A huge weekend of school rugby is upon us. Last weekend was the big opening weekend, but there is a further tranche of schools kicking off their seasons this weekend and with that a huge number of fixtures.
There are a whopping three games being live streamed here on NextGenXV across the weekend and a whole host of other huge games right across the country. For some it’s a chance to build on the opening weekend, for others a chance to quickly bounce back, and for many others a first competitive game of the season. It is going to be a spectacular weekend.
It all begins on Friday with some brilliant games, including a double header at Bury St Edmunds RFC as the NextGenXV live cameras head there for an Ipswich v Northampton School for Boys 1st XV and 2nd XV double header, which can be viewed on the NextGenXV YouTube channel or on the embedded video below.
Saturday then sees over 100 1st XV games across the country, including two live streamed games here on NextGenXV. It is the annual Seb Adeniran-Olule Memorial game between Wellington College and Whitgift. Seb was a former pupil of both schools, gaining England age-grade caps and going on to represent Harlequins before tragically passing away. The game is in support of Seb’s Foundation, which aims to give talented aspiring young people from less privileged backgrounds access to the highest quality academic and sporting opportunities. It will be broadcast live on the NextGenXV YouTube Channel and also in the embedded video below.
At the same time, there will also be live cameras at Rugby School, as there are for every game this season as we celebrate 200 years of Rugby Football. This Saturday they take on Bedford School in what should be a fantastic game and as ever you can watch that on the NextGenXV YouTube Channel and in the embedded video below.
If you would like one of you games to be live streamed this season, please do get in touch!
Of course though, the weekend is far from about solely the live games, there is so much rugby going on all over the country, beginning with our Ten to Watch.
Ten to Watch
Clifton College v Llandovery College
After starting their season with one of the great schools rugby games away at Harrow, Clifton College are most definitely a side to watch. They may have lost, but the way they played marked them out as special. They certainly like to test themselves as well, having played one of the toughest fixtures in England last week, this week they turn to take on one of the biggest names in Welsh rugby, Llandovery College, the school of George North and countless other Welsh internationals. Without doubt it will be a blockbuster game, how could it not be with two such giants going head to head. Not to be missed.
Cranleigh v Trinity
First competitive games of the season for two sides that know more than just a thing or two about building a successful season. Cranleigh played a pre-season friendly against Sherborne last week and were flying, but in Trinity they face one of the teams of the last two years, as they know after facing an astonishing Trinity performance last year. Sure, some players have finished their school careers, but a great many others remain from those fantastic sides and will be keen to keep the terrific momentum at Trinity going. Cranleigh need only look at their last home game against Trinity though, a tight victory against a side that went on to win the Schools Cup. It all suggest that Saturday should teach us an awful lot about both sides, and that we have a fantastic game of rugby awaiting us.
Epsom College v Seaford College
These two sides both started the season with a bang, Epsom College impressing against St Paul’s while Seaford College were brilliant against Hampton. So you suspect that Saturday’s encounter will be a big signal of exactly where each side is at. They had a really good encounter last year, Seaford winning 19-10 at home, and given their opening weekend performances there is every reason to suspect that we will be in for something similar. Whichever side comes out on top will feel that they have got this season off to the sort of start that makes others sit up and take notice, and they aren’t wrong, this is a hugely exciting contest.
Ipswich v Northampton School for Boys – at Bury St Edmunds RFC, Live on NextGenXV (Friday)
As one of our live games for the weekend, this game is previewed in depth here: Ipswich v NSB. Friday’s game will be Ipswich’s first of the season after a slightly bizarre postponement at Uppingham last week after the paramedical team had to cancel due to covid. NSB meanwhile had a cracking game in defeat to Wellington College. Both sides are going to be hugely up for this one, the game was live streamed last year as well (see below), and NSB edged an absolute cracker under the lights. One suspects Ipswich would rather like to turn that one around at Bury St Edmunds RFC this Friday night.
Millfield v Blundell’s
It is a first competitive fixture of the season for schools rugby giants Millfield, following a midweek friendly against Hartpury College and appearances at the Esher President’s Cup and the Kingswood Festival in pre-season. Blundell’s got started last week against Taunton and last year’s Continental Tyres Schools Cup semi finalists put in a strong display en route to victory. Millfield are a step up though, one of the most famous names in schools rugby, a team that last year won the St Joseph’s Festival for the second year running, the first time that had happened in fourteen years (check out some of the highlights below). There is always a sense of excitement when Millfield take to the field, and trepidation from the opposition, Blundell’s will be concentrating hard on avoiding that and taking the game to their illustrious hosts. It should be a great game on the Sir Gareth Edwards Pitch.
Rugby v Bedford – 200 years of Rugby Football – Live on NextGenXV
As with all our live games, this one is previewed in detail elsewhere: Rugby v Bedford. Rugby are looking for a first victory after defeat to Oakham in their opener and then a thrilling one point loss to Haileybury (see below) on Wednesday that showed so much about why schools rugby is such a joyous game, and exactly why celebrating 200 years since the school founded the game is so important. It’s Bedford’s turn now to take on the game’s founders, and they too are looking to bounce back from a tight defeat, going down so narrowly to Oundle in their season opener last weekend.
Sedbergh v Denstone College
This one might just have a touch of spice. Last year Denstone College travelled up to Sedbergh and won 17-14, inflicting a first defeat on the men in Brown by anyone other than Millfield since 2016. Now the Staffordshire side head back up to Buskhome for what is their first competitive game of the season, and they will know that a determined Sedbergh side will await them. Not just because of last year, but because Sedbergh put in a brilliant performance at Whitgift last weekend. An example of staying true to principles and problem solving as they accelerated away in the second half after what had been a fairly close game for a 47-20 victory. They look, as ever, utterly formidable. Denstone will be just as up for it though, back to back victories on Buskhome do not come often, to do so would be one of schools rugby’s great achievements.
The Judd v Tonbridge
Speaking of spice, the Tonbridge derby. State school The Judd hosting independent school Tonbridge. A fixture traditionally dominated by Tonbridge, The Judd claimed victory last year, something that has only happened on one other occasion this century. That 21-8 victory was part of a truly sensational season for The Judd, who only lost twice and came closer than anyone bar Oakham to beating Trinity. They have started this season off superbly too, winning well away at RGS Guildford. Tonbridge began with an opening day defeat to Brighton College, but are not going to be too downbeat about that heading into this one. Local pride, bragging rights, and good strong rivalry are at stake here and it should be an game and a spectacle that is simply not to be missed.
Wellington College v Whitgift – Seb Adeniran-Olule Memorial – Live on NextGenXV
Our third live game of the weekend, and again as such is previewed in more detail elsewhere: Wellington College v Whitgift. First and foremost Saturday’s game is about the memory of Seb Adeniran-Olule and raising money and profile for the foundation in his name. On the field though, it is usually a cracker, who could forget last year’s 29-28 thriller (see below). Whitgift arrive with a point to prove after a tough outing against Sedbergh last week, while Wellington will want to build on a hard fought victory over NSB on Saturday. It should be a superb game – not one to be missed!
Woodhouse Grove v Barnard Castle
Two giants of school rugby in the North, these two always produce some wonderful rugby. Last year at Barnard Castle the hosts put on a strong display for a 40-26 victory, a similar margin to their Cup victory at home a year prior. However the last time these two met at Woodhouse Grove, it was the Yorkshire side that came out on top. Will the home streak in this fixture continue? Barnard Castle will certainly arrive confident of breaking it, they started their season with a real bang against Hymers College last week. It’s a first competitive game of the season, meanwhile, for Woodhouse Grove and no doubt they will be thinking ‘what better way to start the season than by taking on one of the greats’. Whatever happens, we are surely in for a fantastic game of schools rugby.
Friday 15th September
Friday might not be as busy as last week but there are some absolutely fantastic fixtures taking place alongside our Live Broadcast of Ipswich v Northampton School for Boys at Bury St Edmunds RFC.
Chief among those being another memorial game, the Peter Bellenger Memorial game at Esher RFC. Peter Bellenger was a teacher at Brighton College before his life was cut short by Motor Neurone Disease just over a year ago. Brighton College will host Hampton at Esher RFC, with funds being raised for the Motor Neurone Disease in Peter’s memory. On the field, Brighton will be looking to build on a terrific opener against Tonbridge, while Hampton look to bounce back after a tricky test at Seaford to begin their campaign.
Another big game on Friday sees Caterham and KCS Wimbledon go head to head in a return to the calendar for a fixture that hasn’t been since 2018. Friday night’s encounter will be a welcome return. One that has been on the list for a long time is St George’s College Weybridge v St Benedict’s. St George’s are looking for a first victory in this one since 2019 but will arrive full of confidence after a superb Continental Tyres Schools Vase victory in midweek.
There is a game in that very competition on Friday as well as Oswestry host Haberdashers’ Adams in Round 1 of North A.
Friday Fixtures
Brighton College v Hampton – at Esher RFC (Peter Bellenger Memorial)
Caterham v KCS Wimbledon
Oswestry v Haberdashers’ Adams
St George’s College, Weybridge v St Benedict’s
Saturday 16th September
Saturday just looks like an incredible day of schools rugby, not just in the two lived streamed games or the rest of the Ten to Watch, but all over the country. Look to Yorkshire, where one of schools rugby’s most famous names, QEGS Wakefield take on a King’s Macclesfield side that enjoyed an all-time season last year and dug deep to start with victory last week. Or on the other side of the Pennies, to King’s Macclesfield’s opponents last week Lancaster RGS as they host another side that lost a nailbiter last time out, RGS Newcastle. That should be some game of rugby.
In the South East we have one of the great state school head-to-heads as John Fisher welcome Skinners’, both of these sides have had some utterly wonderful teams down the years. Another state school that has a staggeringly proud rugby history is RGS High Wycombe, and what a sensational start to the year they had last week with a victory over 2021 Daily Mail Trophy champions Berkhamsted. This week they head to St John’s Leatherhead, another massive fixture.
Berkhamsted look to bounce back immediately as they take on another side looking to quickly turn the ship around after a tough opening weekend, Warwick. Two heavyweights going toe to toe, it should be wonderful game of rugby.
Bromsgrove will have their tails up after that stunning win at Warwick last time out, but they will have their work cut out in a game that doubles up as a Continental Tyres Schools Cup first round fixtures, welcoming a Sir Thomas Rich’s side that were superb last week, winning away at Christ College. Crossing the border the other way this week are Monmouth, always a tough nut to crack, they head to Cheltenham College who went down in an epic against Kingswood last time out.
The big games come thick and fast in Scotland too, George Watson’s College have started like Zak Crawley at the start of the Ashes, but they have a tough side visiting on Saturday in the form of Dollar Academy.Likewise Merchiston Castle have another really testing fixture after that tight defeat to George Watson’s last time out, they head to Stewart’s Melville.
Back in England, Harrow were arguably the team of week 1 as they won that utterly brilliant game against Clifton. This week they cross London to take on Dulwich College, is this the year that we start to see Dulwich climb back up the tree towards the top of the school game? One side that was there last year and has started like they are this year is Oakham, sensational last week against Rugby they host Old Swinford Hospital this week, who had a really strong performance in midweek.
Another of last week’s standout sides were Oundle, winning a really tight game at Bedford for their first away win in half a decade. They are on the road this week and will be on it with confidence as they head to their great rivals Uppingham. Uppingham are going to be absolutely ready to burst ahead of this one though having had their opener cancelled last week, this should be a fantastic game.
West of London there are some great games too, The Oratory v Shiplake College is always a fantastic matchup and should be again this year, while St Albans are looking like a real team to watch this year but have a really tricky trip to Reading Blue Coat to negotiate. Then into Windsor where Eton College host St Paul’s, two great names in British schooling going head to head in a game that on paper looks as though it should be an absolutely brilliant matchup.
Wiltshire has a beauty of a game too, Marlborough College v Canford, there have been some superb games between those two down the years, likewise in Dorset as Sherborne and Radley College lace up for the first time this season.
One side that has are Stowe, who went down with a good performance against Stamford last week. They have a great fixture lined up, hosting Abingdon who play their first competitive game after a pre-season triangular with Magdalen College and Teddies Oxford last time out. Teddies this week kick off their season away at Pangbourne College.
All over the country these great match ups are taking place. In the North West Stonyhurst host Bradford Grammar, two of schools rugby’s most successful sides. One of the most successful right now are Kirkham Grammar School, they are hosting St Ambrose College this Saturday. Staying in the area, look out for Stockport Grammar this year, they host Wilmslow High on Saturday.
Elsewhere in the North West Cheadle Hulme welcome Yorkshire’s Grammar School at Leeds, while Crossley Heath head to Bolton and AKS Lytham travel to Altrincham Grammar. Manchester Grammar are hosting Merchant Taylors’, with The Grange at Lymm High School, meanwhile look out for Wirral Grammar School, who will be keen for a big performance against Sandbach.
Over in the North East Durham host Austin Friars, and Durham have already sown the promising seed of a good side this year, while along the road two others showing real promise are Mount St Mary’s College and their hosts Dame Allan’s. Yorkshire sees some top games too, and look out for St Peter’s York after their performance at RGS Newcastle last time out, they host Hymers College. Giggleswick meanwhile host Ashville Harrogate, and keep an eye on Ampleforth College v Pocklington, they should be plenty to learn from that one.
Further south, Nottingham High host Bablake, and fellow Nottingham side Trent College head to Loughborough Grammar, while Leicester Grammar are in action at Princethorpe College and Ratcliffe College welcome Wellingborough.
King’s Worcester v Bloxham has the air of an absolute belter of a game, and King’s local rivals RGS Worcester are hosting Pate’s Grammar, another that really could be a bit of a tone setter for the weeks to come, similarly KES Birmingham v KES Stratford.
Deeper into that Western part of the country, King’s Gloucester and Wycliffe College meet in a real derby fixture that should provide some fantastic entertainment. Providing entertainment last week were Kingswood in that thriller at Cheltenham, and expect more this week as they host Bristol Grammar. Similarly, look out for Collegiate v Malvern College, two strong schools that have the potential for big seasons.
In Somerset King’s College Taunton welcome Mount Kelly, while Warminster head to Wells Cathedral, and KES Bath host Dauntsey’s in what will be a game worth paying attention to. Wellington School are hosting West Buckland, with King’s Bruton host Clayesmore, Monkton Combe meanwhile have a tricky trip to Prior Park College for what could be a fantastic game. Exeter School are also on the road, heading to QEH.
Moving back eastwards, Bryanston are in action at home to a pretty strong looking KES Southampton, while Churcher’s College and Lord Wandsworth College go head to head, with Embley heading to Ryde.
Continuing that swing East, Hurstpierpoint College got off to a good start at St John’s last week and will want to continue that on home turf as they welcome a good Reed’s side, while Worth v Sevenoaks is usually a cracking game of rugby. Further east, Sutton Valence welcome Eastbourne College, that will be a really interesting test of where two fascinating sides are at, meanwhile King’s Canterbury are welcoming two 1stXVs, Cranbrook to play their own 1st XV and Christ’s Hospital to play their 2nd XV.
Maidstone Grammar and Gravesend Grammar go head to head, that’s not to be missed, while St Lawrence College face Tonbridge’s 2nd XV and King’s Rochester head to a promising Duke of York’s Royal Military School, St Olave’s Grammar are meanwhile hosting Coopers’ Coborn.
In London a game that really does look like being one to watch sees RGS Guildford, looking to quickly bounce back from opening day defeat, heading to Wimbledon College, who are playing their first competitive game of the campaign. Elsewhere, Merchant Taylors’ are hosting Watford Grammar and Wallington County Grammar host Reigate Grammar, with UCS ushering in Aylesbury Grammar.
Bancroft’s and Colfe’s go head to head, so too Gunnersbury and St Richard Reynolds, with Sir Joseph Williamson’s heading to Chislehurst & Sidcup. Ravens Wood meanwhile host Brentwood – that could be a very good game, with Langley Park at Dartford Grammar. There is also a triangular at Claremont Fan Court, with Dunottar and Gordon’s 2nd XV the visitors.
North of London St George’s Harpenden are hosting Richard Hale, who have started just as they were last year, superbly, while Mill Hill host Felsted. Look out for both this year, Felsted have started well and Mill Hill have taken on a really challenging fixture list. Both Bishop’s Stortford sides are in action, College hosting Norwich and High School hosting New Hall, Bedford Modern are meanwhile hosting QES Barnet.
Norfolk sees Wymondham College travel to take on Langley, while in Cambridgeshire The Leys and Gresham’s go head to head in a fascinating one after last week’s performances, while King’s Ely host Wisbech Grammar. Heading from Cambridge are The Perse, they are in Suffolk to take on Royal Hospital School, and going from Suffolk to Essex are Framlingham College, they are hosted by RGS Colchester.
Aside from those already mentioned there is plenty more going on in Scotland, Strathallan would love a big performance against another huge name in Fettes College, while Dundee High would love the same against Loretto. In Glasgow St Aloysius’ College host Glasgow High, while elsewhere Morrison’s Academy are at Robert Gordon’s, St Columba’s head to Kelvinside Academy, Hutchesons’ welcome Balfron High, and Glenalomond College play host to St Leonards.
Saturday Fixtures
Altrincham GS v AKS Lytham
Ampleforth College v Pocklington
Bancroft’s v Colfe’s
Bedford Modern v QES Barnet
Berkhamsted v Warwick
Bishop’s Stortford College v Norwich
Bishop’s Stortford HS v New Hall
Bolton v Crossley Heath
Bromsgrove v Sir Thomas Rich’s
Bryanston v KES Southampton
Cheadle Hulme v Grammar School at Leeds
Cheltenham College v Monmouth
Chislehurst & Sidcup GS v Sir Joseph Williamson’s
Churcher’s College v Lord Wandsworth College
Claremont Triangular: Claremont, Dunottar, Gordon’s 2nd XV
Collegiate v Malvern College
Dame Allan’s v Mount St Mary’s College
Dartford GS v Langley Park
Duke of York’s RMS v King’s Rochester
Dulwich College v Harrow
Dundee HS v Loretto
Durham v Austin Friars
Eton College v St Paul’s
George Watson’s College v Dollar Academy
Giggleswick v Ashville Harrogate
Glenalmond College v St Leonards
Gunnersbury v St Richard Reynolds
Hurstpierpoint College v Reed’s
Hutchesons’ GS v Balfron High
John Fisher v Skinners’
Kelvinside Academy v St Columba’s HS
KES Bath v Dauntsey’s
KES Birmingham v KES Stratford
King’s Bruton v Clayesmore
King’s Canterbury v Cranbrook
King’s Canterbury 2nd XV v Christ’s Hospital
King’s College, Taunton v Mount Kelly
King’s Ely v Wisbech GS
King’s Gloucester v Wycliffe College
King’s Worcester v Bloxham
Kingswood v Bristol GS
Kirkham GS v St Ambrose College
Lancaster RGS v RGS Newcastle
Langley v Wymondham College
Loughborough GS v Trent College
Lymm HS v The Grange
Maidstone GS v Gravesend GS
Manchester GS v Merchant Taylors’, Crosby
Marlborough College v Canford
Merchant Taylors’, Northwood v Watford GS
Mill Hill v Felsted
Nottingham HS v Bablake
Oakham v Old Swinford Hospital
Pangbourne College v St Edward’s, Oxford
Princethorpe College v Leicester GS
Prior Park College v Monkton Combe
QEGS Wakefield v King’s Macclesfield
QEH v Exeter
Ratcliffe College v Wellingborough
Ravens Wood v Brentwood
Reading Blue Coat v St Albans
RGS Colchester v Framlingham College
RGS Worcester v Pate’s Grammar
Robert Gordon’s College v Morrison’s Academy
Royal Hospital School v The Perse
Ryde v Embley
Sherborne v Radley College
St Aloysius’ College v Glasgow HS
St George’s, Harpenden v Richard Hale
St John’s, Leatherhead v RGS High Wycombe
St Lawrence College v Tonbridge 2nd XV
St Olave’s GS v Coopers’ Coborn
St Peter’s, York v Hymers College
Stewart’s Melville v Merchiston Castle
Stockport GS v Wilmslow HS
Stonyhurst v Bradford GS
Stowe v Abingdon
Strathallan v Fettes College
Sutton Valence v Eastbourne College
The Leys v Gresham’s
The Oratory v Shiplake College
UCS v Aylesbury GS
Uppingham v Oundle
Wallington CGS v Reigate GS
Wellington School v West Buckland
Wells Cathedral v Warminster
Wimbledon College v RGS Guildford
Wirral GS v Sandbach
Worth v Sevenoaks
