After a half term that began with two epic schools rugby festivals at St Joseph’s College and Merchiston Castle, the second half of term gets underway with some outstanding fixtures this weekend.
Not only that but the second half of term also begins with a raft of live streams here at NextGenXV, starting on Saturday with the Dorset Derby between Bryanston and Canford, which you can watch below from 2.45pm, followed on Monday evening at Sixways Stadium by the 15th annual Modus Cup, King’s Worcester v RGS Worcester.
The second half of term has started with plenty of news too, earlier this week we released the NextGenXV Schools Rugby Table, a metric using the Chess Elo Rating System to form the table which is currently, unsurprisingly, led by Sedbergh but that more importantly should provide another element of fun and engagement for young players up and down the length and breadth of the country.
You can see the current Top 10 below, but it would be more advisable to follow this link where we explain how the system works (and it actually includes every rugby playing school in the country), including its focus on fair and even fixtures, a relative disregard for high-scoring victories, with competitiveness and enjoyment the key focus: NextGenXV Schools Rugby Table | How it works.
It is one of many topics that Angus Savage and Dan Richards discuss in this week’s NextGenXV Podcast, where they also take a deep dive on the value, controversies, and debates around scholarships, the state vs private debate, and plenty more, as well as selecting their winners for the NextGenXV Greatest Schools XV of the Decade.
You can check out this week’s podcast below or if you would, quite sensibly, prefer to avoid the assault on your eyes you can listen and subscribe on Acast, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify.
Next week it will be back into the usual rhythm with our Top 5 School Teams of the Weekend and our final pick for the NextGenXV Greatest Schools XV of the Decade – full back. So do get in touch on @nextgenxv on all platforms to let us know who you think should be featuring in those segments!
To matters on the field this weekend though, and our preview of what is sure to be a fantastic weekend of school rugby. After a two, almost three for some, week rest it is time to get back out on the field and showcase the very best of what each and every school has to offer, with what is sure to be a weekend full of skill, fun, and real competitiveness.
Ten to Watch
As ever, our weekend preview begins with our Ten to Watch and there are some fresh faces for this year in this week’s Ten to Watch.
Bryanston v Canford
Our live streamed game this weekend, the Dorset Derby, and it should be a good one. Bryanston are unbeaten while Canford have beaten some really top sides on a slightly trickier circuit. All signs point to a cracking game and you can read our full preview here: Bryanston v Canford Preview.
Cheltenham College v Blundell’s
Two top sides going head to head in Gloucestershire in what should be a top game. Only Monmouth got the better of Cheltenham College before half term, while only Millfield and Canford bettered Blundell’s. The signs point to a thrilling game, and Blundell’s are no strangers to that sort of game – you only have to look back, below, to their live game against Haileybury for that. Cheltenham College are soon to be on the live streams too, they face Sir Thomas Rich’s at Kingsholm on the 17th on NextGenXV. They will be keen to get some real momentum going ahead of that one, starting on Saturday against Blundell’s.
Cranleigh v RGS Guildford
A really interesting fixture. Since beating Epsom College on the opening weekend, RGS Guildford have been a side that everyone has been keeping an eye on, and with good reason, October might have been sticky but September was glorious and they will be hoping for more in November, and what better way that to beat a heavyweight like Cranleigh on the road? It will be a tough challenge though, they have not beaten Cranleigh since 2014, and Cranleigh have started the season really well. Only the exceptional Trinity have got the better of them. There are going to be plenty of interested eyeballs in Surrey this Saturday.
George Watson’s College v Merchiston Castle
Scotland’s most prestigious fixture? If it’s not, it’s close. These two have produced countless internationals over the years and have had some truly great fixtures between them as well. Merchiston are on a bit of a roll this season, reaching the final of their own Merchiston Festival and only narrowly missing out to an exceptional Ipswich side. They have also only been defeated once in the regular season, and even that was an absolute thriller against Edinburgh Academy. George Watson’s will look at that and take some solace though, because while they had a disappointing Merchiston Festival, their regular season has been superb – and that includes a victory over Edinburgh Academy. So it should be a spectacular game on Saturday to add to what is always a spectacular occasion.
Radley College v Kirkham Grammar
A brand new addition to the calendar. To the best of our knowledge Radley College and Kirkham Grammar have never met at 1st XV level, but all that changes on Saturday when the exceptional Kirkham Grammar School head to Radley College. It is a brave fixture for Radley to take on, Kirkham Grammar have been one of the best around for a number of years now, but it shows the scale of Radley’s ambition and belief – and why not, they are playing really well despite being on the wrong side of a few scorelines. Kirkham Grammar School have barely been on the wrong side of anything though, unbeaten in the regular season including that thrilling victory over Clifton College, which you can see below. The St Joseph’s Festival didn’t quite go to plan for them, but in one of the strongest fields ever that was true for many. Saturday should be a brilliant occasion.
Rugby v Stamford
A massive game between two sides playing some excellent rugby so far this year. Rugby have been involved in some absolute thrillers, only high flying Stowe and Oakham have got the better of them, but their most exciting games have turned out to be two stunning draws, 29-29 with Bedford and 36-36 with Warwick in the Cup. Attention now turns to Stamford who, like Rugby, have only twice been defeated, by Haileybury and Warwick, and who have an early season victory over Stowe in the back pocket too. Last year Rugby won 21-12 at Stamford, this year expect something even higher scoring and pretty tight.
Rugby School are celebrating 200 years of Rugby Football, and have released a book, ‘Pass the Pig’s Bladder’, as part of those celebrations, you can get your copy here: Pass the Pig’s Bladder.
Sedbergh v Denstone College
A serious heavyweight clash. Sedbergh are currently topping the NextGenXV Schools Rugby Table after an unbeaten first half of term that saw them defeat Whitgift, Ipswich, and RGS Newcastle, among others, as well as a thrilling last minute victory in Ireland over Blackrock College. Denstone College are going to be one of their toughest challenges so far though, perhaps season definingly at this point. Denstone are flying high and are climbing that table rapidly, in the regular season only Ipswich’s stunning comeback at Leicester Forrest RFC has denied them an unbeaten start. At the St Joseph’s Festival they were the talk of the touchlines, finishing third and only losing by a point to eventual champions Millfield in the semi final. In this fixture last year Sedbergh won 31-5, they will start as favourites again this year, but make no mistake, Denstone have the capability.
The Judd v Campion
This week’s NextGenXV Podcast saw Angus and Dan immediately pick this one out as a game they were excited about, two state schools with bags of school rugby history going head to head. More than that though is the excitement about what The Judd are doing this year, and unbeaten first half of term that included a victory over Tonbridge and only saw RGS Guildford, who are having a season to remember, manage to score against them more than once. It is a stunning season so far for The Judd but they will need to be at their best to keep the momentum up on Saturday, especially with Wednesday’s rearranged Cup fixture against the reinstated, thank goodness, Cardinal Newman. Campion’s season hasn’t been the easiest so far, but they have really pushed themselves with their fixture list and strong victories over Coopers’ Coborn and Emanuel show their quality. They are going to be beyond determined to burst the Judd bubble, and it should make for a brilliant game on Saturday.
Tonbridge v St Paul’s
Tonbridge’s season might not have started how they wanted, defeat to Brighton College backed up by that pride-denting home loss to The Judd, but since then they have regained their confidence superbly, first slowly with a draw against a very strong Eton College side, before storming through with victories over Skinners’ and Radley College. Heading into the second half of term they will be aiming to build further on that. Standing in their way on Saturday are a St Paul’s side that have had some great performances, notable against Wimbledon College but also in a mad 41-33 thriller at Radley. It suggests a pretty exciting and even game on Saturday, possibly Tonbridge have the slight edge, contrasting results against Eton College being the sign there, but in truth it looks near impossible to pick the two teams apart.
Warwick v Bedford
A brilliant fixture for both to begin the second half of term with. Both Warwick and Bedford looked strong in the first half of term, Warwick only going down to Berkhamsted and in the Cup to Oakham, while Bedford were actually unbeaten through the first half of term. They dropped a couple of games at the Merchiston Festival, but even there ended up winning the Bowl. What both sides have shown a bit of a penchant for though it high scoring draws, Bedford drew 19-19 at Eton College in October, while in pre-season Warwick drew 28-28 with the superb Stowe School. Both have also had absolutely thrilling draws with Rugby School, Bedford drawing 29-29, while Warwick drew 36-36 in the Cup (though progressed as the away side). So could it be another thrilling draw when these two meet on Saturday? It certainly seems possible!
Around the Grounds
Of course there is much more going on than just our Ten to Watch. Indeed the Ten to Watch could quite easily be a Fifty to Watch, particularly in this first game back after half term with so many schools keen to start the second half of term with a bang. We take a look ahead at all the 1st XV action happening on Friday and Saturday.
Friday
Loughborough Grammar v Nottingham High
Northampton School for Boys v St Albans
Perthshire v Morrison’s Academy
St George’s, Harpenden v Aylesbury Grammar
The Crypt v King’s Gloucester (Old Cryptians)
Some great games are set for Friday evening, perhaps chief of all a very strong Northampton School for Boys side hosting a St Albans side that also enjoyed a flying start to the season. It should make for a spectacular first game of the second half of term for both.
Not too far away St George’s Harpenden also enjoyed themselves in the first half of term and are getting excited for a Friday evening game that should bring plenty of fun for them and Aylesbury Grammar.Meanwhile further North Loughborough Grammar host Nottingham High School in what should be a good one.
Old Cryptians again plays host to a Friday night game for The Crypt, they host King’s Gloucester, a game that promises to be good. Up in Scotland Morrison’s Academy are in club action, taking on Perthshire RFC.
Saturday
AKS Lytham v Birkenhead
Ampleforth College v Newcastle School for Boys
Bishop’s Stortford College v Culford
Bishop’s Stortford High v Richard Hale (Schools Vase)
Bishop Wordsworth’s v Dauntsey’s
Bradford Grammar v Yarm
Brentwood v Langley Park
Bristol Grammar v Sir Thomas Rich’s
Cardinal Vaughan v St Ignatius College
Caterham v Worth
Christ’s Hospital v Duke of York’s Royal Military
City of London Freemen’s v Cedars
Claremont Fan Court v Isleworth & Syon
Dame Allan’s v Barnard Castle
Dartford Grammar v Wimbledon College
Dulwich College v John Fisher
Dundee High v Dollar Academy
Eastbourne College v Brighton College
Edinburgh Academy v Fettes College
Eltham College v Ravens Wood
Eton College v Abingdon
George Heriot’s v Glasgow Academy
Glenalmond College v George Heriot’s
Glyn v London Oratory
Gresham’s v Finborough
Gunnersbury v Latymer Upper
Haberdashers’ Adams v Ellesmere College
Halliford v St Richard Reynolds
Ipswich v Haileybury
Kelvinside Academy v Glasgow High
King’s Bruton Triangular: Collegiate, King’s Bruton, West Buckland
Loretto v Robert Gordon’s College
Lymm High v St Ambrose College
Maidstone Grammar v Chislehurst & Sidcup Grammar
Manchester Grammar v Wirral Grammar
Marlborough College v Churcher’s College
Merchant Taylors’, Crosby v Scarisbrick Hall
Merchant Taylors’, Northwood v Magdalen College
Millfield v Llandovery College
Oakham v Oundle
Old Swinford Hospital v KES Birmingham
Pate’s Grammar KES Stratford
Pocklington v Hymers College
QEH v KES Bath
Ratcliffe College v Princethorpe College
Reading Blue Coat v Gordon’s
Reed’s v Emanuel
Reigate Grammar v Sevenoaks
RGS Colchester v Wymondham College
RGS High Wycombe v Whitgift
RGS Newcastle v Lancaster RGS
Scarborough College v Grammar School at Leeds
Sherborne v Clifton College
Skinners’ v St John’s, Leatherhead
Stewart’s Melville v Strathallan
St Albans v QES Barnet
St Anselm’s College v Altrincham Grammar
St Edward’s, Oxford v Uppingham
St George’s College, Weybridge v Mill Hill
St Joseph’s College v Langley
St Olave’s Grammar v Wallington County Grammar
The Leys v Royal Hospital School
The Perse v Bedford Modern
Trent College v Worksop College
Trinity v KCS Wimbledon
Wellington School v Prior Park College
Wilmslow High v The Grange
Windsor Boys’ v UCS
Where to start on Saturday, the list of top fixtures this weekend is seemingly never ending, and the excitement at being back out on the field after the half term break is palpable. One side that really will be itching to get back out there are Millfield. Having gone into half term on the back of an epic week, winning their opener in The Schools Championship against Wellington College and then going on to win the St Joseph’s Festival (check out the highlights below), becoming the first side in over a decade to win back to back St Jo’s titles. They take on Welsh giants Llandovery College on Saturday in what is a massive week for Llandovery, they take on Sedbergh on Wednesday. Millfield v Llandovery is always a special fixture, and the feeling is that this year in might just be even more so.
Also coming off the back of a spectacular finish to the last half of term are Ipswich, who secured the Merchiston Festival title with a victory over the hosts in the final. The high flying Suffolk side now welcomeHaileybury, who themselves had some fantastic performances prior to half term.
Up against Millfield in that St Joseph’s Festival final were Trinity, a fine effort in their debut in the Festival, and the Croydon side are in sensational form this year. Unbeaten outside of St Jo’s, and looking formidable. The Schools Cup holders this weekend host KCS Wimbledon, who had a spectacular season last year. They have found life harder this year but the prospect of facing the side currently tracking on our Table as the third best in the country will be one that they will be savouring – what a way to start the second half of term.
St Joseph’s College themselves are also in action after a defeat to Henley College in midweek, they welcome Norfolk’s Langley School in a real Norfolk/Suffolk derby on Saturday. Another Norfolk/Suffolk derby to look out for is Gresham’s v Finborough, Gresham’s have a wonderful rugby history that includes nurturing the Youngs brothers, but Finborough are the coming force in the world of school rugby, in a season that has so far already seen them defeat the likes of Ipswich, Northampton School for Boys, and Felsted. This one is not to be missed.
There are so many fixtures this week that have that feeling of not to be missed, among them the Royal Grammar School derby as RGS Newcastle welcome Lancaster RGS to the North East. Both side have shown some good form and will be keen to start this second half of the term with a real bang. Travelling from Newcastle are Newcastle School for Boys, they head to Ampleforth College in another game that looks like it could just be a brilliant contest with which to kick off the second half of the season.
Scotland has some spectacular fixtures too, not least Edinburgh Academy v Fettes College, two of the most prestigious names in the country going head to head. The same could be said of Stewart’s Melville v Strathallan, who turned plenty of heads with some of their play at the St Joseph’s Festival prior to half term.
Elsewhere in Scotland Loretto welcome Robert Gordon’s College and Dollar Academy head to Dundee High. Meanwhile George Heriot’s have two sides in action, one heading to Glenalmond College while another host Glasgow Academy, whose city rivals Glasgow High School are at Kelvinside Academy.
Back in England done of the biggest games of the day sees high-flying Clifton College, who currently sit second in the NextGenXV Schools Rugby Table, travelling to Schools Cup semi finalists Sherborne for what is always an absolute classic of a schoolboy game.
It is one of a number of great games in the South West, and indeed one triangular as King’s Bruton welcome West Buckland and Collegiate for what should be a really fun day of rugby. Prior Park College are in action at Wellington School, while KES Bath head to QEH, and Dauntsey’s head to Bishop Wordsworth’s.
As Sir Thomas Rich’s gear up for our live stream of their game against Cheltenham College at Kingsholm on the 17th, they head to Bristol Grammar for what should be a good test, meanwhile Marlborough College, after a promising first day at the St Joseph’s Festival prior to half term, host Churcher’s College. Pate’s Grammar meanwhile welcome KES Stratford to Gloucestershire.
Into the Midlands and Old Swinford Hospital host KES Birmingham and Ellesmere College head to Adams Grammar, meanwhile Princethorpe College are in action at Ratcliffe College.
In Oxford St Edward’s host Uppingham in their annual fixture, with both side looking for a morale boosting performance with which to start the second half of the season. Edging along the motorway towards London there are some of the best fixtures in the country this weekend. Not least Whitgift’s trip to RGS High Wycombe, a cracking encounter for both sides and a chance for Whitgift to show they very best of themselves, but equally for RGS to claim a major scalp.
Another that looks just fantastic is Eton College v Abingdon, two sides that can play some absolutely brilliant rugby. Eton in particular had a superb first half of term. Along the road Windsor Boys are hosting UCS, while Reading Blue Coat welcome Gordon’s up from Surrey in what should be an absolutely fantastic game between two high performing sides.
Around the M25 to Surrey there are yet more superb games, and one that looks like it could be a really top game is Caterham v Worth, two sides that should be well matched. Meanwhile St George’s College Weybridge welcome Mill Hill from North London and Reed’s host South London’s Emanuel. The increasingly competitive Duke of York’s Royal Military School head West from Kent to take on Christ’s Hospital, while it’s a similar trip for Sevenoaks to take on a Reigate Grammar School side that is playing some great rugby.
On the South Coast there is a game that really is going to be worth heading along to if you can, Eastbourne College, who are having an absolutely brilliant season, welcoming schools rugby heavyweights Brighton College, who will be eager to start this second half of term with a bang.
Kent has some great games, but surely one to keep a real eye on is Skinners’ v St John’s Leatherhead. Last year Skinners’ claimed victory in a season of real upsets from them. They are looking good again this season but so too are St John’s, who will want a bit of payback after last year. Elsewhere, Maidstone Grammar welcome Chislehurst & Sidcup Grammar, while Wallington County Grammar are in action at St Olave’s Grammar.
Into London are one of the most special fixtures on the calendar, one of the most successful public schools in history, Dulwich College, against one of the most successful state schools in history, John Fisher. Both look to be playing on a pretty even level this year, while could make for an absolutely sensational game of rugby and a great day on Saturday. Not too far from there, Eltham College host Ravens Wood in what is usually a very competitive game, while Wimbledon College make the trip to Dartford Grammar School.
On the West of London, Cardinal Vaughan are at home against St Ignatius College, while Isleworth & Syon head to Claremont Fan Court. City of London Freemen’s meanwhile host Cedars and there is a massive game at Glyn School as they host London Oratory.
Merchant Taylors’ gear up for Rugby Week and out live stream of their game against Reading Blue Coat next Friday with a home game against Magdalen College, meanwhile Halliford are at home against St Richard Reynolds and Latymer Upper head to Gunnersbury.
North of the capital QES Barnet head to St Albans, while in Bishop’s Stortford there are two big games as Culford travel to take on Bishop’s Stortford College and in form Richard Hale head to Bishop’s Stortford High School for a key Schools Vase encounter.
Further East, Brentwood host Langley Park and RGS Colchester host Wymondham College, while in Cambridge there are two massive games, Royal Hospital School head to The Leys, while the hugely in form and impressive Bedford Modern are at the Perse.
Up the M11 and A1 into Rutland, Oakham, who have started the year sensationally, are hosting rivals Oundle, while in Nottinghamshire Trent College welcome Worksop College.
Yorkshire plays host to some great games, Hymers College are at Pocklington, with Grammar School at Leeds visiting Scarborough College. Look out for Bradford Grammar School though, they were brilliant prior to half term and will look to continue that against Yarm, who travel down from the North East where two sides playing some top rugby will face off, Dame Allan’s and Barnard Castle.
The North West has some crackers too, chief among them perhaps being Lymm High School v St Ambrose College, two schools with great rugby history. Wirral Grammar are playing good rugby and have a challenging trip to Manchester Grammar, while along the road Wilmslow High host The Grange.
Birkenhead make the short trip to take on AKS Lytham, with Merchant Taylors’ continuing their quietly impressive season with a home game against Scarisbrick Hall. Meanwhile St Anselm’s and Altrincham Grammar go head to head in what should be a good game.
If you are interested in having your game live streamed, please either fill in the form on the homepage or contact richard@nextgenxv.com – we would love to cover your games!
