The 2023/24 Schools Rugby Season has kicked off, and kicked off in some style as well with some utterly brilliant games of rugby right across the country.
Our first Limitless Kit Top 5 School Teams of the Weekend is going to be and extraordinarily difficult one to settle on in this opening week, so look out for that later on in the week.
The games were fantastic, from our live stream of Rugby School vs Oakham School (which you can relive below) to an early contender for game of the season at Harrow as they hosted Clifton College. Those were just two of our outstanding Ten to Watch games, not to mention the action that went on elsewhere, Cheltenham College v Kingswood to name just one on Saturday, and how about Oundle on Friday night, a first away win in half a decade.
Ten to Watch
As ever though we begin with our Ten to Watch, and what a set of ten it proved to be, for all sorts of reasons. There were epic contests, performances that took the breath away, and some displays that laid down big markers for the rest of the season.
There is nowhere else to begin but at Harrow where they hosted a stunning game with Clifton College, a stunning block of fixtures really, but the 1st XV game was on a level rarely seen. Going in there was expectation that these two are going to be among the best around this year, but putting that into action in a head to head is often so much harder. Not on Saturday though, both sides were epic. Harrow came out on top, 41-31, a brilliant victory and a stunning performance, but Clifton gave as good as they got and those that were there will be jumping at the chance to see either side in action again.
Eton College are off to a strong start. A trip to Croydon was expected, but a pitch at John Fisher hardened by the recent sun meant a quick rethink and Eton instead played hosts. No doubt that aided them as they set about putting on a fine start to the 2023/24 season with a 29-7 victory.
In Scotland the season has already been going for a couple of weeks, and George Watson’s College have been setting the pace. On Saturday they travelled to arguably Scotland’s most famous name in schools rugby, Merchiston Castle, for one of the great school fixtures. It was as great a test of George Watson’s early season form as there could be and both sides went at it in an absolute ripper, but George Watson’s had just enough in the tank to hold on for a highly impressive 27-24 away win.
In the North East we got another brilliant game. RGS Newcastle were hosting, but it was St Peter’s York that came out on top, kicking off their season with a huge morale booster of a win that really marks them out as a side to watch in these opening weeks.
Our live stream game was Rugby School v Oakham, the founders of the game celebrating 200 years of the game hosting the reigning Continental Tyres U18 Schools Cup champions. It was those champions that came away with the spoils in a really cracking game of rugby that contained a whopping 66 points in total as both sides played some majestic stuff. It was Oakham that had the better of it though, beginning their season right where they left off – in flying form, winning 42-24 on The Close. You can relive it below.
Big things were expected from Seaford College after their performance at the South Coast Kings pre-season Festival last week, and big things were delivered on Saturday as they began their season in the sort of fashion that ought to inspire huge confidence for the season ahead, a 42-6 victory over Hampton. A wonderful start for Seaford, and a tough one for Hampton but they will know just what a good side they faced.
Stamford were one of the few sides to topple Stowe last season, and on Saturday they landed the exact same blow that they did last year. It was a 26-13 victory at Stowe for them this time, a wonderful confidence building start to the season for them in what was a really top contest.
Brighton College are another side that are going to be flying with confidence after this opening weekend as they travelled to Tonbridge and put on a fantastic display for a 33-12 victory. Indeed they were 28-0 up at the break and will be over the moon with that, though Tonbridge will also take solace from that second half display and think that if they can take more of the and less of the first half then the weeks ahead will look promising.
It was derby one of two this season for Warwick and Bromsgrove, Warwick were hosting but it was Bromsgrove to whom first blood goes after a stunning display at the home of their great rivals. Bromsgrove were sensational as they stormed to a 46-14 victory that has had everyone in the schools rugby world sit up and take notice. It’ll be a tough blow for Warwick, but one that they will doubtless bounce back from, such is their ingrained schools rugby know-how.
Talking of ingrained schools rugby know-how; Sedbergh. They travelled to Whitgift and did what Sedbergh so often do, they solved the puzzle. A close game for long periods, this extraordinary group in Brown stayed true to their plans and style, and worked it all out. They appear to be absolutely flying into this season with what finished up as a stunning 47-20 victory. Whitgift will bounce back, few others can do what Sedbergh can, but for the rest of the schools rugby world it was a big big statement from Sedbergh.
Ten to Watch
Harrow 41-31 Clifton College
John Fisher 7-29 Eton College
Merchiston Castle 24-27 George Watson’s College
RGS Newcastle 21-26 St Peter’s, York
Rugby 24-42 Oakham – Live Streamed on NextGenXV – Watch here: NextGenXV YouTube
Seaford College 42-6 Hampton
Stowe 13-26 Stamford
Tonbridge 12-33 Brighton College
Warwick 14-46 Bromsgrove
Whitgift 20-47 Sedbergh
Around the Grounds
Friday 8th September
Friday was a brilliant day, absolutely packed with action and stories. Where better to start than with that fantastic game at Bedford that saw Oundle edge a great contest 24-21 for their first away win in five years. A huge confidence boosting result ahead of their derby with Uppingham this week, an Uppingham side whose game against Ipswich was cancelled in unusual circumstances – the paramedical team had covid.
Elsewhere Durham are off to a wonderful start, a 31-7 victory against a Harrogate Grammar side that are going to have a huge amount of positive words said about them this season. Which suggest Durham are very much going to too, a great start. A great start for Pate’s Grammar too, who won against Hartpury College Bulls 35-5, and Blundell’s had a similarly fantastic opening game of the season as they won 36-5 at Taunton RFC against Taunton School.
Elsewhere fixtures were still of a pre-season nature, not that that lessened the competitiveness or the enjoyment. Prior Park College were brilliant in a 21-0 victory over Downside, while Wellington School faced a strong QEH side and had to be at their best for a 24-17 victory. Merchant Taylors’ had to be similarly on point for a 17-12 victory over Calday Grange Grammar.
Wisbech Grammar and Truro School were both in club action, and those club sides were both on fine form as Shelford RFC won 35-7 over Wisbech Grammar and Cornwall RFC defeated Truro School 35-12.
Friday Results
Bedford 21-24 Oundle
Durham 31-7 Harrogate Grammar
Hartpury College Bulls 5-35 Pate’s Grammar
Merchant Taylors’, Crosby 17-12 Calday Grange Grammar (pre-season)
Prior Park College 21-0 Downside – at Combe Down RFC (pre-season)
QEH 17-24 Wellington School (pre-season)
Shelford RFC 35-7 Wisbech Grammar (pre-season)
Taunton School 5-36 Blundell’s – at Taunton RFC
Truro School 12-35 Cornwall RFC (pre-season)
Saturday 9th January
To Saturday, and an absolutely stunning start to the bulk of the opening weekend action. From North to South, East to West, there were games and performances to make the jaw drop.
There were some ferociously close contests, among them Kingswood’s fantastic 22-21 victory at Cheltenham College, a really entertaining start to the season. Similarly so on the other side of the country, where Felsted took on Haileybury and secured a tight 22-18 victory in a brilliant game.
One of last year’s absolute star sides, King’s Macclesfield, had to work oh so hard in the North West against Lancaster RGS to ensure they got off to the start they wanted, edging a top game 28-26. In the South East there was just a point in it at Worth as they just held off St Benedict’s, 18-17. The fantastic contests just kept rolling in throughout the weekend. Similarly Merchant Taylors’ and St George’s Harpenden were almost inseparable in a great game, Merchant Taylors’ just taking the spoils 20-19.
There was a fantastically close game in Scotland too, where Fettes College and visitors Stewart’s Melville pushed each other all the way. It was an absolutely brilliant game of rugby that just came down on the side of the visitors, 26-24.
So too though did the results that particularly in these early weekends really do put you on notice that a side is going to be one to watch. Halliford, so good last year, impressing against with a stunning 50-0 victory over Claremont Fan Court, or Emanuel, off to a sensational 68-5 start over Windsor Boys’, their 2nd XV also had a good start, beating The Cedars 1st XV 17-14.
If someone had said to Framlingham that they would score 26 at Gresham’s, they would probably have thought they’d be in the game, but Gresham’s were simply breathtaking at the other end of the pitch an route to 76 of their own. it was a theme in what was clearly Norfolk’s day in the East Anglian derbies as Norwich beat Royal Hospital School by a stunning 59-7 margin. Mill Hill will also be over the moon with their start, 50-0 over Bishop’s Stortford, while Hill House enjoyed a 50-10 victory over Ashville Harrogate.
Scotland had some star performers too, Morrison’s Academy on fire against Loretto, 52-12, while George Heriot’s were near unstoppable in attack, scoring 70, though St Leonards will take solace from their attack scoring 22 of their own.
Some of England’s finest from last year were in dangerous mood again to start of this season, among them Kirkham Grammar School, who travelled to Wirral Grammar and made a 57-3 statement. Likewise St Albans, who were flying against Bedford Modern, though Bedford Modern certainly fired a few shots of their own, winning 55-26. Skinners’ also impressed and have been for a couple of years. They began with a 57-7 victory at Ravens Wood.
Elsewhere in the very South East, Duke of York’s Royal Military had a strong 17-0 performance against King’s Canterbury, while Reigate Grammar travelled to Colfe’s and were utterly wonderful, winning 45-24. Similarly Campion were in top away form as they sealed a 35-17 victory at Coopers’ Coborn.
Sevenoaks and Caterham gave us a classic in Kent to get the season kicked off, with Sevenoaks just edging a wonderful game 24-21. At St Olave’s Grammar it was the away side, Cranbrook, that took the spoils in a similarly close game as they won 26-22.
Round into Surrey we saw a wonderful continuation of last season’s flying form from The Judd, who travelled to face a strong RGS Guildford side and went back home to Kent with a 26-8 victory. They are going to be a side to watch. Hurstpierpoint College also travelled to Surrey a found away joy as they claimed a 28-14 victory at St John’s Leatherhead, a fantastic start to the season. Along the road from St John’s, Epsom College hosted St Paul’s for a much anticipated season opener and laid down a fantastic marker ahead of the challenges to come with a 31-22 victory. There was also a sensational pre-season performance from Cranleigh, who defeat Sherborne 43-5. Keep an eye on Cranleigh.
In London KCS Wimbledon won a really tight one with Reed’s, a fantastic contest to open the season with, while north of London Wellingborough were brilliant for a 35-14 victory over Leicester Grammar and Richard Hale won 29-14 over UCS.
In that M25 surround though, the most impressive performance of the day was surely RGS High Wycombe, who travelled to Berkhamsted and turned heads all over the country with their outstanding 42-12 victory. Around the corner of the M25 somewhat, Gordon’s travelled to Reading Blue Coat and had a great result, winning 24-14 at what has become a tough place to go. Shiplake College meanwhile hosted a triangular in Henley, where Portsmouth Grammar School came out on top after victories over the hosts and KES Southampton, who also beat the hosts.
Across the expanse of the Midlands there were some sensational game, and perhaps most of all, maybe one of the most across the whole country, was Northampton School for Boys v Wellington College. That this is now even a fixture on the NSB calendar is a testament to the work that they have done and the brilliance of the programme there, but to be competing, just sensational. It was a game that had a bit of everything, and Wellington College were superb at times en route to a 38-25 victory. Just a fantastic game and occasion.
East of there, The Leys had a flying start to the season with a 38-5 victory over Wymondham College, while back inland further Loughborough Grammar won 39-0 over Ratcliffe College, another excellent performance. On the West of the Midlands, meanwhile, Solihull were looking very good against a strong King’s Worcester outfit to win 29-16 away from home, and King Henry VIII Coventry are into the second round of the Continental Tyres Schools Vase after an away win of their own, 28-18 at Princethorpe College.
Further into the South West Collegiate really stood out in this opening weekend thanks to a quite brilliant 40-12 victory over RGS Worcester. Meanwhile along the road there was a brilliant game at Bristol Grammar, where KES Bath came out on top 34-26 in one that will live long in the memory.
Dean Close won another great tight game at King’s College Taunton, 17-12, and it was away joy for Malvern College as well, brilliant for their 27-10 victory at Wycliffe College. Monkton Combe meanwhile were on strong form early on at home, winning 26-13 against King’s Bruton.
Over in Wales there was a performance from Sir Thomas Rich’s that all should take note of as they travelled across the Severn to Christ College and came home with a wonderful 29-7 victory. Back in England, in Wiltshire, Marlborough College are off to a brilliant start. They were great at times last year and early signs are that they could be in brilliant form this after a 39-12 victory over Bloxham.
Jumping to Yorkshire, Ampleforth College are off to a very good start indeed. Few get too much change out of Bradford Grammar, and Ampleforth had to work for it, but the powerhouse of the 80s head home with the victory, 19-10.
Over on the West side of the country it was a stunning start from St Anselm’s College, who were 33-0 victors over Cheadle Hulme, and it was equally impressive from neighbours Birkenhead, who won 46-10 overAltrincham Grammar. Scarisbrick Hall were in great form away from home at The Grange, a 29-5 victory giving them a wonderful start to the season, and Manchester Grammar will be very happy with their opening Saturday’s work as well after a 21-10 home victory against Stockport Grammar.
Scotland had some great games and performances too, among them Edinburgh Academy v Strathallan. Both side had great moments, but Strathallan were not to be stopped on a proud day for the school as they took the spoils 34-21. Glasgow Academy did similarly away from home at St Columba’s, winning 38-26, while it was a home victory for their rivals Glasgow High, who won 34-18 against Marr College.
Saturday Results
Berkhamsted 12-42 RGS High Wycombe
Birkenhead 46-10 Altrincham Grammar
Bradford Grammar 10-19 Ampleforth College
Bristol Grammar 26-34 KES Bath
Cheltenham College 21-22 Kingswood
Christ College 7-29 Sir Thomas Rich’s
Claremont Fan Court 0-50 Halliford
Colfe’s 24-45 Reigate Grammar
Collegiate 40-12 RGS Worcester
Coopers’ Coborn 17-35 Campion
Cranleigh 43-5 Sherborne (pre-season)
Duke of York’s RMS 17-0 King’s Canterbury
Edinburgh Academy 21-34 Strathallan
Emanuel 68-5 Windsor Boys’
Emanuel 2nd XV 17-14 The Cedars
Epsom College 31-12 St Paul’s
Felsted 22-18 Haileybury
Fettes College 24-26 Stewart’s Melville
Glasgow High 34-18 Marr College
Gresham’s 76-26 Framlingham College
Hill House 50-10 Ashville Harrogate
KCS Wimbledon 17-14 Reed’s
King’s College, Taunton 12-17 Dean Close
King’s Macclesfield 28-26 Lancaster RGS
King’s Worcester 16-29 Solihull
Loughborough Grammar 39-0 Ratcliffe College
Marlborough College 39-12 Bloxham
Manchester Grammar 21-10 Stockport Grammar
Merchant Taylors’ 20-19 St George’s, Harpenden
Mill Hill 50-0 Bishop’s Stortford High
Monkton Combe 26-13 King’s Bruton
Morrison’s Academy 52-12 Loretto
Northampton School for Boys 25-38 Wellington College
Norwich 59-7 Royal Hospital School
Princethorpe College 18-28 King Henry VIII, Coventry (Schools Vase)
Ravens Wood 5-57 Skinners’
Reading Blue Coat 14-24 Gordon’s
RGS Guildford 8-26 The Judd
Sevenoaks 24-21 Caterham
Shiplake College Triangular: Portsmouth GS (1), KES Southampton (2), Shiplake College (3)
St Albans 55-26 Bedford Modern
St Anselm’s College 33-0 Cheadle Hulme
St Columba’s 26-38 Glasgow Academy
St John’s, Leatherhead 14-28 Hurstpierpoint College
St Leonards 22-70 George Heriot’s
St Olave’s Grammar 22-26 Cranbrook
The Grange 5-29 Scarisbrick Hall
The Leys 38-5 Wymondham College
UCS 14-29 Richard Hale
Wellingborough 35-14 Leicester Grammar
Wirral Grammar 3-57 Kirkham Grammar
Worth 18-17 St Benedict’s
Wycliffe College 10-27 Malvern College
Still to Come:
Abingdon Triangular: Abingdon, Magdalen College, St Edward’s Oxford
Balfron High v Lomond
Barnard Castle v Hymers College
Dauntsey’s v Bryanston (pre-season)
Hereford Cathedral v Wrekin College
Lymm High v Sandbach
Plymouth College v Exeter School (pre-season)
Pocklington Triangular: Grammar School at Leeds, Pocklington, Scarborough College
QES Barnet v Mill Hill 2nd XV
Robert Gordon’s College v Bell Baxter
St George’s College, Weybridge v Pangbourne College
St Joseph’s College v RGS Colchester
Wells RFC v Wells Cathedral
