Christ College claimed the title at their own Christ College Brecon 7s this Sunday for the first time this century after a fantastic day of 7s in Wales.
It has been an outstanding couple of years of rugby a Christ College, and victory on Sunday was well deserved up such efforts and achievements in recent times. That their opponents in the final were their greatest and oldest rivals, Llandovery College was the icing on the cake.
It was a killer blow for Llandovery too, who were magnificent en route to a second final here in a row, defeating Millfield along the way, but ultimately the hosts had the edge in the final for a 39-12 victory.
The group stages had seen Christ College top the most competitive of all the groups, going through unbeaten while Millfield, Coleg y Cymoedd, and Dean Close behind them all took points off each other. Spare a thought for Collegiate in that group, though they will be very excited for their live streamed Colston’s 7s tournament here on NextGenXV in a couple of weeks after this battle hardening experience.
Topping the group meant a quarter finals against Clifton College for Christ College, the top two in each group went to the Cup quarters, while third and fourth went to the Plate, and fifth to the Bowl semi finals.
Clifton had finished second to Kirkham Grammar School but could do little about the hosts in their quarter final, going down 40-19, Kirkham meanwhile went down 26-17 to Millfield, who had finished in second place in that ultra-competitive pool earlier.
Reigning champions Ysgol Gyfun Glantaf’s title defence had begun well, topping a tough looking group to reach the quarter finals, and a semi final was in the offing after a great 33-10 quarter final victory over Sir Thomas Rich’s, arguably the strongest state school in England this year, who had finished second in Group D behind Llandovery. Llandovery, meanwhile, faced Malvern College, who had finished behind Glantaf, and sealed their semi finals with a 24-12 victory.
That left us with three Welsh sides in the quarter finals, Christ College, Glantaf, and Llandovery College, alongside English side Millfield, and the prospect of a repeat of last year’s Glantaf v Llandovery final.
Llandovery got their side of that deal done, earning a brilliant 38-12 victory over Millfield, but Christ College were simply too good for Glantaf on the day, winning 43-12.
For there the quality and confidence was simply coursing through Christ College as they stormed to that 39-12 victory and a first title at their own tournament this century. You would not be surprised to see more silverware heading their way in the coming months.
Over in the Plate Hartpury College secured the silverware, finishing fourth in Group B they met Coleg y Cymoedd in the quarter finals and sealed a tight 19-12 victory to set up a semi final with Coleg Sir Gar, who had beaten Whitchurch High 19-12.
Hartpury were sizzling in that semi, winning 31-5 and would meet Dean Close in the final after they won a thrilling semi 33-31 over Stourport High. In the final Hartpury just had too much left in the tank and sealed an impressive 29-7 victory to claim the silverware.
The final piece of silverware went to Taunton School, who claimed the Bowl after a stunning 52-0 victory over Collegiate in the final, a final performance to remember.
Overall though, it was a tournament to remember, and more so for Christ College than anyone else. Their time has been coming, and now it looks to be here.
Champions – Christ College
Plate – Hartpury College
Bowl – Taunton School
Cup
Final: Christ College 39-12 Llandovery College
Semi Finals: Christ College 43-12 Glantaf, Llandovery College 38-12 Millfield
Quarter Finals: Christ College 40-19 Clifton College, Glantaf 33-10 Sir Thomas Rich’s, Llandovery College 24-12 Malvern College, Millfield 26-17 Kirkham
Plate
Final: Hartpury College 29-7 Dean Close
Semi Finals: Hartpury College 31-5 Coleg Sir Gar, Dean Close 33-31 Stourport High
Quarter Finals: Hartpury College 19-12 Coleg y Cymoedd, Coleg Sir Gar 19-12 Whitchurch High, Stourport High 35-26 CAVC, Dean Close 21-7 Cathedral School Llandaff
Bowl
Final: Taunton 52-0 Collegiate
Semi Finals: Taunton v Bye, Collegiate 20-19 Llandovery College 2nd VII
Final Group Standings
Group A
| P | School | W | D | L | Points |
| 1 | Christ College | 4 | 0 | 0 | 16 |
| 2 | Millfield | 2 | 0 | 2 | 8 |
| 3 | Coleg y Cymoedd | 2 | 0 | 2 | 8 |
| 4 | Dean Close | 2 | 0 | 2 | 8 |
| 5 | Collegiate | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
Group B
| P | School | W | D | L | Points |
| 1 | Kirkham Grammar | 4 | 0 | 0 | 16 |
| 2 | Clifton College | 3 | 0 | 1 | 12 |
| 3 | Cathedral School, Llandaff | 2 | 0 | 2 | 8 |
| 4 | Hartpury College | 1 | 0 | 3 | 4 |
| 5 | Llandovery College 2nd VII | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
Group C
| P | School | W | D | L | Points |
| 1 | Ysgol Gyfun Glantaf | 4 | 0 | 0 | 16 |
| 2 | Malvern College | 3 | 0 | 1 | 12 |
| 3 | Coleg Sir Gar | 2 | 0 | 2 | 8 |
| 4 | Cardiff & Vale College | 1 | 0 | 3 | 4 |
| 5 | Taunton School | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
Group D
| P | School | W | D | L | Points |
| 1 | Llandovery College | 4 | 0 | 0 | 16 |
| 2 | Sir Thomas Rich’s | 3 | 0 | 1 | 12 |
| 3 | Stourport High | 2 | 0 | 2 | 8 |
| 4 | Whitchurch High | 1 | 0 | 3 | 4 |
| 5 | Walkover | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
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
