The schools rugby season continues in earnest this weekend with action across Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.
Freezing temperatures have already caused a few cancellations but the signs are positive that much will remain on as the weekend progresses.
It is also a weekend that sees 7s season begin, with King’s Bruton hosting a cohort of schools in the south west on Sunday to get things underway.
Friday
Before any of that though is Friday night’s fifteen-a-side action, which includes some fantastic fixtures – not least St Joseph’s College making the trip to take on Hartpury College Bulls. It may not be the ACE side, but the Hartpury Bulls side is still an incredibly tough side to take on, which should make for a fantastic game.
Another that should be utterly superb is Reading Blue Coat vs Eastbourne College, two sides that had strong outings last term and will be in for an entertaining game under the lights this Friday. Similarly at Rosslyn Park, where Fulham Boys and isleworth & Syon will go head to head in what looks set to be a great occasion on the artificial surface and the home of the National Schools 7s.
Friday Fixtures
Fulham Boys v Isleworth & Syon – at Rosslyn Park FC
Hartpury College Bulls v St Joseph’s College
Reading Blue Coat v Eastbourne College
Saturday
Saturday sees plenty of action, including some U17 fixtures alongside the U18 fixtures. South East England is busy, Brighton College were one of the star teams of last term, going unbeaten, and will host one of the strongest state schools from last term, Campion, in what should be a fantastic game.
Hampton will also be in action and will look to have a strong finish to the fifteen-a-side season as they move towards their Founders’ Day 7s in a few weeks time. They host Tiffin, who had some wonderful moments last term. John Fisher also take to the field for the first time this term, travelling to Chislehurst & Sidcup, while their great Croydon rivals, Whitgift, will also be in action as they head to Ravens Wood.
In East Anglia St Joseph’s College, with their 1st XV in Friday night action, send a 2nd XV to Langley, while on the other side of the country Shrewsbury will host a Mount St Mary’s College side that may be slightly hampered by the absence of a few Yorkshire Academy stars. Malvern College meanwhile host RGS Worcester, a game that ought to prove incredibly competitive and will be well worth the trip for anyone in the area.
If you find yourself in the North West though, it wouldn’t be a bad place to stay as there are some great fixtures, not least the superb King’s Macclesfield hosting a Solihull side that has had some really strong days as well. In Manchester there is County Plate action, with Manchester Grammar hosting AKS Lytham, while in Lancashire Lancaster RGS host Yorkshire’s QEGS Wakefield – two sides with such rich history. Across in Yorkshire Scarborough College host Hill House.
Scotland has plenty going on this weekend too, including the Scottish Cup champions George Watson’s College hosting Glasgow High School. Last year’s champions Merchiston Castle are also in action, welcoming Dollar Academy, while 2022 runners up Edinburgh Academy will be taking on George Heriot’s. This season’s runners up, Stewart’s Melville, are meanwhile in action against Strathallan, who have pushed George Watson’s closer than anyone else this season.
Elsewhere in Scotland Dundee High School welcome Robert Gordon’s College, while Kelvinside Academy host Morrison’s Academy, and Hutchesons’ Grammar head to St Columba’s.
As mentioned, there is also some fantastic U17 action this weekend, not least Northampton School for Boys and Sedbergh going head to head in what should be a wonderful game and a great occasion. There are also two U17 triangulars as Birkenhead, Wirral Grammar, and Calday Grange Grammar all meet on the Wirral in what should be a competitive trio of games. Likewise in Newcastle, where RGS Newcastle welcome Durham and Newcastle School for Boys – a fantastic trio of sides.
Saturday Fixtures
Brighton College v Campion
Chislehurst & Sidcup GS v John Fisher
Dundee HS v Robert Gordon’s College
Edinburgh Academy v George Heriot’s
George Watson’s College v Glasgow HS
Hampton v Tiffin
Kelvinside Academy v Morrison’s Academy
King’s Macclesfield v Solihull
Lancaster RGS v QEGS Wakefield
Langley v St Joseph’s College 2nd XV
Malvern College v RGS Worcester
Manchester GS v AKS Lytham (County Plate QF)
Merchiston Castle v Dollar Academy
Northampton School for Boys U17 v Sedbergh U17
Ravens Wood v Whitgift
Scarborough College v Hill House
Shrewsbury v Mount St Mary’s College
Stewart’s Melville v Strathallan
St Columba’s v Hutchesons’ GS
U17 Triangular: Birkenhead, Calday Grange GS, Wirral GS
U17 Triangular: RGS Newcastle, Durham, Newcastle School for Boys
Sunday
Sunday then sees 7s season begin at King’s Bruton get the ball rolling, with Clayesmore, Downside, Monkton Combe, Sherborne, Warminster, Wells Cathedral, and Devon’s Mount Kelly all visiting for the first big 7s outing of the season!
Sunday Fixtures
King’s Bruton 7s: Clayesmore, Downside, King’s Bruton, Monkton Combe, Mount Kelly, Sherborne, Warminster, Wells Cathedral
