As February rolls in, so too does 7s season, and this weekend sees a whole host of 7s tournaments and triangulars to go alongside the usual fifteen-a-side fixtures.
The NextGenXV live cameras will actually be on U16 duty, taking in the Gordon’s U16 Invitational 7s on Sunday, which you can see below, but there is plenty of U18 7s too, across Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.
The fifteen-a-side action continues too though, including some games between real heavyweights from last term. It is going to be one of the biggest weekends of the term so far, topped with Guinness Six Nations and U20 Six Nations action.
Friday
Friday is a busy day, not least at Cardiff University Sports Ground where Cathedral School Llandaff will host their Floodlit 7s from 5pm. Ten sides will be in action in what will be an intense evening, and you can check out our preview here: Cathedral School Llandaff Floodlit 7s Preview.
On the fifteen-a-side front there is plenty of action, not least in the West Midlands and surrounding areas. At Coventry’s Butts Park Arena, Bishop Vesey’s Grammar School and KES Stratford go head to head, and not too far away KES Camp Hill and KES Birmingham meet, two fantastic games.
Travelling out a bit from the area are Old Swinford Hospital, who head to Cheltenham Tigers RFC to take on a very strong Sir Thomas Rich’s side. Meanwhile on The Wirral Birkenhead host Stonyhurst at Birkenhead Park FC, host venue of the LIVE North of England School 7s in early March.
There is also U17 action at Hazelwood, former home of London Irish, as St John’s Leatherhead and St George’s College, Weybridge go head to head – a game that should be an absolute cracker.
Friday Fixtures
Birkenhead v Stonyhurst – at Birkenhead Park FC
Bishop Vesey’s GS v KES Stratford – at Butts Arena, Coventry
Cathedral School Llandaff Floodlit 7s (See Preview Here)
KES Camp Hill v KES Birmingham
Sir Thomas Rich’s v Old Swinford Hospital – at Cheltenham Tigers RFC
St John’s, Leatherhead U17 v St George’s Weybridge U17 – at Hazelwood
Saturday
Saturday is a busy day, and includes a bit of 7s. Wellington College will host a training triangular series with Millfield and Cheltenham College, ahead of both Wellington and Millfield being in competitive action on Sunday. Meanwhile Trent College host a similar day of 7s on Saturday, with Shrewsbury and Worksop College the visitors.
In Scotland there is a fifteen-a-side Triangular at West of Scotland FC, with St Aloysius’ College and Strathallan competing. That is part of what is, as ever, a busy day in Scotland. Robert Gordon’s College are also up against club opposition, Mackie RFC, and it’s a similar story for Gordonstoun, who take on Angus Colts RFC. Morrison’s Academy are also in club action, traveling to Linlithgow RFC.
Elsewhere in Scotland, Edinburgh Academy are hosting Dundee High School, while the side they beat last week, Glasgow Academy, are at home against George Heriot’s. Stewart’s Melville were astonishingly good last week against Merchiston and will look to back that up this week at Glasgow High School, meanwhile Kelvinside Academy travel to Balfron High, and Hutcheson’s Grammar travel to take on Merchiston Castle’s 2nd XV.
In the North of England there are some big games, Manchester Grammar School and Calday Grange Grammar School meet in a big game, while Bolton host Lancaster RGS’ 2nd XV. St Ambrose College are on the road, they travel to take on Haberdashers’ Adams.
One of the biggest games of the weekend will see Bromsgrove’s Continental Tyres Schools Cup semi final preparations step up a level as they host a strong Solihull side, while over in Wales there is a massive game as well as Christ College and Llandovery College reprise their historic and famous rivalry – it is a game that is worth travelling to for any fan of rugby.
The South East sees some absolutely sensational games, among them a massive one as St Joseph’s College host Whitgift, a game that has at times played a crucial role in deciding the best teams in the country. Not too far away Coopers’ Coborn host Sir Joseph Williamson’s.
In London there are some crackers, and Campion v RGS High Wycombe is right at the top of that list – two fantastic state sides that are so hard to beat. After impressing at the Seaford 10s on Sunday, RGS will be determined to perform again, they are a brilliant outfit. On the other side of London St Benedict’s and Hampton meet, another of those fixtures that in certain years has played such a crucial role in Cup knockout ties and decided the top sides in the country. Along the road, The Cedars welcome Ibstock Place.
There is also some excellent U17 action on Sunday, with Barnard Castle hosting a big Festival in the North East of England, welcoming Dame Allan’s, Durham, and RGS Newcastle for what should be a great day of rugby.
Over at Preston Grasshoppers RFC Kirkham Grammar School’s busy term of U17 rugby continues, they are hosting St Anselm’s College, which should be another top game. In the Midlands, meanwhile, two heavyweights go head to head, Northampton School for Boys and Warwick, one of the best game of the weekend, surely.
Saturday Fixtures
Balfron HS v Kelvinside Academy
Barnard Castle U17 Festival
Bolton v Lancaster RGS 2nd XV
Bromsgrove v Solihull
Campion v RGS High Wycombe
Christ College v Llandovery College
Coopers’ Coborn v Sir Joseph Williamson’s
Edinburgh Academy v Dundee HS
Glasgow Academy v George Heriot’s
Glasgow HS v Stewart’s Melville
Gordonstoun v Angus Colts RFC
Haberdashers’ Adams v St Ambrose College
Kirkham GS U17 v St Anselm’s College U17 – at Preston Grasshoppers RFC
Linlithgow RFC v Morrison’s Academy
Manchester GS v Calday Grange GS
Merchiston Castle 2nd XV v Hutcheson’s GS
Northampton School for Boys U17 v Warwick U17
Robert Gordon’s College v Mackie RFC
St Benedict’s v Hampton
St Joseph’s College v Whitgift
The Cedars v Ibstock Place
Trent College 7s Triangular: Shrewsbury, Trent College, Worksop College
Wellington College 7s Triangular: Cheltenham College, Millfield, Wellington College
West of Scotland Triangular: St Aloysius’ College, Strathallan, West of Scotland FC
Sunday
Sunday is all about 7s and one of the biggest events on the road to the Rosslyn Park National School 7s is taking place on Sunday, the South Coast 7s at Portsmouth Grammar School. It is one of the key early 7s season tournaments, and you can check out our full preview here: South Coast 7s Preview.
Sunday also sees another big tournament, and a new one on the block, the Hurstpierpoint College 7s, which will see some of the likely contenders for those big prizes at the end of term meeting together in Sussex. You can check out our full preview here: Hurstpierpoint College 7s Preview.
There are plenty of other tournaments too, New Hall host their annual 7s where the likes of Bishop’s Stortford College, Brentwood, King’s Ely, Langley, and Royal Hospital School will be visitors. Meanwhile Pangbourne College also host their annual tournament, welcoming sides such as Magdalen College, Pangbourne College, a Gordon’s VII, St Edward’s Oxford, and a promising Stowe side.
It promises to be a huge day of 7s, and a crucial one as side start to ramp up for those big tests in March.
Sunday Fixtures
Hurstpierpoint College 7s (See Preview Here)
New Hall 7s
Pangbourne College 7s
South Coast 7s at Portsmouth Grammar School (See Preview Here)
