After months of waiting, culminating in a hectic two weeks of pre-season fixtures, the 2023/24 Schools Rugby Season is finally upon us and what an opening weekend we have in store.
Eleven fixtures to kick us off on Friday night, hundreds of fixtures on Saturday night, and our first LIVE Schools Rugby fixture on the 2023/24 season as Rugby School host Oakham School on Saturday at 3.30pm. Rugby School celebrating 200 years since William Webb Ellis began the game, Oakham School the reigning Continental Tyres U18 Schools Cup champions. You can watch it all live on the NextGenXV YouTube Channel or by clicking on the embedded link below.
With the Rugby World Cup also beginning this weekend it really could not be a more special time for the game. What better time for school players to be inspired that to watch the best in the business do their stuff on the world stage, what better way as well to realise how special your time in school rugby is – free to play fast, to enjoy the game, to take risks. All too often at senior level we see stagnation and rugby by numbers, school rugby could not be further from that and for those taking their first steps into top end schools rugby this year, be glad, schools rugby is more Finn Russell than it is caterpillar rucks.
Honing in on the school game, this year we would love to feature as many of your tries and good bits of play as possible – do please send them in to us on angus@nextgenxv.com where we will put them together to make some highlights from each week.
We will also be live streaming as many games as we possibly can, all you have to do to get the ball rolling is to get in touch with us – we will travel to any school and cover any game, live streaming is for all.
Equally, please get in touch with the content that you want to read, see, and hear from us – while many of the items that you are used to, such as this weekly preview, will stay we also want to make sure that the content we put out is the content that you the readers want to read.
With that in mind, here is the first weekend preview of the 2023/24 season!
Ten to Watch
As ever, we begin with ten fixtures that we have picked out for a more in depth look, ten fixtures that look as though they may stand out this weekend. Though of course being the first weekend of the season there is an element of guesswork as from is yet to be shown. Nonetheless, there are some brilliant fixtures to choose from!
Harrow v Clifton College
As far as brilliant fixtures go there are not many more brilliant than Harrow v Clifton College, a new addition to the schedule for this year and a fantastic one at that. Two of the best teams in the country last year going head to head on the opening day of a season where both are expected to be among the very best in the business again. Harrow claimed the Daily Mail Trophy and the Rosslyn Park National School 7s titles last year and look just as formidable this, Clifton College might not have claimed major silverware but they were in the hunt every time they laced their boots. One of the great concepts with this fixture as well is that kick off is a later to accommodate junior age-groups playing on the field first, creating a building atmosphere through the day such as they get in the southern hemisphere. It’s the start to the season of dreams, to heavyweights going head to head in front of a huge crowd. What a start.
John Fisher v Eton College
A classic early season fixture and arguably the biggest state vs public school game in the country; John Fisher, one of the most successful state schools on the rugby field, against Eton College, the most well known public school on the planet. A clash of cultures in many ways and that is what makes this one of the great fixtures on the calendar, one that whets the appetite every year. Eton College have won four of the last five of these games, Fisher’s victory coming in a 26-17 victory at Eton College in September 2019, but this is also the first time that this fixture has been played in Croydon since 2018, John Fisher are going to want to make a real mark at home, while Eton will be eager to get off to a strong start and show that they can go to a tricky away ground and do the job.
Merchiston Castle v George Watson’s College
Arguably the biggest fixture in Scotland? Certainly one of, and certainly two of the most storied sides in all of Scottish rugby. Both sides already have games under their belts and both have the confidence of victories, though George Watson’s possibly have more – they have ben scoring points for fun, including in an impressive display against RGS Newcastle last week. Last year these two met each other twice, but not until much later in the season. George Watson’s took the first victory, 19-14, but in the Cup Quarter Finals it was Merchiston Castle that came out on top, 31-11 en route to another Scottish Schools Cup title at Scottish Gas Murrayfield. It is rare for this fixture to come around so early, but what a sensational way to get the season off a running, and what a momentum builder for the side that comes out on top.
RGS Newcastle v St Peter’s, York
These two have had some cracking sides in recent times and it would be great to see them both have strong seasons again this year. As mentioned, RGS’ pre-season has seen them hosting Scottish opposition and they have been made to work had, drawing with Edinburgh Academy and then having a tough day against George Watson’s. That was pre-season though, and that was with no Newcastle Falcons U18 players, now the real stuff begins. These two haven’t met since 2021, this was one of the fixtures lost to the passing of the Queen last year, so there is plenty of excitement for it to be back underway. It is a fixture that has been all over the place, both sides have had one-sided victories, but there have also been games such as the 39-36 victory for St Peter’s in 2019. Anything could happen. Their last five full-length games have seen RGS win 3 and St Peter’s 2, it feels open again on Saturday.
Rugby v Oakham – Live Streamed on NextGenXV
As our Live Streamed game this weekend, we have previewed this fixture in depth elsewhere and you can check that out here: Rugby v Oakham Preview. However live streamed or not this is one to whet the appetite. This is a massive season for Rugby School, who are pulling out all of the stops with this being the bicentenary year of their founding of the game, and what a way to kick it all of, hosting the reigning Continental Tyres U18 Schools Cup champions. It does not get much better than that. Do tune in for a 3.30pm kick off on Saturday in what is sure to be an absolute cracker.
Seaford College v Hampton
Another absolute beast of a game to get the season started with, two sides that have had great seasons in recent times and two sides that are packed with fantastic players, with the added bit of spice that the coaching teams know each other like the back of their hands. Both have extraordinary fixture lists and Seaford have really added to their this year, and having taken the spoils at the recent South Coast Kings pre season festival, little wonder – they are here to compete and compete well. So are Hampton though, and it all serves to really get the excitement ramped up here. Hampton have had the better of this one, a Seaford College victory in 2021 ending a run of five victories in a row in this fixture for Hampton, who got their own back in 2022 with a 24-6 victory at Cobham RFC. It should be a cracker, and it’s another epic game with which to get the season started.
Stowe v Stamford
Another big big game, both had strong seasons last year and would love to build even further this year. Stowe may have lost two of the top 5 players in the country from last year in Henry Pollock and Archie McParland, but don’t let that fool you, they still have bags of quality and will have taken a huge amount from a top end pre-season encounter with Warwick last weekend. Stamford are a top outfit as well though, and know that a strong performance away at Stowe to open the account would get this season off to a brilliant start, just as they did last year with an incredibly impressive 12-10 victory. Indeed they have had the better of this fixture in general, winning six of the last eight, so they have reason to feel confident. So do Stowe, though, such is their quality and such is the inspirational setting of their home turf. It should be a superb game of schools rugby.
Tonbridge v Brighton College
This game is fascinating. The two met last weekend in a triangular at Brighton College, with KCS Wimbledon completing the trio. It was pre-season, there were some law adaptations, and scores were not published, so it is hard to know what impact that meeting will have had. However what it does mean is that both sides now know each other well and will know what they are going to be coming up against on Saturday, which just makes the game utterly fascinating. Last year Brighton College took victory fairly comfortably, but there was a sense that it might have been a bit of a building year for Tonbridge, such was the up and down nature of their season. This year there is a sense that this could be a spectacular game with which to start the season, Tonbridge will likely have plenty of old boys lining the touchlines and creating a tough atmosphere, but Brighton College have seen it all before and will simply be keen to get off to a strong start. It’s not a game to be missed!
Warwick v Bromsgrove
Barring unforeseen drama like Covid or major Royal deaths, this year might finally be the year where the brilliant tradition of this derby fixture between Warwick and Bromsgrove topping and tailing the season may happen again. It is always on the fixture list in that fashion, but not since 2019 has it been able to happen, where they actually met three times, Bromsgrove winning both schedule fixtures but Warwick taking victory in their meeting in the Cup. Last season they managed to get one meeting in, at Warwick in December, with Bromsgrove winning 24-22, so the visitors have good memories. But finally, hopefully, this year we have this great derby fixture at its best, a tone setter to start the season, and then a massive game to end it on. It is one of the great fixtures on the schools rugby calendar, and an absolutely fantastic way to start the season.
Whitgift v Sedbergh
Speaking of fantastic ways to start the season, how about two of the biggest names in global school rugby going head to head? Pre-season has been disjointed for both teams as a result of absences due to the U18 Academy League, both sides contribute players heavily, such is their quality. So this will really be a first proper run out for their 1st XVs as a unit. The last couple of times the sides have met Sedbergh have run away with things a little, such is their relentless quality of seemingly always being one of the best two or three in the country, but Whitgift only have to look back to that post-Covid tournament at Esher RFC in May 2021 for their last triumph against the men in brown. Both look as though they have really strong outfits this year and both certainly have the capacity for the spectacular, which makes this just about as appetizing a season opener as it is possible to have. It is, quite simply, not to be missed.
Around the Grounds
Of course there is so much more than just our Ten to Watch on this opening weekend, with eleven games on Friday and hundreds more on Saturday including triangulars, derby games, a Schools Vase game, and a whole lot more besides.
Friday 8th September
One game particularly jumps off the page and that is Bedford v Oundle, the traditional season opener between two sides that have had some wonderful teams down the years. Bedford had a decent season last year while Oundle perhaps didn’t enjoy their best, both will want to get off to a huge start this season to really start with some momentum.
A number of sides on Friday are taking on club opposition, Wells Cathedral School are in action at Wells RFC, with Truro School hosting Cornwall RFC, and Wisbech Grammar heading to Shelford RFC. All good testing fixtures ahead of the meat of the school season ahead of them.
A few sides are still in pre-season mode for Friday’s games, including Truro and Wisbech, so too Prior Park College and Downside, who meet at Combe Down RFC for what should be a fantastic game of rugby to kick things off with. Along the road at Taunton RFC Taunton School host Blundell’s, which will be a strong early season tester for Taunton against a Blundell’s side that were fantastic last year. Staying in the area, Wellington School are heading to QEH for what is labelled as a pre-season game but will certainly be one that both sides go all guns blazing at.
In Gloucestershire Pate’s Grammar head over to Hartpury College to take on Hartpury College Bulls in what should be a real tester with which to kick off their season, while crossing the border into Wales are Richard Huish, who take on the significant challenge of one of Welsh rugby’s most famous names, Llandovery College.
In the North of England there is a cracker, Durham v Harrogate Grammar. Durham have had some of the great school rugby teams and are always a strong side but they are going to come up against a significant test in this season opener, facing Harrogate Grammar School, who are surely one of the fastest growing rugby hotbeds in the country. This is one to watch. Over in the North West, it’s a pre-season game for Merchant Taylors’ Crosby as they host Calday Grange Grammar, but don’t expect too much about it to look too pre-season.
Friday Fixtures
Bedford v Oundle
Durham v Harrogate Grammar
Hartpury College Bulls v Pate’s Grammar
Llandovery College v Richard Huish
Merchant Taylors’, Crosby v Calday Grange Grammar (pre-season)
Prior Park College v Downside – at Combe Down RFC (pre-season)
QEH v Wellington School (pre-season)
Shelford RFC v Wisbech Grammar (pre-season)
Taunton School v Blundell’s – at Taunton RFC
Truro School v Cornwall RFC (pre-season)
Wells RFC v Wells Cathedral
Saturday 9th January
So to the first full on Saturday of the 2023/24 Schools Rugby season, a feast of top quality rugby right across the length and breadth of the country. At this stage predictions are an unknown, this is the first time that different year groups will be playing together competitively and throw in the scorching weather as well and it is as unpredictable as you like.
One prediction that can be made with confidence though is that this, like every season, will be the world to those involved. In pulling on their 1st XV shirt they are stepping into history. Many of those shirts are older than the ones that national sides in the Rugby World Cup will be pulling on, that is the history and the meaning of schools rugby – it is the heart and soul of the game, the birthplace of the game, and it remains the place where you will witness some of the most spectacular rugby in the game.
There are some special fixtures this weekend, among them Epsom College v St Paul’s, two sides that always seem to have the potential to mix it with the very best in the business, and in deed last year Epsom College were most definitely that. It should be a fantastic start to the season. Sticking in Surrey, RGS Guildford v The Judd is not to be missed. Both were absolutely brilliant last season, having seasons that will live long in the memory as some of the best ever, the hope is that both can kick on and do the same or better again this year, but either way their exploits last year make this one of the most hotly anticipated games of the opening weekend.
Also in the area is St John’s Leatherhead v Hurstpierpoint College, two sides that produce some highly entertaining rugby and will definitely see this as a chance to gain some early momentum in the season if they perform well.
It will also be worth watching Berkhamsted v RGS High Wycombe, RGS are without question one of the most successful state school sides ever and will relish the challenge of a trip to Berkhamsted, who have consistently been one of the best around recently, winning the Daily Mail Trophy in 2021.
King’s Macclesfield were absolutely sensational last season, having one of their greatest years. They start their season at home and it’s a tough start, hosting a Lancaster RGS side that is always competitive, but King’s will be desperate to pick up where they left off in 2022/23. So too will Kirkham Grammar School, who have firmly established themselves in the last 10 years as one of the powerhouses of the school game. They have a testing start though, heading to Wirral Grammar, who may not have the national success that Kirkham have, but have certainly been one of the toughest nuts to crack in the north west.
There is just so much all around the country to be excited about, how about a Yorkshire derby between to of school rugby’s most historically fantastic sides, Bradford Grammar and Ampleforth College, two giants of the 80s and early 90s. It is always a fixture to watch.
So too, further south, is Felsted v Haileybury, a fixture that has in recent times become a bit of a derby, despite them not being especially close geographically, as a result of their Saracens links. Staying in East Anglia though, there is a proper Norfolk/Suffolk derby in the form of Norwich v Royal Hospital School, two schools as well that have had some wonderful sides in recent times.
Also on the move from Suffolk are Ipswich School, now firmly established as one of the top schools in the game. They head to Uppingham, who were once very much in that category and would love to claim a big scalp to start the season off as they look to ascend that mountain once again. Another side on the rise, and what an amazing rise it has been – especially as a state school – is Northampton School for Boys. They host Wellington College, who will be looking to begin in ferocious style after a season last year that probably did not quite meet their high standards. They will be among the best this year though, and it says everything about the NSB rise though that while Wellington will be favourites, we should expect NSB to be in the game.
Another two sides that have really risen are Reading Blue Coat and Gordon’s, they meet on Saturday in what should be a great game with which to kick off the season. Further West Old Swinford Hospital host Monmouth, two sides that were absolutely fantastic last season and would love to start with a bang and build similarly strong seasons this year. So too Marlborough College, whose Cup run last year was fantastic, they have a tricky start against the ever-competitive Bloxham.
For some schools there is still a bit of a pre-season feeling to the start of the season, that is especially true for those beginning with some Triangular fixtures. Abingdon host a bit of an Oxford triangular as they welcome Magdalen College and St Edward’s Oxford. Pocklington do similarly for a Yorkshire triangular as they host Grammar School at Leeds and Scarborough College, while Shiplake College welcome two visitors from the South Coast, KES Southampton and Portsmouth Grammar School.
Jumping to the North of England, Barnard Castle have had a good few years and will be hoping for a strong start against Yorkshire’s Hymers College, who look as though they should have a strong side, while in Yorkshire Ashville Harrogate begin their season away to Hill House for what should be a good game.
Over in the North West, Lymm High are likely excited about their Old Boy Alex Mitchell starting for England, and they will be excited to get the season underway with a big fixture at home to Sandbach. It’s far from the only big start either, as Manchester Grammar welcome a Stockport Grammar side that contains some really wonderful players. So too St Anselm’s College, who host Cheadle Hulme in what is a great game to kick things off, and look out also for Scarisbrick Hall, who make the trip to The Grange while Altrincham Grammar are at Birkenhead. Top fixtures all round.
Further South there is Schools Vase action in the Midlands as Princethorpe College and King Henry VIII Coventry get the competition underway good and early. Also in the Midlands, Loughborough Grammar host Ratcliffe College, while there is a huge game to start things off in Worcester as Solihull travel to King’s Worcester, who had a thrilling draw with Hereford 6th form College in midweek, for what promises to be an absolute cracker.
Moving more towards the South West, Cheltenham College are always a side to keep an eye on, they start their campaign at home to a Kingswood side that had great fun hosting their pre-season Festival last week. Look out also for Collegiate v RGS Worcester, two real heavyweights going toe to toe.
Sir Thomas Rich’s, who looked good at the Hartpury pre-season Festival, are heading across the border to Wales to take on Christ College Brecon, that is a game that is definitely not to be missed. Nor is King’s College Taunton vs Dean Close, two sides that have had some absolutely magnificent sides in recent years, much like both Bristol Grammar and KES Bath, who meet in Bristol on Saturday.
Staying in the South West, Wycliffe College are welcoming Malvern College, that one should be very good, meanwhile Monkton Combe host King’s Bruton and Wrekin College head to Hereford Cathedral. There are also a couple of strong pre-season games as Plymouth College host Exeter School and Bryanston travel to Dauntsey’s.
On the opposite side of the country St Joseph’s College, who were also strong performers at Hartpury, get their season officially underway with a home game against RGS Colchester, while there is a good Norfolk/Suffolk derby as Framlingham College head to Gresham’s.
In Cambridge The Leys host Wymondham College, while Leicester Grammar head to Hertfordshire to face Wellingborough. Hertfordshire, as ever, has some strong games, St Albans host Bedford Modern, and St Albans really do look like a side to watch this year, while Mill Hill host Bishop’s Stortford High with their 2ndXV heading to QES Barnet. Richard Hale, who were superb last year, head to UCS.
Into the capital, KCS Wimbledon host Reed’s in what is an absolute cracker of a game to kick things off, while Emanuel have to sides in action, their 1st XV hosting Windsor Boys’, while their 2nd XV host The Cedars’ 1stXV.
Merchant Taylors’ welcome St George’s Harpenden to their magnificent grounds, while Halliford are at Claremont Fan Court and Campion travel to Coopers’ Cobron. Meanwhile in South West London Wallington County Grammar head to Tiffin.
In Surrey St George’s Weybridge host Pangoburne College in what is always a good game, and there is a bumper pre-season game as Cranleigh host Sherborne, games do not come much better than that.
Moving east, Worth host St Benedict’s, another that always seems to produce, while Reigate Grammar are at Colfe’s and St Olave’s host Cranbrook. Kent’s Sevenoaks v Caterham game looks a cracker, so too Duke of York’s Royal Military vs King’s Canterbury, while Ravens Wood v Skinners’ feels like it could be a top game, likewise Sir Joseph Williamson’s v Dartford Grammar.
Scotland meanwhile, after a busy fortnight, still has plenty to get excited about, perhaps nowhere more so than in Strathallan’s trip to Edinburgh Academy, that should be a fantastic game, as should Stewart’s Melville’s trip to Fettes College.
Loretto travel to Morrison’s Academy, while George Heriot’s are at St Leonards, meanwhile Glasgow High host Marr College and Glasgow Academy travel to St Columba’s. Elsewhere, Robert Gordon’s College host Bell Baxter, with Queen Victoria welcoming Kelvinside Academy, and Lomond travel to Balfron High.
Overall it looks like a bumper opening weekend that is going to be full of drama, excitement, passion, and no little quality!
Saturday Fixtures
Abingdon Triangular: Abingdon, Magdalen College, St Edward’s Oxford
Balfron High v Lomond
Barnard Castle v Hymers College
Berkhamsted v RGS High Wycombe
Birkenhead v Altrincham Grammar
Bradford Grammar v Ampleforth College
Bristol Grammar v KES Bath
Cheltenham College v Kingswood
Christ College v Sir Thomas Rich’s
Claremont Fan Court v Halliford
Colfe’s v Reigate Grammar
Collegiate v RGS Worcester
Coopers’ Coborn v Campion
Cranleigh v Sherborne (pre-season)
Dauntsey’s v Bryanston (pre-season)
Duke of York’s RMS v King’s Canterbury
Edinburgh Academy v Strathallan
Emanuel v Windsor Boys’
Emanuel 2nd XV v The Cedars
Epsom College v St Paul’s
Felsted v Haileybury
Fettes College v Stewart’s Melville
Glasgow High v Marr College
Gresham’s v Framlingham College
Hereford Cathedral v Wrekin College
Hill House v Ashville Harrogate
KCS Wimbledon v Reed’s
King’s College, Taunton v Dean Close
King’s Macclesfield v Lancaster RGS
King’s Worcester v Solihull
Loughborough Grammar v Ratcliffe College
Lymm High v Sandbach
Marlborough College v Bloxham
Manchester Grammar v Stockport Grammar
Merchant Taylors’ v St George’s, Harpenden
Mill Hill v Bishop’s Stortford High
Monkton Combe v King’s Bruton
Morrison’s Academy v Loretto
Northampton School for Boys v Wellington College
Norwich v Royal Hospital School
Old Swinford Hospital v Monmouth
Plymouth College v Exeter School (pre-season)
Pocklington Triangular: Grammar School at Leeds, Pocklington, Scarborough College
Princethorpe College v King Henry VIII, Coventry (Schools Vase)
QES Barnet v Mill Hill 2nd XV
Queen Victoria v Kelvinside Academy
Ravens Wood v Skinners’
Reading Blue Coat v Gordon’s
RGS Guildford v The Judd
Robert Gordon’s College v Bell Baxter
Sevenoaks v Caterham
Shiplake College Triangular: KES Southampton, Portsmouth Grammar, Shiplake College
Sir Joseph Williamson’s v Dartford Grammar
St Albans v Bedford Modern
St Anselm’s College v Cheadle Hulme
St Columba’s v Glasgow Academy
St George’s College, Weybridge v Pangbourne College
St John’s, Leatherhead v Hurstpierpoint College
St Joseph’s College v RGS Colchester
St Leonards v George Heriot’s
St Olave’s Grammar v Cranbrook
The Grange v Scarisbrick Hall
The Leys v Wymondham College
Tiffin v Wallington County Grammar
UCS v Richard Hale
Uppingham v Ipswich
Wellingborough v Leicester Grammar
Wirral Grammar v Kirkham Grammar
Worth v St Benedict’s
Wycliffe College v Malvern College
