As December nears the rugby keeps on flowing, and there are some sensational games of school rugby to keep us all entertained as the festive period nears this week.
There is action on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, and on Wednesday with Schools Vase and Bowl regional finals to be played, County Cup action, and Wilsmlow RFC, Colchester RFC, and the world famous Cardiff Arms Park among the many highlights of the week.
Tuesday
Bishop’s Stortford College v Bishop’s Stortford High
Felsted 2nd XV v Woodbridge
Marling v Monmouth 2nd XV
Royal Latin v Aylesbury Grammar 2nd XV
Tuesday’s highlight is surely the Bishop’s Stortford derby, as Bishop’s Stortford College host Bishop’s Stortford High School in what is always an awesome occasion. There are also a few 1st XV v 2nd XV games, Woodbridge heading to Felsted to take on their 2nd XV, with Monmouth 2nd XV at Marling, and Royal Latin hosting Aylesbury Grammar’s 2nd XV.
Wednesday
Ashville Harrogate v Harrogate Grammar 2nd XV
Bishop Thomas Grant v Graveney
Canterbury Academy v Beth’s Grammar
Cardinal Vaughan v Grey Court
Cathedral School, Llandaff v Wycliffe College – at Cardiff Arms Park
Cedars v Ewell Castle
Cheltenham Bournside v Pate’s Grammar
Christ College v Ysgol Gyfun Bro Morgannwg
City of Oxford College v Samuel Whitbread Academy
Coopers’ Coborn v Tiffin (Schools Bowl)
Culford v King’s Ely
Dr Challoner’s Grammar v Magdalen College
Durham v Mount St Mary’s College (Schools Vase)
Fallibroome Academy v The Grange
Fulham Boys v Saints Cecilia’s
Gosforth Academy v Dame Allan’s (County Cup SF)
Haberdashers’ Adams v Newcastle-Under-Lyme
Haberdashers’ Elstree v QES Barnet
Halliford v Claire’s Court
Hayes v Roebucks Rugby Academy
Hymers College v Scarborough College
KES Five Ways v Leicester Grammar (Schools Bowl)
KES Lichfield v Queen Mary’s Grammar
King’s Grantham v Nottingham High
King’s Macclesfield v Wirral Grammar – at Wilmslow RFC
Leighton Park v Reddam House
Llandovery College v Coleg Gwent
Lymm High v Fallibroome
Manchester Grammar v Rishworth
Marsh Academy v Duke of York’s Royal Military
Merchant Taylors’ v Ripley St Thomas (County Plate SF)
Next Phase Academy v Tring
Old Swinford Hospital v Ivybridge Community College (Schools Vase)
Orelans Park v St Richard Reynolds
Piggot v Windsor Boys
Plymouth College v Callywith College
Prince Henry’s High v Cleeve
Ravens Wood v Langley Park
Shrewsbury v Wrekin College
Sir Henry Floyd Grammar v Tring
Sir Thomas Rich’s v St Peter’s Gloucester
St Joseph’s College v Whitgift – at Colchester RFC
The Oratory v Cokethorpe
Tunbridge Wells Grammar v Trinity Sevenoaks
Warwick v Solihull
Wellingborough v Bedford Modern
There are a number of games at club venues on Wednesday, most exciting of all perhaps being the historic Cardiff Arms Park which sees Cathedral School Llandaff and Wycliffe College go head to head in their huge classic clash.
Colchester RFC plays host to two sides licking their wounds, one of them, St Joseph’s College after a tough defeat at the same venue to Ipswich. They face Whitgift, who are looking to recover after a late defeat to Haileybury on Saturday, so expect both side to be putting in absolutely everything into this.
At Wilmslow RFC to other cracking sides go head to head, a strong Wirral Grammar side taking on a King’s Macclesfield side that have been superb this year. They may have lost their unbeaten record to Sedbergh on Saturday, but that fate befalls most, this King’s Macclesfield side is exceptional.
Over in the Schools Vase there are two key regional finals taking place, reigning champions Mount St Mary’s College, who are in good form, head to former Cup finalists Durham, who are also playing some great rugby, in what should be a top game. In the South West another former Cup finalist is in action, Old Swinford Hospital, who take on shared 2020 U15 Cup champions Ivybridge Community College.
In the Bowl regional finals, Tiffin head to Coopers’ Coborn in London & South East, while in the Midlands Leicester Grammar are at KES Five Ways.
There is County Cup semi final action for Gosforth Academy and Dame Allan’s, while it’s County Plate semi final action for Merchant Taylors’ and Ripley St Thomas’.
Outside of any knockouts there is an awesome fixture between Warwick and Solihull, look out for plenty of action on our TikTok channel from that one, meanwhile in the South West there is another big one at Sir Thomas Rich’s host St Peter’s Gloucester.
City of Oxford College v Samuel Whitbread Academy has entertainment written all over it, so too Wellingborough v Bedford Modern, two sides on the up this season.
The fixtures keep on coming on Wednesday, Hymers College are hosting Scarborough College, while there is a Harrogate derby, Ashville College hosting Harrogate Grammar’s 2nd XV. In the North West Manchester Grammar welcome Rishworth, while Fallibroome have a side at home to The Grange and away to Lymm High.
Lincolnshire sees King’s Grantham host Nottingham High, while on the other side of the Midlands Haberdashers’ Adams welcome Newcastle-Under-Lyme and KES Lichfield host Queen Mary’s Grammar, with Wrekin College heading to Shrewsbury.
Dr Challoner’s Grammar are hosting Magdalen College, with The Oratory and Cokethorpe going head to head, meanwhile Tring have a couple of sides out, one at Next Phase Academy and the other at Sir Henry Floyd’s Grammar. QES Barnet meanwhile head to Haberdashers’ Elstree, and in Suffolk Culford host King’s Ely.
In London Fulham Boys host Claires Court and Cardinal Vaughan host Grey Court, meanwhile Ewell Castle are at Cedars and Halliford host another of Claires Court’s sides. Hayes are at home against Roebucks Rugby Academy, with Ravens Wood welcoming Langley Park/
Elsewhere, Windsor Boys are at Piggot and Leighton Park welcome Reddam House, with St Richard Reynolds at Orleans Park. Meanwhile in Kent Tunbridge Wells Grammar host Trinity Sevenoaks, with Canterbury Academy hosting Beth’s Grammar, and Duke of York’s Royal Military heading to Marsh Academy. Graveny are meanwhile at Bishop Thomas Grant.
Over in Wales there are a couple of crackers, Christ College v Ysgol Gyfun Bro Morgannwg and Llandovery College v Coleg Gwent, while back in the South West of England Plymouth College host Callywith College, Cleve are at Prince Henry’s High, and Cheltenham Bournside go head to head in a local derby with Pate’s Grammar.
Thursday
Downside v Beechen Cliff
Dulwich College 2nd XV v Kingsdale
Queen’s College, Taunton v Stover
Thursday is a quieter day, in the South West Downside welcome Beechen Cliff’s non-ACE players for what should be a good game, while Queen’s College Taunton host Stover. In London Dulwich College’s 2nd XV are in action against Stover.