This weekend the schools rugby ramps up despite a number of fixtures already being lost to waterlogged pitches.
There are games on Friday night and Saturday, and a number of U17 games also as sides look to give players experience on the field despite missing a number of frontline U18 players to the U18 Academy League and various other representative formats.
The NextGenXV Spring League also launches this Friday as Eastbourne College and Hayes go head to head in the opening game of the league in what should be a great encounter between two sides that are very much on the up.
Schools Rugby Weekend Fixtures
Friday
Eastbourne College v Hayes (NextGenXV Spring League)
Hartpury College Bulls v St Joseph’s College
The NextGenXV Spring League kick off takes place at Horsham RFC where Eastbourne College, so impressive at times last term, not least in their Cup campaign, and Hayes, whose partnership with Ealing Trailfinders has seen them progress rapidly, go head to head.
They are in a fantastic looking group with Glyn, Reed’s, and NextGenXV Spring League founder Gordon’s that looks as though it is going to be incredibly competitive from start to finish.
The fixtures are going to come thick and fast too, with Eastbourne back in action at Horsham again a week on Friday against Glyn, before Gordon’s and Reed’s meet on the Wednesday, followed a week later by Gordon’s second game, away to Hayes.
The Spring League is designed to give competitive, fun, and engaging fixtures for players through the spring period and Friday night should prove a great start to that!
Also on Friday is Hartpury College Bulls v St Joseph’s College, the Hartpury College U17 side again challenging themselves against a big name on the school scene having taken on the likes of Clifton College, Millfield, and Kirkham Grammar already this term, this should be another fun one.
Saturday
Coopers’ Coborn v St George’s, Harpenden
Dollar Academy v Merchiston Castle
Durham U17 v RGS Newcastle U17
George Heriot’s v Edinburgh Academy
Glasgow Academy v Stewart’s Melville
Glasgow High v George Watson’s College
John Fisher v Chislehurst & Sidcup Grammar
Kelvinside Academy v Morrison’s Academy
KES Stratford v Solihull
Millfield v Christ College
Mount St Mary’s College U17 v Loughborough Grammar U17
QEGS Wakefield v Lancaster RGS
Sedbergh U17 v Northampton School for Boys U17
Tiffin v Hampton
Wirral Grammar U17 v Calday Grange Grammar U17
Saturday sees a number of top fixtures, among them Hampton heading to Tiffin in a top South West London spring fixture. Both had some great moments last term.
So too did Millfield, one of the very best in the country last term. They are without a number of their players due to academy action but will host one of Wales’ finest, Christ College Brecon, who were outstanding last term as well.
In Yorkshire two giants of school rugby go head to head in a bit of a Roses derby, Yorkshire’s QEGS Wakefield hosting Lancashire’s Lancaster RGS. Further North into Scotland there is a busy day as Dollar Academy host Scottish Schools Cup winners Merchiston Castle, while beaten finalists Edinburgh Academy are at George Heriot’s. Glasgow sees Glasgow Academy host Stewart’s Melville and Glasgow High host George Watson’s College, two outstanding visiting sides, while elsewhere Kelvinside Academy host Morrison’s Academy.
Back in the South St George’s Harpenden are at Cooper’s Coborn and John Fisher welcome Chislehurst & Sidcup, while in the Midlands Solihull head to KES Stratford.
There are some fantastic U17 fixtures this weekend too, including some great derby games. Durham and RGS Newcastle go head to head in what is always one of the great school fixtures and one that has had plenty of excitement in the build-up to this North Eastern derby.
Over on the Wirral there is another fantastic U17 derby as Wirral Grammar host Calday Grange Grammar,another fixture that almost always delivers high quality rugby.
Another game surely certain to deliver top quality is Sedbergh v Northampton School for Boys. Both sides did some wonderful work at U18 level this year, and with some sensational U17 players in the mix as well. Those now get the chance to run out against each other in what should be a great game. So too should Mount St Mary’s College U17 v Loughborough Grammar U17, two sides that played some lovely rugby at U18 rugby and have promising U17s too.
Midweek Results
Wednesday
Glyn 7-20 Tiffin
Millfield 0-15 Sir Thoms Rich’s
Thursday
Coopers’ Coborn 19-19 St Peter’s Gloucester (Schools Bowl QF)
Midweek also saw some fixtures, though a number are still to come in. Sir Thomas Rich’s had a day to remember on Wednesday with a 15-0 victory over Millfield. It might not have been Millfield’s full side, but it was still a mighty achievement for the Gloucestershire state school.
Tiffin are in solid form ahead of the weekend’s game against Hampton, beating NextGenXV Spring League side Glyn 20-7 on Wednesday, a fine performance.
Meanwhile on Thursday there was Schools Bowl quarter final action as Cooper’s Coborn and St Peter’s Gloucester went head to head in an epic contest that ended in a brilliant 19-19 draw.
