Sunday sees the Christ College Brecon 7s take place as half term draws to a close and the school 7s season begins a period that will see huge tournaments come thick and fast.

Last year Ysgol Gyfun Glantaf claimed the title in real style, beating Llandovery College in the final after knocking out hosts Christ College and ACE giants Hartpury College along the way in the knockouts.

Glantaf are back again this year, part of a 20 strong field of teams that are split into four groups of five teams each.

The top two sides from each group will reach the Cup quarter finals, with the 3^rd and 4^th placed teams in the groups heading to the Plate quarter finals, and last place going to the Bowl semi finals.

The tournament is one of the key competitions of the season, a key staging post en route to the Rosslyn Park National School 7s, and there will be plenty of challengers for that national title at the Christ College 7s.

Christ College themselves are in Group A alongside fellow Welshmen Coleg y Cymoedd, one of six sides involved that did not attend last year. Joining those two are Millfield, the most successful side in tournament history, that have won six titles this century including back to back effort in 2018 and 2019 before the two year covid enforced tournament hiatus. Completing the group are two more English schools, the impressive Dean Close, and formidable Collegiate, whose own 7s tournament takes place the following week and will be live streamed here on NextGenXV.

Group B contains 2017 champions Kirkham Grammar School, who reached last year’s quarter finals and will be among the contenders again this year. Similarly Clifton College, who beat Millfield in the quarter finals last year before a tight defeat to Llandovery College in the semi finals, whose 2^nd VII are in this group as well, another of the newcomers. Joining those two are Welsh side Cathedral School Llandaff and English giants Hartpury College who, as mentioned, lost narrowly to eventual champions Glantaf in last year’s quarter finals.

Group C contains the champions, Glantaf, and they will be up against two major Welsh challengers in that group as well. Cardiff and Vale College are one of them, they won last year’s Plate competition, the other are Coleg Sir Gar, who were not involved last year but are sure to be a threat this year. There is another newcomer in the group, Taunton School, and the group is completed by Malvern College, who have had a strong season to date.

Group D contains the 2012 and 2003 champions, Llandovery College, who narrowly missed out on another title last year with that defeat to Glantaf in the final. Alongside them are another former title winner, King’s Worcester, who won in 2013. Welshmen Whitchurch High School could be big challengers from Group D, and there are two newcomers that are sure to make big impacts as well, ACE side Stourport High School, and Sir Thomas Rich’s, one of the strongest state schools in England.

All in all it looks as though it is going to be an incredibly strong field and a highly competitive tournament that should kick off the second half of term in style.

Christ College 7s Groups:

Past Champions

2022 Glantaf

2021 Cancelled

2020 Cancelled

2019 Millfield

2018 Millfield

2017 Kirkham Grammar

2016 Cancelled

2015 Millfield

2014 Cancelled

2013 King’s Worcester

2012 Llandovery College

2011 Ellesmere College

2010 Cancelled

2009 Millfield

2008 Cancelled

2007 Cancelled

2006 Millfield

2005 Millfield

2004 Cancelled

2003 Llandovery College

2002 St Edward’s, Oxford

2001 Wellington College

Plate Winners

2022 Cardiff & Vale College

2021 Cancelled

2020 Cancelled

2019 Eastbourne College

2018 King’s Worcester

2017 Hartpury College

2016 Cancelled

2015 Cheltenham College

Bowl Winners

2022 Brentwood

2021 Cancelled

2020 Cancelled

2019 Campion

2018 Ysgol Bro Dinefwr

2017 Christ College