The draw for the 2023 Edwin Doran Surrey Schools Senior 7s has been made as Brighton College look to retain their title.

It was a maiden title for the south coast side last year, defeating 9 time finalists Wellington College 24-21 in the final, an both sides will return to the Richmond Athletic Ground on Wednesday 8^th March.

They will be part of a 52-team field, split into thirteen groups of four teams each, playing across 7 pitches on what is the single biggest one-day test in schools rugby, consisting of most of the very best school 7s sides in the country.

The tournament retains a familiar feel, with the thirteen groups winners progressing to the last 16 alongside the three top runners-up. The following eight best Surrey affiliated schools will compete for the Surrey Plate. The new addition, though, is that NextGenXV will be live streaming all of the action from pitch one – including the Ewdin Doran Surrey Schools Senior 7s Cup Final  at 5.05pm. You will be able to watch all the action live on our YouTube channel or through the embedded video below.

In the last 20 editions of the tournament (2021 and 2016 were cancelled) 11 sides have claimed the spoils. Standing clear of the pack are Millfield with five titles and Wellington College four, each has also reached the final 9 times in that period. Interestingly though, neither has won a title since 2015. The last five editions of the Edwin Doran Surrey Schools Senior 7s have been dominated by Epsom College and Cranleigh, Epsom winning back to back finals in 2019 and 2020, Cranleigh reaching three finals in a row, 2018, 2019, and 2020, winning in 2018.

Epsom College’s back to back titles are particularly impressive in the context of these last 20 tournaments, the only other team besides them, Millfield, and Wellington College to win two titles are SGS Filton College, won also went back to back in 2011 and 2012.

Could Brighton College break into that elite group this year? Their journey will begin from Group G where they will be alongside Welsh giants Whitchurch High, 2014 finalists St Joseph’s College, and three time Surrey Plate winners, St John’s Leatherhead – who have won the Plate more than any other side in the last 20 editions of the competition.

Wellington College are in Group A and will be up against Reading Blue Coat and two Surrey Schools, Caterham and KCS Wimbledon. Caterham actually won the Plate in 2017.

Winning the title in 2017 were Hampton, who won the Plate two years before. They are in Group E alongside Blundell’s, Berkhamsted, and The Cedars, a tricky group.

Five time champions Millfield will begin their chase for a first final since 2015 from Group F, where they will have Pangbourne College and a pair of Surrey Schools for company, Wallington County Grammar and Halliford.

Epsom College’s campaign starts in Group I, which also features 2013 champions Oaklands College, London Oratory, and Bishop Wordsworth’s. The side they vanquished in their two titles, Cranleigh, who also won the Plate in ‘07, are in Group K, a really tricky group that includes Schools Cup semi finalists Finborough, 2017 finalists Beechen Cliff, and Radley College.

Surprisingly, Harrow have never won the title. Reaching the final in 2018 and last year claimed the Plate in a high quality edition of the Plate, beating Epsom 31-5 in the final. They have a great chance of a first title this year and will start the campaign from Group C alongside Bedford, Emanuel, and ACE side Bishop Wand.

Whitgift are another side that it may surprise some to hear they have never won the Cup, however they have won the Plate twice, 2020 and 2014. They are in Group H alongside Eastbourne College, Abingdon, and Reigate Grammar School. RGS Guildford are also two time Plate winners and are placed in Group B after a really strong 15s season. Joining them are ACE side City of Oxford College, 2011 Plate winners Tiffin, and 2007 Cup finalists, Coleg Sir Gar from Wales.

Beating Sir Gar in that 2007 was that much storied St Benedict’s side, their tournament begins in Group J alongside Rugby, Eton College, and 2006 Plate winners John Fisher, who have twice reached the Cup final.

St George’s College Weybridge line up in Group L, the Surrey side are late replacements for Kirkham Grammar School and line up against Shiplake College and two more Surrey Schools, Saint Cecilia’s and Reed’s.

Group D contains ambitions ACE side Gordon’s, who are joined by City of London Freemen’s, Hurstpierpoint College, and a Seaford College side with bags of potential. Group M, finally, contains Felsted, Dulwich College, USP College, and St Edward’s Oxford, a group that looks as though it could be incredibly competitive.

Without doubt the Edwin Doran Surrey Schools Senior 7s will once again be one of the greatest days of school rugby on the calendar. A major indicator of form ahead of the Rosslyn Park National School 7s on the one hand, but a major achievement all of its own on the other.

The 8^th March at the Richmond Athletic Ground is going to be a day to remember.

2023 Edwin Doran Surrey Schools Senior 7s Draw:

*Denotes Surrey Affiliated School

Edwin Doran Surrey Schools Senior 7s Past Champions

2022 Brighton College

2021 Cancelled

2020 Epsom College

2019 Epsom College

2018 Cranleigh

2017 Hampton

2016 Cancelled

2015 Wellington College

2014 Millfield

2013 Oaklands College

2012 SGS Filton College

2011 SGS Filton College

2010 Millfield

2009 Wellington College

2008 Collegiate

2007 St Benedict’s

2006 Wellington College

2005 Millfield

2004 Ivybridge Community College

2003 Millfield

2002 Wellington College

2001 Millfield

Surrey Plate Past Champions

2022 Harrow

2021 Cancelled

2020 Whitgift

2019 RGS Guildford

2018 St John’s, Leatherhead

2017 Caterham

2016 Cancelled

2015 Hampton

2014 Whitgift

2013 St John’s, Leatherhead

2012 RGS Guildford

2011 Tiffin

2010 Richmond Upon Thames College

2009 N/A

2008 St John’s, Leatherhead

2007 Cranleigh

2006 John Fisher

2005 Wimbledon College