This Saturday in a 2.15pm Kick Off Rugby School welcome Warwick School for a bit of a derby game in this Bicentenary Celebratory year, LIVE here on NextGenXV.
The game will be broadcast LIVE on the NextGenXV YouTube Channel and can also be viewed through the embedded video link below as both sides look to capitalise on outstanding recent form.
After a tough start to the season for Rugby School, where as a result of it being such a special year at the school celebrating 200 years of Rugby Football it has felt like one of the biggest games of the season for every visiting side, they were feeling a little low on confidence heading into half term.
Seven losses from eight games, they had beaten Oundle 27-14, was stinging, but back to back big performances straight after the break against Stamford and Bromsgrove, two of the very best around, sparked real confidence. They may have been defeats, but being in the game, as they had been against Eton College, another of the best around too, breeds confidence.
That confidence has exploded into life in the last ten days with back to back victories over Marlborough College (see below) and Uppingham – and not just any old victories, brilliant victories, 46-15 and 50-20. Rugby School must now have a spring in their step as they eye up three in a row.
Warwick are feeling pretty good themselves though, since a trio of losses to Harrow, Bedford, and Uppingham, they have responded in style. First with an epic result, heading to Sedbergh, a place few come away with anything, eve, an returning with a superb 24-24 draw and then earning a 33-19 victory over Northampton School for Boys.
Now they head to The Close and will be thinking that there is an opportunity to put on a run of form that really makes their season. They have reason to believe in the head to head stakes too, last year their U16s scored fifty in victory over Rugby, that U16 group now make up the L6th portion of this 1st XV.
At 1st XV level these two actually met twice last year, first in an absolutely epic 36-36 draw in the Cup, then in a tight 24-17 victory for Rugby on the Close.
All of which points towards a classic. Not just because we can expect a close game, not just based on past results but also results against comparable opposition this year. They have four common opponents, Stowe, Bromsgrove, Bedford, and Uppingham. Both lose to Bedford in similar circumstances, both lost to Bromsgrove but it was far closer for Rugby, Warwick beat Stowe while Rugby lost, and Rugby beat Uppingham while Warwick lost. Honours roughly even, then.
What really makes it feel like it could be a classic though is that recent form and confidence from both – expect confident play, ambition, and an afternoon to remember. Be sure to join us!
Rugby v Warwick – LIVE on NextGenXV, Saturday 25th Nov, 2.15pm KO
