A busy weekend of schools rugby looms large, with games and tournaments across Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.
In many ways it feels like the real launchpad of the shortened format season, with 7s at Millfield, 10s at Pocklington, and the LIVE Seaford Southern Tens at Seaford College – with every game on pitches one and two live here on NextGenXV through the NextGenXV YouTube channel and through the videos below.
Before that though, there is plenty of rugby all over the country!
Friday
Friday has some fascinating fixtures, including Reading Blue Coat hosting a Bishop Wordsworth’s XV, Bishop Wordsworth’s will also be in action at the Seaford Tens, so expect a mixed squad for this one. Over in Kent Simon Langton Grammar will be hosting Cranbrook in what should be a close game.
There is also U17 action on Friday, notably Berkhamsted and Brighton College going head to head in what has all the signs of being a top quality fixture. Bromsgrove also put an U17 side out, but they will be taking on a 1st XV in the form of KES Birmingham, so keep a close eye on that one.
Friday Fixtures
Berkhamsted U17 v Brighton College U17
KES Birmingham v Bromsgrove U17
Reading Blue Coat v Bishop Wordsworth’s
Simon Langton GS v Cranbrook
Saturday
On Saturday there is plenty going on, and some top quality fixtures among it all, not least Hampton v Whitgift, two sides that have produced some top quality teams through the years and that will put on a great 70 minutes of action.
Not too far away Tiffin will welcome a strong St George’s Harpenden side to South West London, while in North London Mill Hill will be hosting Sir Joseph Williamson’s.
In Surrey Gordon’s welcome Brighton College’s 2nd XV, it will likely be a bit of a mixed Gordon’s side too given their participation in the Seaford Southern Tens on Sunday, while elsewhere The Cedars host Harrodian.
There is fantastic action in Warwickshire where Warwick, who are looking to bounce back from defeat to RGS High Wycombe last time out, host a Sir Thomas Rich’s side that has been absolutely flying all season. Further East Loughborough Grammar welcome a strong Old Swinford Hospital side for what should be a great game.
Further North to Yorkshire, where Pocklington host their annual Tens Tournament, featuring the likes of Ampleforth College, Bradford Grammar, Grammar School at Leeds, Mount St Mary’s College, RGS Newcastle, and Scarborough College. It should be a fantastic competition and a great start to the short-format season for all of those that are involved.
That’s not the only competition for RGS Newcastle this weekend, they also send an U17 side to the Barnard Castle U17 Festival, which also features Dame Allan’s and Durham.
The North West has been the real heartbeat of school rugby since Christmas, and it will be again this weekend with some superb fixtures. King’s Macclesfield won the County Cup in midweek with a tight victory over St Ambrose College, and they have another big game on Saturday, travelling to St Anselm’s College. St Ambrose College meanwhile look to quickly overcome midweek disappointment with a huge game on Saturday at home to Lancaster RGS.
Meanwhile Birkenhead host Manchester Grammar in a cracking looking game and Bolton welcome Scarisbrick Hall. There is also a big U17 game as Liverpool College welcome Kirkham Grammar School.
Scotland has also been a real hotbed of the school scene this term and there are some massive games this weekend, not least Cup champions George Watson’s College travelling to Dollar Academy for what should be a cracker.
Their opponents in that final, Stewart’s Melville, are also on the road in a massive game as they travel to giants Merchiston Castle. Edinburgh Academy have also been fantastic this season and have a big away game of their own, an inter-city academy derby at Glasgow Academy. Elsewhere St Aloysius’ College host Lasswade High School and Hutchesons’ Grammar welcome Queen Victoria, while Glasgow High are on the road at George Heriot’s.
In Dundee, Morrison’s Academy are at Dundee High School, while along the road Robert Gordon’s College are travelling to club opposition in the form of Perthshire RFC.
Saturday Fixtures
Barnard Castle U17 Festival: Barnard Castle, Dame Allan’s, Durham, RGS Newcastle
Birkenhead v Manchester GS
Bolton v Scarisbrick Hall
Dollar Academy v George Watson’s College
Dundee HS v Morrison’s Academy
George Heriot’s v Glasgow HS
Glasgow Academy v Edinburgh Academy
Gordon’s v Brighton College 2nd XV
Hampton v Whitgift
Hutchesons’ GS v Queen Victoria
Liverpool College U17 v Kirkham GS U17
Loughborough GS v Old Swinford Hospital
Merchiston Castle v Stewart’s Melville
Mill Hill v Sir Joseph Williamson’s
Perthshire RFC v Robert Gordon’s College
Pocklington 10s: Ampleforth College, Bradford GS, Grammar School at Leeds, Mount St Mary’s College, Pocklington, RGS Newcastle, Scarborough College
St Aloysius’ College v Lasswade HS
St Ambrose College v Lancaster RGS
St Anselm’s College v King’s Macclesfield
The Cedars v Harrodian
Tiffin v St George’s, Harpenden
Warwick v Sir Thomas Rich’s
Sunday
Sunday really sees the short-format tournaments kick into gear. The Seaford Southern Tens is such a crucial point in the season, really bookending this season along with the Sedbergh 10s at the end of term. Sixteen teams will be in action in Sussex in what should be an epic day of rugby, and all the action from Pitches 1 and 2 will be LIVE here on NextGenXV. You can see a full preview of the prestigious tournament here: Seaford Southern Tens Preview.
There is also 7s on Sunday, with Millfield hosting their annual tournament. It should be a cracker, not least because it involves another side that was exceptional through the fifteen-a-side season, Blundell’s. Among those joining them are two of Taunton’s finest, King’s College and Taunton School, plus the likes of Downside, King’s Bruton, Monkton Combe, and Prior Park College. It should be a fantastic day of 7s.
Sunday Fixtures
Millfield 7s: Blundell’s, Downside, King’s Bruton, King’s College Taunton, Millfield, Monkton Combe, Prior Park College, Taunton School
Seaford Southern Tens – See Preview Here
