With the Christmas break over, schools rugby returns this week with a packed fixture list at both U18 and U17 level this Wednesday.
With other sports going on and the Premiership Rugby U18 Academy League also in full swing, many sides are playing no rugby this term – bar 7s – while others are compromised slightly on selection, however there is still plenty going on and some outstanding, and important, games taking place.
Not least of which is the last of the quarter finals in the Continental Tyres U18 Schools Plate. The Cup, Vase, and Bowl quarter finals were all completed prior to the break, but the Plate had just one game remaining as Uppingham and Grammar School at Leeds take each other on this Wednesday. They both know what victory will bring, a semi finals at home to Solihull, whose U17s are in action against Queen Mary’s Grammar School this Wednesday as well. It promises to be a fantastic quarter final, setting up either way for a great semi final, and you can be sure that the other two semi finalists, Newman College and Campion, will be keeping a close eye on proceedings too.
Newman College themselves are in action on Wednesday, they take on Samuel Whitbread Academy in what should be a fantastic game between two sides that have been punching higher and higher with ever passing season. Newman’s 3rd XV are also in action, travelling to Godalming College in the AoC Sport Men’s South East League A. victory for Godalming would hand them the league title, which would be the first for a side from Godalming College in 7 years.
There is a big County Cup quarter final in Merseyside as Liverpool College and Scarisbrick Hall go head to head. Elsewhere in the North West, St Ambrose College and St Anselm’s College go head to head in an U17 fixture, while at U18 level AKS Lytham host Clitheroe RGS, and Wirral Grammar School welcome Oswestry, and The Grange travel to Reaseheath.
The North East has some great games too, not least an U17 game between ACE side Gosforth Academy and schools rugby heavyweights Sedbergh, two sides that contribute so heavily to the Newcastle Falcons U18 side. Also in U17 action are Dame Allan’s, who host Tyne Metropolitan College, while further south into Yorkshire there is a cracking U17 game as Woodhouse Grove host Prince Henry’s Grammar. Meanwhile at U18 level Hill House take on RIshworth.
In the Midlands there are some top games, KES Birmingham were fantastic last term and now send a development XV to take on KES Aston, meanwhile KES Camp Hill host Haberdashers’ Adams. One to keep a big eye on it is at Old Swinford Hospital, where they take on a Kirkham Grammar School side shorn of the half dozen or so stars of theirs that are in the Sale Sharks U18 side. That could be a very interesting watch.
It is a busy day in the South West, with Exeter College taking on Hereford 6th form College, which should be a top game of rugby. Meanwhile in Cornwall Callywith College and Truro School go head to head.
In Somerset one of the games of the day will be Millfield v Sir Thomas Rich’s, there will be a development feel to it, given both have so many in Academy action, but make no mistake this is two top quality sides going head to head. So too along the road where Beechen Cliff welcome Welsh giants Whitchurch High School for a huge U17 clash. Meanwhile in Wales itself champions Llandovery College will be hosting invitational side Welsh Academicals.
Back in England, and the South East, Gordon’s and Hayes go head to head in a fixture designed to give game time in a quiet term for fifteen-a-side players, while Tiffin will take on Glyn in a similar game. Farnborough 6th form College meanwhile travel to Barton Peveril College, and keep an eye on things in Hertfordshire where St George’s Harpenden, so quietly impressive last term, host Essex’s Coopers’ Coborn.
Wednesday
AKS Lytham v Clitheroe RGS
Barton Peveril College v Farnborough 6th form College
Beechen Cliff U17 v Whitchurch HS U17
Callywith College v Truro
Dame Allan’s U17 v Tyne Metropolitan College
Exeter College v Hereford 6th form College
Godalming College v Newman College 3rd XV
Gordon’s v Hayes
Gosforth Academy U17 v Sedbergh U17
Hill House v Rishworth
KES Aston v KES Birmingham
KES Camp Hill v Haberdashers’ Adams
Liverpool College v Scarisbrick Hall (County Cup QF)
Llandovery College v Welsh Academicals
Millfield v Sir Thomas Rich’s
Newman College v Samuel Whitbread
Old Swinford Hospital v Kirkham GS U17
Reaseheath College v The Grange
Solihull U17 v Queen Mary’s GS U17
St Ambrose College U17 v St Anselm’s College U17
St George’s, Harpenden v Coopers’ Coborn
Tiffin v Glyn
Uppingham v Grammar School at Leeds (Plate Quarter Final)
Wirral GS v Oswestry
Woodhouse Grove U17 v Prince Henry’s GS U17
