On Sunday Oakham School will host their annual 7s tournament, one of the key building blocks in the region ahead of the Rosslyn Park National School 7s.

Coming just 48 hours after their U18 Schools Cup semi final against Finborough, which you can watch below and on our YouTube channel, it marks an exciting weekend for the Rutland School, though naturally it also means they are likely to have to mix up their U18 squad a little.

They will not be drawing on too many U16s though because there is also an U16 tournament, which we will preview below this U18 preview.

U18 Oakham 7s

There are twenty teams in the U18 draw, divided into four groups of five teams each and there are four trophies up for grabs as well. Top teams in each group will go to the Cup semi finals, second place to the Plate, third to the Bowl, and fourth to the Shield.

Hosts Oakham are in Group A, Oakham won the Bowl last year in a cracking final with Stowe. Joining them are their great Rutland rivals Uppingham, London’s Campion School, Suffolk’s Framlingham College, and 2019 finalists King’s Macclesfield, who  have had a magnificent season to date.

Group B meanwhile contains Bedford, the most successful side in the Oakham 7s having won the title five times, 2019, 2017, 2016, 2014, and 2013. Their U16s won last year and many of that side will be in this year’s squad, so they are a side to watch. Alongside them are another, 2015 finalists Denstone College, who have been brilliant this year. Also in the Group are Leicester Grammar School, Bromsgrove, and last year’s Plate champions, Royal Hospital School.

Group C contains last year’s runners up, Felsted, who are having a good season. Also in the group are last year’s Plate runners up, Bromsgrove. St Joseph’s College will be a side to look out for after success at Eltham College in midweek, while St Edward’s Oxford are always competitive and Oakham’s 2^nd VII would love to make a big impact.

Group D hosts the reigning champions, Rugby School, and they will be among the favourites this year. They are in a brutally tough group though chief of all through Stowe, a magnificent side this year and the reigning Rosslyn Park U18 Vase champions. Also in the group are another of this year’s giants, Ipswich, plus a Stamford side that has had some brilliant performances – their draw with Oakham is the closest anyone came in the fifteen-a-side season to beating them. Norwich complete what is certainly the group of death.

U16 Oakham 7s

Like the U18s, there are four groups in the U16 tournament. Unlike the U18s, there are 18 teams rather than 20, meaning two groups of five and two groups of four. The format remains the same though, with top reaching the Cup semis, second the Plate, third the Bowl, and fourth the Shield.

Bedford are the reigning champions and line up alongside Rugby, 2017 champions Stowe, and 2014 champions St Joseph’s College. A beauty of a group.

Group B is one of the five team groups and contains 2016 champions Uppingham, who will line up against 2019 champions Bromsgrove. Joining them are Campion, Felsted, and Framlingham College.

Over in Group C there are a couple of Oakham’s near rivals, Oundle and Stamford, as well as St Edward’s Oxford and Ipswich’s Royal Hospital School.

Group D is the other five team group and contains the hosts, Oakham. Alongside them are Leicester Grammar School, Norwich, Ipswich, and the 2^nd VII from St Joseph’s College.

U16 Groups

Roll of Honour

2022 U18 Rugby, U16 Bedford

2021 Cancelled

2020 Cancelled

2019 U18 Bedford, U16 Bromsgrove

2018 Cancelled

2017 U18 Bedford, U16 Stowe

2016 U18 Bedford, U16 Uppingham

2015 U18 Wellington College, U16 Bedford

2014 U18 Bedford, U16 St Joseph’s College

2013 U18  Bedford, U16 Denstone College