Schools Bowl)

Oakwood Park Grammar v Wilmington Grammar

Princethorpe College v KES Camp Hill

QEH v Bristol Grammar (Schools Vase)

QES Barnet v Robert Clack (Schools Bowl)

QMC Basingstoke v Farnborough 6^th form College

Queen Mary’s Grammar v Old Swinford Hospital 2^nd XV

Reigate College v Riddlesdown Collegiate

Royal Latin v Akeley Wood

Ryde v Lord Wandsworth College

Salesian v Tiffin

Scarborough College v Tranby

Sedbergh 2^nd XV v QES Kirkby Lonsdale

Shebbear College v Stover

Sir Joseph Williamson’s v Simon Langton Grammar

Sir William Borlase’s v The Oratory (Schools Vase)

St Benedict’s v Harrow (Schools Cup)

St Edward’s Cheltenham v Katharine Lady Berkeley’s

St Peter’s, Gloucester v Wycliffe College (Schools Bowl)

The Forest v Reading

Whitgift v Chislehurst & Sidcup

Wirral Grammar v Stockport Grammar

Yarm v Newcastle School for Boys

Wednesday sees the penultimate game of the U18 Schools Cup first round take place as St Benedict’s host Harrow. Both were high flyers last year, St Benedict’s going unbeaten bar one game through the regular season – that one game…Harrow in the Cup. Harrow meanwhile were outstanding too and are looking even stronger this year, unbeaten to date and with some major scalps claimed. The two will know their potential opponents in Round 2 as well, with Berkhamsted hosting New Hall on Tuesday.

Over in the Vase there is loads of action on Wednesday, North A sees Ermysted’s Grammar welcoming AKS Lytham, while in Midlands A KES Stratford host St Edward’s Oxford, in what ought to be a good game. Also in Midlands A, Dr Challoner’s Grammar welcome Longdean for their second round tie, and Aylesbury Grammar host Tring, the winners of those two games will meet in Round 3.

Midlands B sees Gresham’s travel to Bishop’s Stortford High School, while in London & South East A London Oratory host Mill Hill. London & South East B features Langley Park hosting Kingsdale.

There are two games in South West A, Bryanston hosting Wellington School and QEH hosting Bristol Grammar, while in South West B The Oratory travel to Sir William Borlase’s.

Over in the Bowl Ashville Harrogate host St John Fisher, with Birkdale welcoming Fallibroome Academyand Haberdashers’ Adams heading to Shrewsbury, while QES Barnet host Robert Clack, Plymouth College head to Mount Kelly, and former Cup champions St Peter’s Gloucester welcome Wycliffe College.

Outside of the knockouts the fixtures keep flying in, and in the North West things are busy, Cheadle Hulme host St Ambrose College in what should be a good game, while Bolton host Liverpool College and Bishop Heber welcome The Grange. Wirral Grammar meanwhile host Stockport Grammar, another that should be good. Kirkbie Kendal meanwhile host Lancaster RGS’ second team, and Sedbergh’s 2^nd XV are hosting QES Kirkby Lonsdale.

The North East and Yorkshire also sees plenty of action, Yarm v Newcastle School for Boys looking particularly exciting, while Hymers College are in action at Hill House. Scarborough College host Tranby, while back in the North East RGS Newcastle send their 2^nd XV to KES Morpeth. Up in Scotland Kelvinside Academy are hosting St Aloysius’ College.

In the Midlands there is more 1^st XV v 2^nd XV action, Queen Mary’s Grammar hosting Old Swinford Hospital’s 2nd XV. Meanwhile Princethorpe College welcome KES Camp Hill. Ellesmere College are hosting Welsh opposition in the meantime, Christ College heading over the border once again, while in Wales Llandovery College take on Coleg Llandrillo. Costwold meanwhile host Burford back in England.

In the South West of England King’s College Taunton are back in action, hosting Torquay Boys Grammar, while Katharine Lady Berkeley’s are in action at St Edward’s Cheltenham. Samuel Whitbread Academy meanwhile travel to Hartpury College to take on their non-ACE players.

Back along the route towards London, Royal Latin host Akeley Wood and Reading head to The Forest, meanwhile Farnborough 6^th form College are at QMC Basingstoke.

In and around London, Whitgift are in action after their strong showing over the weekend, hosting Chislehurst & Sidcup Grammar. Hayes are also in action, facing St Olave’s Grammar in their annual evening kick off. Elsewhere, Halliford are in action at Claires Court, while Ibstock Place host Harrodian and Leighton Park travel to Burnham Grammar.

Saint Cecilia’s are taking on Gordon’s non-ACE players, with Sir Joseph Williamson’s welcoming Simon Langton Grammar and Stover heading to Shebbear College.

Tiffin are looking for a strong performance at Salesian, while Reigate College welcome Riddlesdown Collegiate and Wilmington Grammar travel to Oakwood Park Grammar. Lord Wandsworth College, who have been playing good rugby, head to Ryde.

Thursday

Downside v Monkton Combe

Milton Abbey v Leweston

QEGS Wakefield v Grammar School at Leeds (Schools Plate)

Strathallan v Dollar Academy

The action continues on Thursday with a handful of games, perhaps most significantly the first U18 Schools Plate game of the season as QEGS Wakefield host Grammar School at Leeds in North A. The winner will face either Lancaster RGS or Barnard Castle in the North A regional final.

Up in Scotland there is a huge game, two great teams going head to head in the form of Strathallan and Dollar Academy. Meanwhile in the South West of England Downside welcome Monkton Combe and Milton Abbey welcome Leweston.