The draws for the 2024 Rosslyn Park National School 7s have been made, with eleven different competitions at the National 7s being drawn.
The news comes just a day after NextGenXV was announced as the exclusive broadcast partner of the Rosslyn Park National School 7s, a deal which will see two pitches live streamed throughout the week, plus preview and review shows each day keeping you up to speed not just with what is happening on the live streams but also across the various competitions.
The eleven tournaments include four at U18 level, Boys U18 Cup and Vase, and Girls U18 Cup and ACE, two at U16, Boys and Girls, two at U14, Boys and Girls, two at U13, Prep and Juniors, and one at U11.
The 2024 Rosslyn Park National School 7s will take place from Monday 18th March to Friday 22nd March, with the U18 Vase and U16 Girls kicking the tournament off on the Monday, the U14 Boys and Girls joining the fray on the Tuesday, with the Vase finishing up on Tuesday too, while on Wednesday the U16 Boys competition begins and the U14 Boys is competed.
Thursday 21st is a bust day with the U18 Cup Boys and Girls commencing, so too the U18 Girls ACE competition and the U13 Prep competition, while the U16 Boys wraps up.
The final day of the Rosslyn Park National School 7s sees the U18 Boys Cup and U18 Girls Cup conclude, while the U13 Juniors and U11 Mixed Festival both take place as well.
U18 Cup (Boys)
The flagship U18 Boys Cup looks even more exciting this year with the brilliant decision from a number of schools to move from the Vase to the Cup competition, Tonbridge, Bromsgrove, Radley College, Epsom College, Stowe, Eton College, Blundell’s, King’s Macclesfield, and Warwick have all admirably and rightly stepped up and hopefully more will follow in the years to come. Rugby School also move up after winning the Vase last year.
The format sees the 60 teams drawn into twelve groups of five teams each. Winners and runners up from those Day 1 pools progress to Day 2, where they head to quarter final pools. In the Cup it is three pools of four, with the winners and best runner up heading to the semi finals, that format is mirrored in the Plate, where the Day 1 runners up will compete.
Winning the Cup last year in an incredible final against Brighton College were Harrow, who also won the Colts competition for the second year running, and have been sublime on the fifteen-a-side front too, winning back to back Daily Mail Trophy competitions, topping the NextGenXV table, competing an unbeaten season and, yesterday, reaching the semi finals of the Continental Tyres Schools Cup.
Faced with the tricky task of a group with the champions in Group A are Abingdon, Coleg y Cymoedd, Bishop Wand, and a strong Seaford College side.
Brighton College, who have also completed an unbeaten fifteen-a-side season, are in Group L and what a group it is. St Benedcit’s, two ACE Colleges in the form of Exeter College and the recently crowned ACE champions Hartpury College, and another unbeaten side, the St Joseph’s Festival and reigning Sedbergh 10s champions, Kirkham Grammar School. It is the sort of challenging group that makes this competition what it is.
As if to demonstrate that, last year’s Plate final was between two serial Cup winners, with Cranleigh beating Millfield. Cranleigh are in Group C this year alongside two ACE Colleges, Brooksby Melton College and Gosforth Academy, Wales’ Ysgol Glantaf, who reached the Welsh Schools and Colleges Cup final last week, and the 2023 Continental Tyres Schools Cup winners, Oakham.
Millfield meanwhile are in Group K with ACE sides Bishop Burton College and SGS Filton College for company, plus old rivals Sherborne, and a rejuvenated St Joseph’s College side.
2023 Vase winners Rugby School are in Group alongside a strong Finborough side, Welsh giants Coleg Sir Gar, ACE side Stourport High School, and one of those sides that has stepped up from the Vase, Radley College.
Bowl winners Stowe are alongside Vase runners-up King’s Macclesfield, as well as ACE side Gordon’s, state school giants John Fisher, and the outstanding Clifton College. Bromsgrove were in last year’s Colts final and step up from the Vase to Cup at U18 level this year, they are in Group E along with Bedford, Berkhamsted, and two Welsh sides, Cardiff and Vale Colelge and Newport High School.
Tonbridge also admirably step up after a long time in the Vase, having had a good season they will be competitive in a Group B containing Dulwich College, Henley College, a good Woodhouse Grove side, and the Welsh Schools and Colleges champions, Llandovery College.
Group D looks tasty, Ipswich School appear the side to beat but Hurstpierpoint College, Trinity, ACE side City of Oxford College, and Wales’ Coleg Llandrillo will have plenty to say about that. Over in Group G lurk two sides that have stepped up from the Vase, Epsom College and Warwick. They are in an exciting looking group with Canford, Barnard Castle, and Whitgift.
Serial winners Sedbergh are in a group with two more of those sides that step up, Eton College and Blundell’s, and joining those three are Denstone College and ACE College Myerscough College. Another serial winner lurks in Group J, Wellington College, who have Norwich School and Richard Huish College for company alongside ACE pair Beechen Cliff and Oaklands College.
U18 Cup (Girls)
As in 2023 the U18 Girls Cup will mirror the Boys Cup, a brilliant move. There will be 55 teams in the draw, split into eleven groups of five teams each. On Day 2 the Group winners plus the best runners up will be split into four quarter final pools, with the remining runners up split into two semi finals pools.
Newman College won the Cup last year and are back for more in Group A with Bishop Wordsworth’s, Collegiate, Richard Huish, and St Edward’s Oxford for company.
Peter Symonds’ were the side that Newman beat in last year’s final and the south coast side are in Group K this year with St John’s Leatherhead, Exeter College, Sedbergh, and Bridgwater & Taunton.
Hereford 6th form College meanwhile claimed the Plate, they are in Group I with Clifton College, Trinity, Wales’ Coleg Sir Benfro, and Dubai’s Jumeirha English Speaking School.
Elsewhere, Group B features Sint-Jan, a great success story from last year, alongside Worth, Hayes, KCS Wimbledon, and Oundle. Meanwhile Group C contains Samuel Whitbread, Farnborough, Tiffin, Graveney, and Wales’ Gwyr.
Over in Group D Gordon’s should be competitive alongside King’s College Taunton, Royal Hospital School, Wellington School, and Weston College, while alongside Langley, Blundell’s Oakham, and Wales’ Penweddig are Canada’s ‘For the Love of the Game’ side.
Group F consists of Kingsbridge, Denstone College, Milton Abbey, Sevenoaks, and The Maynard, while Group G sees Millfield, Reigate Grammar, Gravesened Grammar, Coleg Llandrillo, and Barton Peveril all together.
Group H meanwhile sees Epsom College in alongside Collyer’s, RGS Worcester, Callywith, and Coleg y Cymoedd, while Group J contains Simon Langton, Taunton, Llandovery College, Rugby Schools, and Hartpury College’s 2nd VII.
U18 Vase (Boys)
With full credit to the schools and to the Rosslyn Park National School 7s themselves, new life is breathed into the U18 Vase this year with a number of sides rightly moving up to the Cup competition. After years of seeing schools that are clearly too good for the Vase competing in it, there is a hearty collective outpouring of praise for those schools that have finally moved across to the Cup and hopefully more will follow in the years to come.
Of course some have still decided to stay, opting to do to smaller schools in the Vase what they are so concerned about having done to them in the Cup. Hopefully seeing others make the move will inspire them to as well.
The Vase remains an enormous competition, 216 teams spread across 56 groups of four teams each on Day 1. Those Group Winners will face an elimination round at the end of Day 1 from which the winners will head to the Vase ‘eighth round’ Pools on Day 2. Winners of those Vase Pools will head to the Vase quarter finals knockouts, plus the best runner up. The remining runners up will head to the Bowl semi final pools.
Rugby School won the Vase last year and admirably opt to move up to the Cup. Up against them in the final were King’s Macclesfield, who have been looking good this year and also move up to the Cup competition, admirably..
The Bowl last year saw Stowe and Blundell’s compete in the final, Stowe winning that a year on from lifting the Vase itself. Both have now moved up to the Cup amidst much praise from onlookers.
Sides to look out for the in Vase include Haileybury and Bedford Modern in Group A, Solihull in Group B, Churcher’s College in Group F, Lord Wandsworth College in Group J, Gresham’s in K alongside Bishop Wordsworth’s and Caterham, plus Coleg Sir Gar’s 2nds, a brutal group. Durham in M could go far, likewise The Judd and Teddies in Group P, Richard Hale in Q, Eastbourne College and Collegiate in Y, Scottish Champions George Watson’s in Z, St Albans in BB, Mill Hill in EE, Marlborough College in FF, and a brilliant Group GG with RGS Guildford, Merchiston Castle, Scarborough College, and Sutton Valence. KES Birmingham are in II, St Ambrose, in MM, Felsted in SS, Harrogate Grammar in TT, NSB in XX, Cheltenham College in BBB, and Monmouth in DDD to name just a few, while Stamford are grouped with The Oratory, Thomas Hardye’s, and Wycliffe College in an exciting Group YY.
U18 ACE (Girls)
The U18 Girls ACE tournament sees ten teams taking part, divided into two groups of five teams each, with the winners of each group meeting in the final.
Hartpury College, as they have done so many times, won the competition last year and they will be eager to do so again this year. They are grouped with City of Oxford College, Bishop Burton College, and SGS Filton College, as well as Hong Kong S I.
Exeter College were the side that missed out to Hartpury in last year’s final, they are in the other group with their competitors being Oaklands College, Henley College, Loughborough College, and invitational side EggChasers.
U16 Cup (Boys)
There are a stunning 224 schools in the U16 Boys Cup, split into 56 groups of four teams each on Day 1. The end of Day 1 will see the group winners face an elimination round, with only the winners progressing to Day 2. Those winning sides will head to Cup ‘eighth round’ pools, from which the winners will head to the Cup quarter final knockout stage, and the losers will head to Plate semi final pools.
Last year Harrow claimed the title, a back to back Colts title for them in a year that also saw them claim the U18 Cup. Their quest for an extraordinary hat-trick begins in Group A with Bedford Modern, Eastbourne College, and Kings of Wessex Academy for company.
Bromsgrove were the side that lost out to them in the final, another side that has had a strong U18 year, they are at the other end of the draw in Group DDD with St Joseph’s College, Duke of York’s Royal Military School, and Worth their opposition.
The Plate was won by Tonbridge, they are drawn in Group C alongside New Hall, Ysgol Gyfun Cwm Rhymni from Wales, and Belgium’s Waterloo School. Epsom College were the runners up in the Plate and have a strong group alongside Bristol Grammar, Berkhamsted, and Scotland’s Dollar Academy all in Group J.
U16 Cup (Girls)
The U16 Girls Cup kicks the Rosslyn Park National School 7s off on Monday 18th March, and does so with a knockout start. There are 42 teams in the draw and 21 matches to kick things off. Winners of those games go to Cup ‘eighth round’ pools, with the pool winners and best runners up heading to the quarter final knockouts. The Plate competition, for those losing those initial matches in the morning, will mirror the Cup.
Kingsbridge won the tournament last year but are not involved this year, however the side that they beat in the final are, Ivybridge Community College, they kick off the tournament with a game against Cwmbran High School.
U14 Cup (Boys)
The U14 Boys tournament consists of an incredible 216 teams, spread across 54 groups of four teams each. Following the conclusion of the group stages, the group winners will face an elimination round. Day 2 will see the winners of that elimination round into Cup ‘eighth round’ pools, from which winners will progress to quarter final pools.
From there it’s knockout rugby, with the quarter final pool winners and the best runner up reaching the Cup semi finals. The Plate competition will mirror the Cup, featuring those that lost in the Day 1 elimination round games.
Last year Eton College won the Cup and as such they are in Group A, and what a group it is, with QES Barnet, Wales’ Ysgol Bro Edern, and old rivals Marlborough College, it should be a cracker.
Wellington College were the runners up in 2023 and are therefore at the other end of the draw, where Bennett Memorial, Churcher’s College, and Collegiate, will be their initial opposition.
The Plate last year saw Epsom College lift the silverware, beating Dame Allan’s in the final. Epsom are alongside Dartford Grammar, Pangbourne College, and Queen Ethelburga’s in Group V, while Dame Allan’s are in group M alongside Haileybury, Box Hill, and Scotland’s George Watson’s College.
U14 Cup (Girls)
The U14 Girls tournament is neatly streamlined, with 32 teams split into eight groups of four each, with the winners of the groups heading to the quarter final knockouts in a 1 day competition.
Hill House claimed the 2023 title and are back for more in Group A, where The Perse, Cardinal Newman, and Wales Ysgol Calon Cymru are the competition.
U13 Prep (Boys)
The Prep School Boys tournament consists of 60 teams, split into ten groups of six. Last year there were eight sides that won every game, Dubai College, Millfield Prep, Thomas’s Clapham, Winchester House, King’s House, Orwell Park, Amesbury, and Terra Nova, while Worth and Sedbergh Prep were also unbeaten, though had a draw in the group stage.
Millfield Prep are in Group B with Felsted, St Paul’s Juniors, Taunton, IAPS Kenya, and The Elms, while King’s House are in Group C with fellow 2023 unbeaten side Terra Nova, The Hawthorns, Cranmore, Mill Hill, and Cheltenham College Prep complete that group.
Group D also features a number of unbeaten sides from last year, with Dubai College, Thomas’s Clapham, Orwell Park, and Sedbergh Prep all together alongside Dean Close and Elstree, a true group of death.
Worth, meanwhile, are in Group G with Wycliffe College, Hurstpierpoint College, Fulham Boys, Bishop’s Stortford College, and Ampleforth College for company.
U13 Juniors (Boys)
There are 114 sides in the U13 Juniors competition, split into 19 groups of six teams each. It’s a festival round robin format with no group stage progression – but don’t mistake that for any lack of competitiveness on the players’ front, last years Junior was a brilliant competition.
Last year nine sides won every game, St Anselm’s College, Bedford Modern, KCS Wimbledon, Lancaster RGS, Stanwell, Finborough, Campion, Y Pant, and Chislehurst and Sidcup. St Anselm’s College and Y Pant are actually drawn together in Group P, with Salesian, Whitchurch High, Wisbech Grammar, and Torquay Academy for company.
Lancaster RGS are in Group I alongside Rydywaun, Caterham, RGS Worcester, Yarm, and Calaon Cymru, who were also unbeaten last year, though they did draw with Prince Henry’s Grammar School. Prince Henry’s are over in Group B, with Dulwich College, Northampton School for Boys, George Watson’s College, St John’s Leatherhead, and King’s Worcester for company,.
Stanwell meanwhile are alongside QEH, Woodhouse Grove, Queen Mary’s Grammar, St George’s Weybridge, and Ibstock Place. KCS Wimbledon’s campaign will be in Group C, where their opposition are fellow unbeaten side in 2023, Bedford Modern, plus Emanuel, Norwich, Blundell’s, and Bryn Celynnog.
Group A looks like it should be incredibly competitive, Finborough and Campion both won every game last year and are drawn together, and alongside them are King’s Macclesfield, who went unbeaten and had one draw. Competing the group are Trinity, Oakham, and Emirates Falcons.
Unbeaten with one draw in 2023 were Coopers’ Coborn, they have West Monmouth, Westcliff High, St Albans, Scarisbrick Hall, and St John’s Beaumont alongside them. Whitgift had a similar scenario last year and are drawn in an exciting looking group with St Joseph’s College, St Peter’s, RGS Guildford, Brighton College, Prep, and Bro Teifi.
U11s (Mixed)
St Paul’s and King’s Worcester both went unbeaten last year and are grouped together this year in a super competitive group with RGS Newcastle, Chinthurst, Cranmore, and St Hugh’s, for company.
Ibtsock Place were also unbeaten, they have a competitive group with Terra Nova, The Hawthorns, Brighton College, KCS Wimbledon, and Leicester Grammar.
In total there are six U11 Groups, with six sides in each. It will be a simple round robin festival format, with no progression from the group stage.
