Wednesday sees Rugby School in action again LIVE here on NextGenXV as they welcome Marlborough College in the latest game celebrating 200 years of Rugby Football, kicking off at 2.30pm.
The game pits two sides looking hit peak form after some close performances of late that have just fallen short of victory. It will be available LIVE on the NextGenXV YouTube Channel and also through the embedded video below.
The fixture is a relatively new one on the calendar, having met in 2008 they did not meet again until 2021. Marlborough won that 2008 game but since the fixture was resumed it has been Rugby that have dominated, winning 10-5 on The Close in 2021 and 26-17 at Marlborough College’s Hammersley group in 2022.
Indeed Rugby have been on top across the age groups, winning at first team level and U18, U16, U15, and U14 last year and in all bar the U15s in 2021. By and large the games have been tight though, particularly those two 1st XV games and the 2021 U15 and 2022 U16 games, which both had just three point margins. They are key games too, for those sides make up the L6th portion of Wednesday’s 1st XVs.
At 1st XV level this year both sides have had some terrific performances, in defeat to Bromsgrove on Saturday (see below) Rugby were outstanding as they have been against other top sides such as Stamford, Wellington College, and Eton College, but so far only Oundle have been defeated.
Things have been similar for Marlborough College, they put in a strong shift on the weekend only to lose to Sherborne, likewise on the NextGenXV live stream against Eton College (see below), there have been three victories, over Bloxham, Canford, and Caterham, they would dearly love another.
That Eton College game is of particular interest for it is the only opponent that the two have in common. Both gave them a good game, Rugby losing 22-17 and Marlborough going down 29-10, strong efforts both against a side that is yet to taste defeat – and that didn’t as Colts either.
It all points towards a close game on Wednesday, a game that both are likely looking and thinking that they could launch some real momentum with which to attack the final few weeks of the season.
It’s not to be missed!
Rugby v Marlborough College – Wednesday 15th November 2.30pm KO – LIVE on NextGenXV
