A busy week of schools rugby lies ahead with fixtures in the Continental Tyres Schools Cup, Plate, Vase, and Bowl, plus a packed week of regular fixtures too.
Our preview for the week’s action will divide it in two – knockout rugby and non-knockout rugby – as we look ahead to the next few days of schools rugby.
Continental Tyres U18 Schools Cup/Plate/Vase/Bowl Preview
Continental Tyres Schools Cup
North A Woodhouse Grove v St Peter’s, York (Saturday 2nd Dec)
North B King’s Macclesfield v Kirkham Grammar (Wednesday 15th)
Midlands A Stowe v Radley College (Wednesday 8th)
Midlands B Bromsgrove v Stamford (Wednesday 15th)
London & South East A Ipswich v Epsom College (Tuesday 7th)
London & South East B Harrow v Hurstpierpoint College (Wednesday 15th)
South West A Blundell’s v Monmouth (Wednesday 15th)
South West B Marlborough College v RGS High Wycombe (Wednesday 8th)
The Cup enters the Regional Finals round, after this round the tournament heads to the National quarter finals stage, where teams from the North section will face sides from the Midlands section and London & South East sides will face sides from the South West.
There are three Regional Finals this week in the Cup. On Tuesday Ipswich host Epsom College in what ought to be a huge game – you could easily see the winner going very deep. Then on Wednesday are two further huge games. Midlands A sees Stowe, Plate winners in 2022, host Radley College, a massive game, then on Wednesday unbeaten former champions RGS High Wycombe head to last year’s quarter finalists, Marlborough College.
Continental Tyres Schools Plate
North A Cheadle Hulme v Stonyhurst (Wednesday 8th)
North B Stockport GS v Grammar School at Leeds (Wednesday 8th)
Midlands A Uppingham v Warwick (Wednesday 8th)
Midlands B Solihull v Oakham (Wednesday 8th)
London & South East A Campion v Whitgift (Wednesday 15th)
London & South East B KCS Wimbledon v Newman College (TBC)
South West A Bristol GS v Collegiate (Saturday 11th, winner plays King’s Taunton)
South West B Caterham v Abingdon (Wednesday 15th)
The Plate is at the same stage as the Cup, and there are four games being played this midweek – all in the North and Midlands sections, and all on Wednesday. In North A Stonyhurst head to Cheadle Hulme, a game that feels very much in the balance, while Stockport Grammar, a real side to watch, host Grammar School at Leeds, who are playing good rugby, in North B. Over in the Midlands, Midlands A sees Cup legends Warwick head to Uppingham, who would love to make a statement. Meanwhile Midlands B sees reigning Cup champions Oakham, who beat Uppingham on Saturday in a cracker, head to Solihull.
Continental Tyres Schools Vase
North A
Wrekin College v St Ambrose College (Wednesday 8th)
St Anselm’s College v AKS Lytham (Wednesday 8th)
North B
Trent College v Manchester GS (Thursday 9th)
Durham v Dame Allan’s (Wednesday 8th)
Midlands A
King’s Worcester v King Henry VIII (Wednesday 8th)
King’s Grantham v St Edward’s, Oxford (Wednesday 8th)
Midlands B
Gresham’s v Felsted (Tuesday 14th)
Bedford Modern v St Albans (Wednesday 8th)
London & South East A
Watford GS v Mill Hill (Wednesday 8th)
Coopers’ Coborn v Tiffin (Tuesday 14th)
London & South East B
Simon Langton GS v Eastbourne College (Wednesday 8th)
Ravens Wood v Wallington CGS (Wednesday 8th)
South West A
Ivybridge v Wellington School (Wednesday 8th)
Dauntsey’s v King’s Gloucester (Wednesday 8th)
South West B
Lord Wandsworth College v The Oratory/Shiplake College (meet Wednesday 8th)
St George’s Weybridge v St John’s Leatherhead (Wednesday 15th)
The Vase is a round behind the Cup and Plate, it is at the Regional Semi Finals stage. Almost all of the action in the Vase is taking place this week, with twelve games taking place this midweek. Among the games to look out for are Durham v Dame Allan’s in North B – Durham have looked like a side that could go all the way, the other game in that section is on Thursday as Trent College host Manchester Grammar. Similarly St Ambrose College in North A are going to take some stopping, they head to Wrekin College on Wednesday at the same time as St Anselm’s host AKS Lytham.
King’s Grantham v St Edward’s Oxford should be good on Wednesday, so too King Worcester v King Henry VII – both in Midlands A. Just one game in Midlands B this week but it’s a big one on Wednesday, St Albans are in action at Bedford Modern, St Albans are a side to really look out for a deep run.
As are Mill Hill in London & South East A, they head to Watford Grammar on Wednesday, meanwhile London & South East B has both games on Wednesday, in form Ravens Wood hosting Wallington County Grammar, and the dark horses Eastbourne College heading to Simon Langton.
In the South West, the A section has some big games, Ivybridge always seem to go well in knockouts, they host Wellington School on Wednesday, the same day that two side that have continually impressed this season will meet, Dauntsey’s and King’s Gloucester. South West B is on catchup, The Oratory and Shiplake College meet in a regional quarter final on Wednesday, the winner will meet Lord Wandsworth College.
Continental Tyres Schools Bowl
North A
Loughborough GS v Sandbach (Tuesday 7th)
Calday Grange v Giggleswick (TBC)
North B
Bolton v Nottingham High/Worksop College (meet Wednesday 8th)
Prince Henry’s GS v Pocklington (TBC)
Midlands A
KES Five Ways v Princethorpe College (Wednesday 8th)
Royal Latin v King Alfred’s (Wednesday 8th)
Midlands B
Wymondam College v Saffron Walden/King’s Ely (meet Wednesday 8th)
Richard Hale v Sir John Lawes (Wednesday 8th)
London & South East A
Sir William Borlase’s v London Oratory (Wednesday 8th)
Brentwood v Ewell Castle (Wednesday 15th)
London & South East B
Maidstone GS v Sutton Valence (Wednesday 8th)
Dartford GS v Hayes (Wednesday 8th)
South West A
Richard Huish v Clayesmore (Wednesday 8th)
St Brendan’s v The Crypt (Wednesday 15th)
South West B
Portsmouth GS v Lord Williams’ (Wednesday 8th)
Grey Court v City of London Freemen’s (Wednesday 15th)
Like the Vase, the Bowl is at the Regional Semi Final stage. Tuesday sees North A action as Loughborough Grammar host Sandbach, then it’s a busy day on Wednesday. Midlands A sees KES Five Ways host Princethorpe College, while Royal Latin host King Alfred’s, in Midlands B Sir John Lawes have the challenge of a trip to Richard Hale.
London & South East sees Sir William Borlase’s host London Oratory in the A section, while in the B section Sutton Valence are at Maidstone Grammar and Hayes head to Dartford Grammar, two big games.
South West A sees Richard Huish host Clayesmore and in South West B Portsmouth Grammar welcome Lord Williams after a stunning performance at the weekend.
There are also two catchup games, Saffron Walden and King’s Ely meet on Wednesday in Midlands B, while in North B on the same day Nottingham High welcome Worksop College.
Non-Knockout Preview
Tuesday
Tuesday has just the one game outside of the knockouts but it is a big one as the 200 year celebrations of Rugby Football continue at Rugby School. They look to get the second half of term off to a big start after a three week break from play as they host a Stamford side that is unbeaten this season, and has a huge Cup tie next week again Bromsgrove.
Tuesday Fixtures
Rugby v Stamford
Wednesday
There is plenty to get stuck into on Wednesday, not least an ACE/School clash between two of Leicester Tigers’ biggest contributors – Brooksby Melton College and Denstone College. They are far from the only sides in action in the Midlands, Bloxham host Wellingborough in what should be a good contest, while Cokethorpe welcome Next Phase Academy.
Hereford 6th form College and Newcastle-Under-Lyme take each other on in another fixture that ought to entertain, while two King Edward’s go head to head, KES Camp Hill hosting KES Five Ways, Sibford meanwhile host Bredon.
The South West has some brilliant fixtures to get stuck into, St Peter’s Gloucester v Cleeve promises to be a cracker, while West Buckland welcome Plymouth College and Milton Abbey travel to Thomas Hardye.
The South East is as busy as ever on a Wednesday, and one to really look out for is in South East London where John Fisher and The Judd meet in one of the biggest all state school clashes in the country. City of London Freemen’s meanwhile host Dunottar, and Langley Park travel to Cedars, they also have another side in action at Roebuck Academy. Graveney welcome Kingsdale, while St James host reading.
Colfe’s are hosting Bancroft’s, while deeper into Kent St Lawrence College host The Marsh, Chatham & Clarendon heat to Maidstone Grammar, and Canterbury Academy welcome Oakwood Park.
Berkshire will see plenty of action, with Halliford at Ranelagh, Leighton Park at LVS Ascot, and Holyport College hosting The Forest, while Claires Court welcome Reddam House. Over in Hampshire Worthing College are at Farnborough 6th form College.
Buckinghamshire meanwhile sees Burham Grammar welcome Salesian, while in Hertfordshire Roundwood Park host Sandringham.
In the North West Bishop Heber welcome The Grange, while Birkenhead remain busy, hosting Fallibroome Academy, Bolton meanwhile head to Runshaw College. In Yorkshire Hill House host Scarborough College and Ashville Harrogate welcome Mount St Mary’s College’s 2nd XV, Prince Henry’s Grammar School welcome RGS Newcastle’s 2nd XV down from the North East, while back in Newcastle Yarm are at Newcastle School for Boys.
Wednesday Fixtures
Ashville Harrogate v Mount St Mary’s College 2nd XV
Birkenhead v Fallibroome Academy
Bishop Heber HS v The Grange
Bloxham v Wellingborough
Brooksby Melton College v Denstone College
Burnham GS v Salesian
Canterbury Academy v Oakwood Park GS
Cedars v Langley Park
City of London Freemen’s v Dunottar
Claires Court v Reddam House
Cokethorpe v Next Phase
Colfe’s v Bancroft’s
Farnborough 6th form College v Worthing
Graveney v Kingsdale
Hereford 6th form College v Newcastle-Under-Lyme
Hill House v Scarborough College
Holyport College v The Forest
John Fisher v The Judd
KES Camp Hill v KES Five Ways
LVS Ascot v Leighton Park
Maidstone GS 2nd XV v Chatham & Clarendon
Newcastle School for Boys v Yarm
Prince Henry’s GS v RGS Newcastle 2nd XV
Ranelagh v Halliford
Roebuck Academy v Langley Park
Roundwood Park v Sandringham
Runshaw College v Bolton
Sibford v Bredon
St James v Reading
St Lawrence College v The Marsh
St Peter’s Gloucester v Cleeve
Thomas Hardye v Milton Abbey
West Buckland v Plymouth College
Thursday
Thursday has some great fixtures, not least a big derby in Suffolk as Finborough and St Joseph’s College go head to head. Finborough have been such a big part of the last 12 months, and after an awesome display at their Festival before half term, St Joseph’s are riding high.
There is a derby in Bromsgrove too as South Bromsgrove take on North Bromsgrove, meanwhile in Kent Ashford are at Kent College. Elsewhere Akeley Wood are at Burford and Bristol Cathedral host Sidcot.
There are two game at Cathedral School Llandaff. Their 1st XV take on Beechen Cliff’s 2nd XV, while their own 2nd XV host Clifton High School’s 1st XV>
Thursday Fixtures
Bristol Cathedral v Sidcot
Burford v Akeley Wood
Cathedral School, Llandaff v Beechen Cliff 2nd XV
Cathedral School, Llandaff 2nd XV v Clifton High
Finborough v St Joseph’s College
Kent College v Ashford
South Bromsgrove v North Bromsgrove
