With half term upon us it’s a quieter midweek than usual, though still one with plenty of action including another live game here on NextGenXV.
After the highs of the St Joseph’s Festival (catch the Day 1 Pitch 1 highlights below, with more to come through the week) and Merchiston Festivals this weekend, the wheels keep turning into week 1 of half term with some bumper fixtures and key knockout games.
Monday
Aylesbury Grammar v St John’s, Argentina
Monday sees St John’s tour continue as the Argentine tourists this time take on Aylesbury Grammar and look to continue their fun here in the UK.
Tuesday
Bloxham v St Edward’s, Oxford (at Banbury RFC)
Framlingham College v RGS Colchester (Schools Vase)
Spalding Grammar v The Leys (Schools Bowl)
Tuesday sees three games, two of them knockouts, with Framlingham College hosting RGS Colchester in the Schools Vase and Spalding Grammar hosting The Leys in the Schools Bowl. Meanwhile in the day’s evening kick off at Banbury RFC there is a bit of a derby game as Bloxham and St Edward’s, Oxford go head to head.
Wednesday
Bablake & King Henry VIII v Bishop Vesey’s Grammar
Berkhamsted v Clifton College
Beth’s Grammar v Roebucks
Brockenhurst College v Ryde with Upper Chine (Schools Vase)
Cardinal Newman v The Judd (Schools Cup)
Cheltenham Bournside v Katharine Lady Berkeley’s
Chipping Norton v Burford
Christ College v Stanwell
Claires Court v Ranelagh
Exeter School v Torquay Boys’ Grammar
Hill House v Ashville Harrogate
KES Camp Hill v KES Aston
Llandovery College v Newport High
Monmouth v Crawshay’s Welsh XV
London Oratory v The Oratory (at Grasshoppers RFC) – LIVE STREAM
Oakwood Park v Simon Langton
Pangbourne College v Cokethorpe
Plymouth College v Colyton Grammar
Queen Mary’s Grammar v Prince Henry’s
Queen’s College Taunton v King’s College Taunton 2nd XV
RGS Newcastle v Dame Allan’s
Salesian v Godalming College
Samuel Whitbread Academy v Henley College
Shiplake College v Lord Wandsworth College
St Edmund’s College Ware v Hitchin Boys
Thomas Hardye v Milton Abbey
Woodhouse Grove v Harrogate Grammar
Wednesday is a pretty busy day given it is half term for so many, and the focus of much of the NextGenXV coverage will be on Grasshoppers RFC where The Oratory and London Oratory go head to head in their brilliant annual derby. The 1st XVs kick off at 7.30pm but the day will begin early on the live stream with the 2ndXV and U16s fixtures being broadcast ahead of the 1st XVs, the 2nd XV game kicking off at 6pm, the U16s at 4.30pm. You will be able to watch all of the action on our YouTube channel, on TikTok, and embedded here below.
Plenty of eyes will also be cast in the direction of a monster Schools Cup tie between Cardinal Newman and an unbeaten The Judd outfit. The winners will have a mighty task on their hands of hosting their reigning champions, and St Joseph’s Festival finalists, Trinity, in the regional final after half term.
Theere is also Vase action as Brockenhurst College host Ryde, and some great games elsewhere between familiar names and composite opposition, such as a great fixture between Friday’s night’s Border Shield winners, Monmouth, and invitational side Crawshay’s Welsh XV.
In many ways the game of the day could be Berkhamsted v Clifton College, two sides that are among the very best around. Berkhamsted will be determined to bounce back to winning days after a defeat to Harrow that was just their first of the season, albeit one in which they still impressed. Clifton College will meanwhile be bouncing after an outstanding performance against Hartpury College on Friday night as they took another victory.
Elsewhere, Samuel Whitbread Academy v Henley College looks outstanding, two sides with brilliant fixture lists that should put on a real show on Wednesday.
The Midlands has plenty going on, Bablake & King Henry’s hosting Bishop Vesey’s, KES Camp Hill welcomeing KES Aston, and Pangbourne College hosting Cokethorpe among them.
Shiplake College v Lord Wandsworth College looks outstanding, meanwhile Hitchin Boys Head to St Edmund’s College and Prince Henry’s are at Queen Mary’s, with Chipping Norton hosting Burford.
In the South West there is a bit of a derby as Queen’s College Taunton go head to head with King’s College Taunton’s 2nd XV, Plymouth College meanwhile host Colyton Grammar and Thomas Hardye welcome Milton Abbey. Meanwhile Exeter School are at home against Torquay Boys Grammar, and Katharine Lady Berkeley’s head to Cheltenham Bournside.
Towards the capital, Oakwood Park and Simon Langton go head to head, meanwhile Claires Court host Stanwell and Beth’s Grammar welcome Roebucks. Salesian meanwhile are hosting Godalming College.
In the North of England there are some cracking games, fresh from a good showing at the St Joseph’s Festival, RGS Newcastle are hosting Tom Burrows Cup champions Dame Allan’s. Woodhouse Grove are meanwhile at home against Harrogate Grammar, and Hill House host Ashville Harrogate.
Over in Wales there is some good action too, Christ College hosting Stanwell and Llandovery College welcoming Newport High.
Friday
Durham v St Peter’s, York
There is a great fixture on Friday night as to giants of the North go head to head, Durham and St Peter’s, York. It should be one of the biggest games of the week, and is the final big game before things really go quiet for the remainder of half term.
