As the weather thaws out, the hope is that this weekend will see more games able to go ahead after a bit of a freeze-out on the schools rugby front last weekend.
There is a busy line-up, with games on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday of all different varieties, the length and breadth of the country.
With the Premiership Rugby U18 Academy League having a bye week, many sides will have plenty of players returning to their ranks for what may well be their final fifteen-a-side appearances for their schools.
Weekend Preview
Friday
QES Kirkby Lonsdale v Saint Hilda College
KES Camp Hill v Solihull
Claremont Fan Court v Dunottar
Three fixtures on Friday night and it’s going to be a busy weekend for Solihull, who take on KES Camp Hill on Friday before heading to the Seaford 10s on Sunday. Elsewhere, Claremont Fan Court host Dunottar, while QES Kirkby Lonsdale host Saint Hilda College.
Saturday
Bablake & King Henry VIII v Sedbergh U17
Barnard Castle U17 Festival: Barnard Castle, Dame Allan’s, Durham, RGS Newcastle
Birkenhead v Calday Grange Grammar
Brentwood v Campion
Chislehurst & Sidcup Grammar v Dartford Grammar
Dollar Academy v Edinburgh Academy
Dollar Academy U17 v George Watson’s College U17
Edinburgh Academy 2nd XV v Glasgow Academy
George Heriot’s v Kelvinside Academy
Glasgow High v Dundee High
KES Birmingham v Haberdashers’ Abraham Darby
King’s Macclesfield v St Anselm’s College
Lancaster RGS v St Ambrose College
Liverpool College U17 v Kirkham Grammar U17
Manchester Grammar U17 v St Mary’s College U17
Merchiston Castle U17 v Stewart’s Melville U17
Old Swinford Hospital v Loughborough Grammar
Queen Victoria v Hutchesons’ Grammar
Scarisbrick Hall v Bolton
Sir Thomas Rich’s v Warwick
St Aloysius’ College v Morrison’s Academy
St George’s, Harpenden v Tiffin
Whitgift v Hampton
As so often this term, there is a real mix of 1st XV and U17 fixtures on Saturday. There are some wonderful fixtures in each too, not least in South East London where Whitgift host Hampton, a game between two outstanding sides that should prove to be incredible competitive.
Another absolutely massive, and likely very even contest, is Sir Thomas Rich’s v Warwick, two sides that had strong terms before Christmas and ought to be able to play some lovely rugby. Not too far from there is another cracker as this excellent Old Swinford Hospital side hosts Loughborough Grammar. Along the road KES Birmingham are in action again, hosting Haberdashers’ Abraham Darby.
In the South East there is a great Essex contest as Brentwood host Campion, two teams that have had some wonderful sides. Meanwhile Chislehurst & Sidcup Grammar host Dartford Grammar and Tiffin make the trip to Hertfordshire to take on St George’s, Harpenden.
The North West has some great action, not least one of last term’s very best sides, King’s Macclesfield. They host St Anselm’s College, and though King’s Macc will be missing a couple of Lambs, they will be really excited about this one. Also in the North West, Lancaster RGS are in action in a big game against St Ambrose College, while Bolton are at Scarisbrick Hall and Calday Grange Grammar head to Birkenhead.
On the U17 front one of the most interesting events of the day will be at Barnard Castle as they host a Festival involving the likes of Dame Allan’s, Durham, and RGS Newcastle, where next year’s tackle height laws are likely to be tried out.
Sedbergh’s U17s have a trip on their hands to take on Bablake & King Henry VIII, both sides have been really busy in this January busy. Sedbergh’s rivals Kirkham Grammar are sending an U17 side to take on Liverpool College U17, while Manchester Grammar U17 host St Mary’s College U17.
There are U17 fixtures in Scotland too, with four of Scotland’s biggest sides in action. Merchiston Castle U17 hjost Stewart’s Melville U17, and Dollar Academy U17 host George Watson’s College U17.
There is plenty of U18 action in Scotland too, not least Dollar Academy v Edinburgh Academy, a massive game. Edinburgh Academy have a busy weekend, they send a 2nd XV to take on Glasgow Academy.
George Heriot’s are hosting Kelvinside Academy, while Morrison’s Academy head to St Aloysius’ College, with Glasgow High hosting Dundee High, and Queen Victoria School welcome Hutchesons’ Grammar.
Sunday
Lambs v Irish Exiles – See Preview Here
Seaford 10s – See Preview Here
Sunday is a big day, with the first Lambs fixture of the season and then on Sunday a huge event at Seaford College as sixteen teams gather for the annual Seaford 10s, won last year by Trinity. Both of those occasions are previewed elsewhere, and the Seaford 10s will be live streamed here on NextGenXV.
