The annual Solihull U18 Schools 7s takes place on Wednesday, with sixteen top teams in the region gathering together for what should be a brilliant day of 7s.
It is a key tournament on the road to the Rosslyn Park National School 7s and features some of the very best sides in schools rugby.
The sixteen sides are split into four groups of four, with the top two from each group progressing to the Cup quarter finals and the bottom two to the Plate semi finals.
Almost half of the field has changed from last year, with recent Oakham 7s champions Stamford joining the fray alongside Princethorpe College, Sandbach, Sibford, St Peter Gloucester, and two sides that will likely be pushing for top honours, King’s Macclesfield and Hereford 6th form College. Both of last year’s Trophy winners, Denstone College (Cup champions) and Solihull 2nd VII (Plate champions) are among the seven to miss out.
Hosts Solihull were within a whisker of a Cup and Plate double, reaching the Cup final. They will be hoping to add to their three previous titles at this brilliant tournament of theirs, that has been running since 1986, particularly as it marks ten years since they last won it.
They are drawn in a challenging Group A alongside newcomers Princethorpe College, a strong RGS Worcester side, and the 2002 champions, Loughborough Grammar.
Over in Group B are the most recent champions in the draw, Bromsgrove, who won titles either side of the Covid hiatus in 2019 and 2022. They will be itching to perform well after missing out in an epic Continental Tyres Schools Cup semi final to Kirkham Grammar School on Saturday. Competing against them are three of the new sides in the draw, Sandbach, Sibford, and St Peter’s Gloucester, which should make for an exciting pool.
Group C contains the most successful side in Solihull 7s history, Warwick. They are chasing a magnificent 10thtitle, but it has been a while since they got their hands on the main prize, when they won it back to back in 2015 and 2016. They would love to go one better than last year’s semi final and to give themselves a chance of lifting that 10th title. Standing in their way in the group are an excellent Monmouth side as well as two strong newcomers, Hereford 6th form College and King’s Macclesfield. King’s Macclesfield have previously been competitors here, winning three titles, most recently back to back in 2004 and 2005.
Group D meanwhile contains that Stamford side that is riding a wave of confidence after their Oakham 7s triumph. Alongside them in the group are Bishop Vesey’s Grammar, KES Birmingham, and three time champions Old Swinford Hospital, whose most recent triumph was in 2008.
As ever, it promises to be a huge day of 7s at Solihull, and a massive challenge ahead of the Rosslyn Park National School 7s. Plenty will be learned.
Solihull 7s Draw:
Group A: Loughborough GS, Princethorpe College, RGS Worcester, Solihull
Group B: Bromsgrove, Sandbach, Sibford, St Peter’s Gloucester
Group C: Monmouth, Hereford 6th form College, King’s Macclesfield, Warwick
Group D: Bishop Vesey’s GS, KES Birmingham, Old Swinford Hospital, Stamford
Roll of Honour (Cup Winners)
2023 Denstone College
2022 Bromsgrove
2021 Cancelled
2020 Cancelled
2019 Bromsgrove
2018 Cancelled
2017 RGS High Wycombe
2016 Warwick
2015 Warwick
2014 Solihull
2013 King’s Worcester
2012 Warwick
2011 Haberdashers’ Adams
2010 Aylesbury GS
2009 King’s Worcester
2008 Old Swinford Hospital
2007 Cancelled
2006 Old Swinford Hospital
2005 King’s Macclesfield
2004 King’s Macclesfield
2003 Stowe
2002 Loughborough GS
2001 Old Swinford Hospital
2000 King’s Macclesfield
1999 Cancelled
1998 Warwick
1997 Warwick
1996 Warwick
1995 Bedford Modern
1994 Warwick
1993 Bedford Modern
1992 Solihull
1991 Solihull
1990 King’s Worcester
1989 Warwick
1988 King’s Worcester
1987 Nottingham HS
1986 Warwick
Total Titles:
Warwick x9
King’s Worcester x4
King’s Macclesfield x3
Old Swinford Hospital x3
Solihull x3
Bedford Modern x2
Bromsgrove x2
Aylesbury GS
Denstone College
Haberdashers’ Adams
Loughborough GS
Nottingham HS
RGS High Wycombe
Stowe
