After a 14 day hiatus Live Schools Rugby returns to Rugby School on Saturday as they host Oundle in a 2.45pm Kick Off.
As with all Rugby School XV fixtures in this 200 year anniversary season of Rugby Football, NextGenXV will be Live Streaming the game, which will be available on the NextGenXV YouTube Channel and through the embedded link below.
Each game so far at Rugby School this season has been compelling in one way or another, but there is a real sense that this one could be particularly so.
The Close has traditionally been a tough place for Oundle to go, the most recent available citation of victory for them there is 2003, though between there and 2010 there are gaps in recordings. Nevertheless, it is well over a decade either way. Last year on the same surface Rugby won 50-7.
So at surface level it looks tough for Oundle, and yet. They have started this season with a bang with four away wins from four including tight ones at Bedford and Uppingham. Prior to this year they hadn’t won away from home in five years. This is a side that is breaking records, parting ways with the recent past, and whose Lower 6th group have fond memories of facing Rugby, winning 38-7 last year.
All of which serves to suggest that we could be in for a classic, and that’s before we even get into Rugby School’s say in the game. They have started the season playing some good rugby but falling on the wrong side of the result against Oakham, Haileybury, and Bedford. The trouble with this year being such a special one is that for every game it is this visiting side’s biggest of the season.
In that context, to have even been in games has been impressive. They gave Oakham, the reigning Schools Cup champions and one of the best around, a really strong game in their opener – see below – as new combinations settled in the baking early September heat.
They then took on Haileybury in one of the best games that this season has seen anywhere. Haileybury pulled out a comeback of epic proportions, truly sensational but even in the dying moments Rugby had their chances – see below – this is a side that scores tries and plays some wonderful stuff.
They showed that again against Bedford a week later, scoring some beautiful tries but eventually going down after a sharp spell from Bedford at the start of the second half – see below. They have now had 14 days without a game, time to reflect, recharge, and to focus on the smallest of tweaks to turn narrow defeat to victory.
Everything about this game says that we could have a classic on our hands, both sides have so much to play for and have given such reason to think as much. More importantly though, as throughout this year at rugby school, the occasion and the experience is going to be one that lives with both sets of players for the rest of their lives.
Rugby v Oundle – Live on NextGenXV – Saturday 30th September, 2.45pm Kick Off
