A massive weekend of schools rugby lies ahead, including three LIVE games and so many huge contests over Friday and Saturday.
If last weekend was the official return from half term, this weekend is the first with a full fixture list and it does not disappoint, with hundreds of fixtures all over the country of the highest possible quality.
Ten to Watch
As ever, our preview begins with our Ten to Watch and what a set of fixtures it is, with some historic fixtures, top level head to heads, derby games, and of course our live fixtures this weekend.
Cheltenham College v Millfield
These two have both looked good this season. At the St Joseph’s Festival Millfield could easily have made it three in a row, but for a penalty shootout elimination to eventual champions Kirkham Grammar, Cheltenham College meanwhile impressed all – not least with an opening game victory over Wellington College. A tough draw made the Cup a hard one to qualify for, the final was contested by their two group-mates, but they showed their quality to reach the Bowl final, against the other group-mate, Wellington. So we are looking at two excellent sides, Millfield are among the best around, only Clifton have got the better of them and even there it took last play brilliance. Cheltenham College might not be quite of that level, though they have only lost twice and by a collective five points, but at home and in form they would love to cause an upset.
Dauntsey’s v Kingswood
Without a shadow of a doubt these two are among the biggest stories of the season so far. Both have been sensational and both have only tasted defeat once this season. Dauntsey’s to KES Bath in the opening game, and Kingswood to Monmouth in a tight game in the Cup before half term. They have both wowed onlookers, and have been scoring tries for fun. It has been almost a month since Kingswood last played though, so they are going to have to be laser-focused because any early rust will be quickly pounced upon by this confident Dauntsey’s side. For Dauntsey’s this is their toughest game of the season to date. Victory will leave then heading into the rest of the term utterly buoyant. For Kingswood this is the first step in demonstrating that the first half of term was a pattern that will continue.
Durham v Woodhouse Grove
These two have been absolutely brilliant this term, Durham actually haven’t lost a game other than at the Merchiston Festival where the hosts and eventual champions, Merchiston Castle, just edged past them. Their unbeaten regular season run has seen them into the Regional Finals of the Continental Tyres Schools Vase as well, they are looking superb. So too are Woodhouse Grove though, they have beaten everyone they have come across bar a superb St Joseph’s College side. It is a run that has seen them reach the Regional Finals stage of the Continental Tyres Schools Cup as well. This will be their first game since October 14th though, so they are going to have to try and avoid the need to blow away any cobwebs, Durham are too good to start slow against. It should be a great game.
Merchant Taylors’ v Reading Blue Coat (Friday) – LIVE on NextGenXV, Friday 7pm KO
Our first LIVE game of the second half term, and it will be available on the NextGenXV YouTube Channel and through the embedded link below. Merchant Taylors’ and Reading Blue Coat have made this Friday night game at the end of Merchant Taylors’ Phab Week a regular thing, and they have been spectacular – the last two have both been decided by last play scores. It should be magnificent, and you can check out our full preview of the game here: Merchant Taylors’ v Reading Blue Coat Preview.
Radley College v Abingdon
The Abingdon derby. These two are separated by just three miles and have had some great games down the years. Abingdon though are looking for a first victory at Radley College since 2015 – away wins are so tough in this derby game. Radley started the season with a bang, winning four on the bounce before successive defeats to three top sides, Tonbridge, Eton College, and Harrow. They returned to winning ways on Wednesday though, and showed real grit in doing so, travelling to Stowe in the Continental Tyres Schools Cup and digging deep to win 28-27, progressing to the National Quarter Final stage in the process. Abingdon’s season has been tougher, but the knockouts have been their saviour, winning 36-24 over Canford in the Plate regional semi finals to progress to the regional final against Caterham last week. Form says Radley College, but in a derby game form goes out of the window – a special atmosphere is a guarantee on Saturday afternoon.
Rugby v Bromsgrove – LIVE on NextGenXV, Saturday 2.15pm KO
Our second LIVE game of the weekend sees the 200 years of Rugby Football celebrations continue at Rugby School as they welcome Bromsgrove. They game can be seen LIVE on the NextGenXV YouTube Channel and through the embedded link below. It should be a cracker, these two have had some great games down the years, including a tight 13-12 victory for Bromsgrove on home soil last year. You can check out our full preview of the game here: Rugby School v Bromsgrove Preview.
Seaford College v RGS High Wycombe
A first outing for Seaford College since a fourth place finish at the Merchiston Festival almost a month ago, they will be eyeing up this second half of the season and thinking that if they can add consistency to what have some great performances and wonderful moments, they could have a memorable month ahead, with six fixtures packed into 29 days. They have a big challenge to begin with though because RGS High Wycombe are having a season to remember, unbeaten in the regular season before half term and then they went to the St Joseph’s Festival and went all the way to the final, where only a dramatic Ollie Davies drop goal for Kirkham Grammar denied them the title. Returning to action after the break they picked up where they left off, beating Whitgift last weekend before progressing to the quarter finals of the Continental Tyres Schools Cup on Wednesday. They are flying, and the challenge for hosts is a big one, but they wouldn’t have it any other way. It should be a superb game of schools rugby.
Sedbergh v Warwick
There is a sense that this might not be the time to play Sedbergh, having been defeated away at Clifton College last weekend in their first game back since a tough outing against Blackrock College before half term there is a feeling that as they return to Buskhome, their inspirational home patch, that they might want to prove a point. Warwick are the side challenged with doing so this Saturday and they are going to have to be at their best too. They have a bit of a point to prove too, having had a tricky run of late. Challenging Sedbergh, even in defeat, would be a huge positive step for them and one thing is for certain with any Warwick side – they will be up for the challenge. Two utter giants of the school game, both with a bit of a point to prove. That should make for entertaining viewing.
Tonbridge v Harrow
Few have truly pushed Harrow this season, and none have beaten them, but Tonbridge might just represent the best placed side to do so in the remainder of this season. The Kent side have been quietly brilliant this season, only the outstanding Brighton College have got the better of them. Every time they have had to step up they have. This is some challenge as a first game for a month though, Harrow are, as said, unbeaten top of the NextGenXV Schools Rugby Table, top of the Daily Mail Trophy, and in the Regional Finals of the Continental Tyres Schools Cup. They are one the cusp of one of the great seasons but, as many sides over the years can testify to, it only takes one game for all of that to ebb away. Tonbridge will be aiming to be that one game, Harrow, meanwhile, will be aiming for another step towards schools rugby greatness.
Wellington College v Clifton College – LIVE on NextGenXV, Saturday 2pm KO
Our third live game of the weekend and what a game, two of the best in the country going head to head. The game will be available LIVE on the NextGenXV YouTube Channel and through the embedded link below as 2nd and 10th in the NextGenXV Schools Rugby Table go head to head. Everything suggests a close and exciting game too, as you can see in our full preview of the game here: Wellington College v Clifton College Preview.
Weekend Preview
Friday
Some great games on Friday and perhaps most of all at Birkenhead Park RFC, home of the North of England Schools 7s, where St Anselm’s College and Merchant Taylors’ go head to head in what should be a magnificent evening of rugby.
Further South there is a great Norfolk derby on Friday too as Langley and Gresham’s go head to head, Gresham’s have been particularly impressive this year. While a little further West Wellingborough and Princethorpe College are in action. Down in the South West Wells Cathedral School take on club opposition in the form of Tor RFC.
Friday Fixtures
Langley v Gresham’s
Merchant Taylors’, Crosby v St Anselm’s College – at Birkenhead Park RFC
Tor RFC v Wells Cathedral
Wellingborough v Princethorpe College
Saturday
Saturday is packed with massive games, in and around the capital in particular. Dulwich College and Whitgift meet on Saturday and there is a sense that this could be one of the best contests between them. 2012 was Dulwich’s last victory over the Croydon side but they might just sniff a chance, it’s going to be worth keeping an eye on. Whitgift’s Croydon rivals John Fisher also have a big game this weekend as they host Campion in the latest of a series of huge state school v state school contests – and these are two of the greats.
Over in South West London two of the most prestigious public schools meet as St Paul’s welcome the unbeaten Eton College, who are flying high in the NextGenXV Schools Rugby Table. That should be a good game but St Paul’s will need to be at their best.
Deeper into the South West, Hampton and Trinity reprise a rivalry that really entertained during the St Joseph’s Festival where they met in the group stage and in the 7th/8th play-off, Hampton winning both by a point. On the edge of the M25 St John’s Leatherhead welcome one of the season’s biggest stars, Brighton College, who are unbeaten and playing some utterly magnificent rugby. Last week they showed real muscle to add to their style against Cranleigh, who have another huge game this weekend as they travel to take on an Epsom College side that has had some wonderful moments this season.
Elsewhere back in the capital, Wimbledon College host London Oratory, and it’s a trip to Latymer Upper for Fulham Boys’. Halliford host Wallington County Grammar, while Cardinal Vaughan welcome Isleworth & Syon.
North London sees the exceptional Mill Hill welcome The Oratory, and Watford Grammar host UCS, while in West London St Benedict’s and Shiplake College go head to head in what could be a great game. In South East London Eltham College host Coopers’ Coborn and Claremont welcome Cedars. East of there, Dartford Grammar welcome Kent’s Cranbrook.
In Kent, Colfe’s and King’s Rochester meet, so too Duke of York’s Royal Military and St Lawrence College, while Gravesend grammar host St Olave’s Grammar and Langley Park head to Sir Joseph Williamson’s.
King’s Canterbury and Sevenoaks meet in what should be a good game, while in form Ravens Wood welcome Chislehurst & Sidcup and Skinners’ and Sutton Valence meet in what could be a fantastic game of rugby.
Sussex is not short of top performers this year, Hurstpierpoint College have been outstanding and on Saturday their latest challengers are KCS Wimbledon. Eastbourne College have also been quietly excellent, this weekend they will host a good Worth side.
In Surrey, meanwhile, Reed’s v RGS Guildford looks like it may be an excellent game, so too Reigate Grammar v Gordon’s, and Caterham’s trip to St George’s College, Weybridge.
In Hampshire Churcher’s College have become a real side to look out for, they host another good side in KES Southampton. Travelling from Hampshire are Lord Wandsworth College, they take on Pangbourne College, while on the Isle of Wight Churcher’s 2nd XV will face Ryde.
Dorset has plenty going on this weekend, not least Sherborne v Marlborough College, two fantastic and historic rugby schools that would love nothing more than to start to build a little bit of momentum this season. One way or another, it is always a great occasion when these two play. Along the road, Clayesmore host King’s Bruton and Canford welcome Taunton School, while Bryanston welcome South Coast travellers Portsmouth Grammar, who are in stunning form.
In Somerset Monkton Combe and Wellington School go head to head, while a good KES Bath side welcomes Beechen Cliff’s 2nd XV. Meanwhile King’s College Taunton welcome Devonian opposition in the form of Exeter School, while across in Devon Mount Kelly host Blundell’s 2nd XV.
In Bristol there is Continental Tyres Schools Plate action as Bristol Grammar host Collegiate, that could be a very good game of rugby. Over in Gloucestershire meanwhile, there is some great action – not least the Jonny Wilkinson Cup at Rendcomb College, where Clifton High, Ewell Castle, Milton Abbey, and St Edward’s Cheltenham are among the visitors. Along the road Sir Thomas Rich’s, who have been great this year, host Pate’s Grammar, while Wycliffe College host Prior Park College and The Crypt welcome QEH.
Travelling from Gloucestershire are King’s Gloucester, another side that has impressed this year, they take on Hereford Cathedral School. Also travelling from Gloucestershire are Dean Close, who head to Worcestershire to face Malvern College. Heading from Worcestershire to Wales are King’s Worcester, who take on the tricky challenge of facing Monmouth.
Staying in Worcestershire are RGS Worcester’s 2nd XV, who take on Queen Mary’s Grammar, while in Shropshire Haberdashers’ Adams host Wrekin College. The West Midlands sees Old Swinford Hospital in action at home to Bloxham, that should be a top game, while Solihull host Nottingham High School and KES Birmingham host Leicestershire’s Loughborough Grammar.
In Leicestershire there is a massive game as Oakham and Bedford go head to head, two schools that have had some of the great sides of the last decade, while Ratcliffe College host Balake. Northamptonshire meanwhile sees Oundle, who have been excellent this year, host an unbeaten Stamford side that is pushing for a place in the Top 10 of the NextGenXV Table. Not too far away, Northampton School for Boys host Berkhamsted, another massive game.
Across in Oxfordshire Berkhamsted’s Hertfordshire compatriots Haileybury will be taking on St Edward’s Oxford – which should be a cracking game of rugby. Meanwhile Magdalen College host KES Stratford, and back towards London Windsor Boys’ host Royal Alexandra & Albert.
Over in Hertfordshire things are busy, as ever, the wonderful St Albans look to put in another top display but they’ll have to be at their best, they are at a strong St George’s Harpenden. Richard Hale are also in form, they travel to QES Barnet. Bishop’s Stortford High School host Essex opposition in the form of Brentwood,while local rivals Bishop’s Stortford College host Suffolk opposition in Framlingham College.
Over in Suffolk, Royal Hospital School welcome a good Felsted side and Culford host RGS Colchester. Ipswich School meanwhile have a big East Anglian derby, they head to Norfolk to face Norwich School, while along the road Wymondham College host Wisbech Grammar. There is also a big derby in Cambridge as The Perse and The Leys go head to head – and this year it looks like it could be a fantastic game of rugby.
Jumping to the North West of the country and one of the best sides in the country is on the road, Kirkham Grammar School. The St Joseph’s Festival champions head to a strong Cheadle Hulme side this Saturday. Another side that is quietly close to that status is King’s Macclesfield, they are also on the road as they head to Ellesmere College.
St Ambrose College are in flying form, they host Sandbach this Saturday, while Birkenhead are at Wilmslow High and Stockport Grammar head to Bolton. Manchester Grammar School welcomeAltrincham Grammar, with AKS Lytham hosting St Mary’s College, meanwhile Hutton Grammar are at Scarisbrick Hall.
Across in Yorkshire there is a busy day of rugby, and some great games too including one of the biggest derbies between Catholic Boarding Schools in the country as Ampleforth College welcome Stonyhurst across the Pennines. Bradford Grammar meanwhile host QEGS Wakefield, another huge clash between two sides that have at times dominated the upper echelons of the school game.
Hymers College meanwhile host Grammar School at Leeds and Giggleswick welcome Lancaster RGS, while travelling from Yorkshire to Lincolnshire are Pocklington, who face Worksop College.
St Peter’s York welcome Barnard Castle from the North East in what ought to be an absolute cracker of a game, while in the north east there are two further excellent games as RGS Newcastle make the trip to Dame Allan’s and Austin Friars host Newcastle School for Boys.
Scotland gives us some great games this weekend. There are four Scottisch Schools Cup quarter finals and perhaps the most compelling is George Watson’s College v Strathallan, George Watson’s have been near unbeatable this season but the only side that has come close are Strathallan, who earned a draw earlier in the season. Could they go one better, or will the Watson’s machine roll on? It will be compelling either way.
In the other three, reigning champions Merchiston Castle take on Loretto, while the side they beat in that final, Edinburgh Academy, are on the road at Bell Baxter. The fourth quarter final is another cracker as Stewart’s Melville host Fettes College, a real classic fixture.
Over in the Shield Kelvinside Academy are hosting George Heriot’s in their quarter final, with the others seeing Marr College host Dundee High, St Aloysius’ host Glasgow High, and North Berwick welcome a strong Dollar Academy side. Meanwhile in the Plate, Gordonstoun take on Haddington RFC.
Elsewhere, Morrison’s Academy host Linlithgow RFC, while Glenalmond College hosting Robert Gordon’s College. Hutcheson’s Grammar head to George Watson’s to face their 2nd XV, while it’s a visit from Dollar Academy’s 2nd XV for Glasgow Academy.
Saturday Fixtures
AKS Lytham v St Mary’s College
Ampleforth College v Stonyhurst
Austin Friars v Newcastle School for Boys
Bell Baxter v Edinburgh Academy
Bishop’s Stortford College v Framlingham College
Bishop’s Stortford HS v Brentwood
Bolton v Stockport GS
Bradford GS v QEGS Wakefield
Bristol GS v Collegiate (Plate)
Bryanston v Portsmouth GS
Canford v Taunton
Cardinal Vaughan v Isleworth & Syon
Cheadle Hulme v Kirkham GS
Churcher’s College v KES Southampton
Claremont v Cedars
Clayesmore v King’s Bruton
Colfe’s v King’s Rochester
Culford v RGS Colchester
Dame Allan’s v RGS Newcastle
Dartford GS v Cranbrook
Duke of York’s RMS v St Lawrence College
Dulwich College v Whitgift
Eastbourne College v Worth
Ellesmere College v King’s Macclesfield
Eltham College v Coopers’ Coborn
Epsom College v Cranleigh
George Watson’s College v Strathallan
George Watson’s College 2nd XV v Hutchesons’ GS
Giggleswick v Lancaster RGS
Glasgow Academy v Dollar Academy
Glenalmond College v Robert Gordon’s College
Gordonstoun v Haddington RFC
Gravesend GS v St Olave’s GS
Haberdashers’ Adams v Wrekin College
Halliford v Wallington CGS
Hampton v Trinity
Hereford Cathedral v King’s Gloucester
Hurstpierpoint College v KCS Wimbledon
Hymers College v Grammar School at Leeds
John Fisher v Campion
Jonny Wilkinson Cup: Clifton HS, Ewell Castle, Milton Abbey, Rendcomb College, St Edward’s, Cheltenham
Kelvinside Academy v George Heriot’s
KES Bath v Beechen Cliff 2nd XV
KES Birmingham v Loughborough GS
King’s Canterbury v Sevenoaks
King’s College, Taunton v Exeter
Latymer Upper v Fulham Boys
Magdalen College v KES Stratford
Malvern College v Dean Close
Manchester GS v Altrincham GS
Marr College v Dundee HS
Merchiston Castle v Loretto
Mill Hill v The Oratory
Monkton Combe v Wellington
Monmouth v King’s Worcester
Morrison’s Academy v Linlithgow RFC
Mount Kelly v Blundell’s 2nd XV
Northampton School for Boys v Berkhamsted
North Berwick v Dollar Academy
Norwich v Ipswich
Oakham v Bedford
Old Swinford Hospital v Bloxham
Oundle v Stamford
Pangbourne College v Lord Wandsworth College
QES Barnet v Richard Hale
Ratcliffe College v Bablake
Ravens Wood v Chislehurst & Sidcup GS
Reed’s v RGS Guildford
Reigate GS v Gordon’s
RGS Worcester 2nd XV v Queen Mary’s GS
Royal Hospital School v Felsted
Ryde v Churcher’s College 2nd XV
Scarisbrick Hall v Hutton GS
Sherborne v Marlborough College
Sir Joseph Williamson’s v Langley Park
Sir Thomas Rich’s v Pate’s GS
Skinners’ v Sutton Valence
Solihull v Nottingham HS
St Ambrose College v Sandbach
St Benedict’s v Shiplake College
St Edward’s Oxford v Haileybury
St George’s Harpenden v St Albans
St George’s Weybridge v Caterham
St John’s Leatherhead v Brighton College
St Paul’s v Eton College
St Peter’s, York v Barnard Castle
Stewart’s Melville v Fettes College
The Crypt v QEH
The Perse v The Leys
Watford GS v UCS
Wilmslow HS v Birkenhead
Wimbledon College v London Oratory
Windsor Boys’ v Royal Alexandra & Albert
Worksop College v Pocklington
Wycliffe College v Prior Park College
Wymondham College v Wisbech GS
