This week is another busy one with both fifteen-a-side rugby and seven-a-side rugby on the agenda, including some big County Cup finals in the mix too.
The tournaments range from the small to the large, but all will play a key role on the road to the Rosslyn Park National School 7s.
Tuesday
The action begins on Tuesday with two exciting fifteen-a-side games, not least an Anglo-Welsh game that should be superb as Durham, who have had a superb season in England, host Edinburgh Academy, who have been brilliant in Scotland. It is going to be an incredible occasion. Also in Scotland, Morrison’s Academy host an Angus Select XV, which should be another top occasion.
On the 7s front it’s the Northampton Saints 7s Series on Tuesday, with The Perse hosting. Since 2012 Saints have been hosting this series, the series sees various competitions take place across the term, with the winners of each of those competing for the Trophy, Plate, and Bowl on Finals Day.
About 25 Schools are competing, including last year’s Trophy winners Bedford Modern and the runners up, Northampton School for Boys, who won the competition in 2013 and 2014. Finborough have also had success and are among those competing, likewise Wellingborough and Bishop’s Stortford High School. Indeed some of the biggest names in schools rugby are involved, such as Warwich, St Joseph’s College, Stamford, Rugby, Oakham, Bedford, Felsted, Dulwich College, and Oundle. It promises to be a spectacular day of action at The Perse.
Tuesday Fixtures
Durham v Edinburgh Academy
Morrison’s Academy v Angus Select XV
Northampton Saints 7s – at The Perse
Wednesday
Wednesday is another busy day with some key 7s tournaments, including the annual Haberdashers’ Elstree 7s, which you can see previewed in more detail here: Habs Elstree 7s Preview.
Bournemouth also host a tournament, with King’s Bruton, Milton Abbey, Ryde, and Warminster among the visitors. Dunottar likewise, with Claremont, Emanuel, Ewell Castle, and Shiplake College among those competing.
Maidstone Grammar will be welcoming 7s side to Kent, including Cranbrook, Gravesend Grammar, and Langley Park, while in the South West West Buckland will also be hosting, with Exeter School, Plymouth College, and Reading Blue Coat among the visitors. There is also ten-a-side rugby, with Next Phase Academy hosting.
On the fifteen-a-side field, Bromsgrove continue to prepare for their Continental Tyres Schools Cup semi finals as they host Solihull, which should be a strong test. Meanwhile KES Stratford host the Warwick 2ndXV, and further north Manchester Grammar travel to the College of Rugby.
In the South East things are busy, as ever. One of the games of the day should be Gordon’s trip to Reed’s. Meanwhile Wilson’s host Box Hill and St Andrew’s host Wallington County Grammar, while Grey Court welcome Saint Cecilia’s.
Tiffin have been playing some good rugby and host Harrodian, while Ibstock place welcome Latymer Upper. Meanwhile in Kent Trinity Sevenoaks host Bennett Memorial and Chislehurst & Sidcup welcomeOakwood Park.
Hertfordshire sees St George’s Harpenden and Richard Hale go head to head, a game that should be a really top encounter, while Oaklands College host Verulam. Further North again, Samuel Whitbread Academy and Moulton College meet, two sides with strong Northampton Saints links.
The two key fifteen-a-side games though are two County Cup Finals. Hampshire sees Lord Wandsworth College and Peter Symonds’ College go head to head in what should be a fantastic game, while in Staffordshire Denstone College’s 2nd XV have done remarkably well to reach the final, where they will meet Newcastle-Under-Lyme.
There is also U17 action on Wednesday, including a huge game in Yorkshire as Harrogate Grammar and Woodhouse Grove go head to head. There are a couple of crackers in the South West too as Sir Thomas Rich’s welcome Wales’ Whitchurch High for a massive encounter, and Bishop Wordsworth’s host Beechen Cliff, another huge game.
Wednesday Fixtures:
Bishop Wordsworth’s U17 v Beechen Cliff U17
Bournemouth 7s
Bromsgrove v Solihull
Chislehurst & Sidcup GS v Oakwood Park GS
College of Rugby v Manchester GS
Dunottar 7s
Grey Court v Saint Cecilia’s
Haberdashers’ Elstree 7s: (See Preview Here)
Harrogate GS U17 v Woodhouse Grove U17
Ibstock Place v Latymer Upper
KES Stratford v Warwick 2nd XV
Lord Wandsworth College v Peter Symonds’ College (County Cup Final)
Maidstone GS 7s
Newcastle-Under-Lyme v Denstone College 2nd XV (County Cup Final)
Next Phase Academy 10s
Oaklands College v Verulam
Reed’s v Gordon’s
Samuel Whitbread v Moulton College
Sir Thomas Rich’s U17 v Whitchurch HS U17
St Andrew’s v Wallington CGS
St George’s Harpenden v Richard Hale
Tiffin v Harrodian
Trinity Sevenoaks v Bennett Memorial
West Buckland 7s
Wilson’s v Box Hill
Thursday
Things quieten down on Thursday, with just a couple of fixtures. In Kent Gravesend Grammar and Sir Joseph Williamson’s meet, while in Scotland St Leonards host Glenalmond College.
Thursday Fixtures
Gravesend GS v Sir Joseph Williamson’s
St Leonards v Glenalmond College
