This week sees the Continental Tyres Schools Cup Finals take place across three days and two different locations.
Tuesday and Wednesday see Saracens’ StoneX Stadium host the U15 finals and two of the U18 finals, before attention turns to Twickenham Stadium on Thursday for the U18 Cup and Vase finals as well as a Girls Schools Showcase and an U18 Girls Colleges fixture between Hartpury College and Exeter College.
That shift means that for the first time the U15 Cup and Vase finals will take place away from Twickenham, at StoneX on Tuesday, allowing Girls rugby to play a full role on U18 finals day for the first time.
Continental Tyres Schools Cup Finals Previews
StoneX: Tuesday 12th March – U15s Cup, Plate, Vase, and Bowl
10.30 Reading Blue Coat v Gordon’s (Bowl)
12.00 Durham v Beechen Cliff (Vase)
13.30 Hymers College v Cranleigh (Plate)
15.00 Northampton School for Boys v Radley College (Cup)
U15 Bowl: Reading Blue Coat v Gordon’s
Perhaps the only surprising thing about this U15 Bowl final is that it is the Bowl and not one of the higher tiered competitions, such has been the remarkable rise of these two sides at all age-grades in recent years.
It should perhaps then be no surprise that after away defeats to Shiplake College and Cranmore respectively in Round 1 of the Vase that these two have made it all the way to the final of the Bowl, where they will go head to head for the second time this season, Reading Blue Coat beat Gordon’s 31-5 back in September. A lot of water has passed underneath the bridge since then though and these are two vastly developed sides from that point, making for a hotly anticipated U15 Bowl final to get this Continental Tyres Schools Cup Finals week underway.
U15 Vase: Durham v Beechen Cliff
Durham were going for an U18 and U15 Vase double but Felsted ended that dream with a defeat of the U18s, however the dream goes on for the U15s as they reach a national final for the first time. They face Beechen Cliff, who have been at this stage before, winning the U15 Vase in 2018.
Durham’s campaign has seen some big wins over the likes of Scarborough College, Scarisbrick Hall, King’s Priory, and Yarm, but they have also had to show real grit in games over Dame Allan’s, Hitchin Boys’, and especially in their semi final against The Leys. This is a side that has seen plenty of different challenges and found a route to victory.
So too though have Beechen Cliff, they breezed through their South West B section but when the competition went national, so their gritty side had to come out with well fought victory over KES Southampton and then an outstanding display against St Albans in the tightest of semi finals. These two have shown they have the ability to play in any sort of game and that they are well matched, expect a tight and exciting final.
U15 Plate: Hymers College v Cranleigh
Hymers College return to the U15 Plate final having reached this stage before back in 2019. They lost that day but will be itching to go one step further on Tuesday when they take on an outstanding Cranleigh side.
These two have been brilliant in this campaign, Hymers have beaten some of the most storied names around in Rugby School, RGS Newcastle, Bradford Grammar, and Woodhouse Grove, as well as that epic semi final over Oundle. Radley meanwhile had a semi final epic of their own against Dean Close, and prior to that they but in fine displays over St Richard Reynolds, St John’s Leatherhead, and Brighton College. Indeed they were nearly actually progressing in the Cup, losing by a mere point to RGS Guildford to end up in this Plate final.
It is unquestionably two outstanding sides, and two sides that will likely know next to nothing about one another.
U15 Cup: Northampton School for Boys v Radley College
Is there a harder task than going back to back at U15 level? It is hard enough at U18 level but you have the advantage of being able to take a group of players through two, sometimes three, years. At U15 level it’s one shot and one shot only and then onto the next year group. Back to back means two distinctly different teams.
It has only been done twice, by RGS High Wycombe in 1996 and 1997, who then actually shared the title as well in 1998 after a draw in the final, and, most recently, by Warwick a decade ago. They defeated QEGS Wakefield back to back and then met the same opponents in 2015 but just missed out on a unique outright hat-trick.
That is the scale of the task, and indeed the achievement in simply being in this final in the first place, that awaits Northampton School for Boys, the 2023 champions, in this Continental Tyres U15 Schools Cup final. They have been magnificent to this point in their defence of the title, beating Oundle, Stamford, and Ipswich en route to the Midlands B spoils before knocking out heavyweights QEGS Wakefeld and Stowe in the quarters and semis. They have been superb.
So to though have Radley College, and while NSB might be chasing history of one sort, Radley College are chasing their own. They have never made an U15 final of an description and yet in progressing to this one they have been astonishing. Legends of this U15 competition have been beaten in Millfield and Wellington College, and since a walkover against their local rivals Abingdon they have had to do this the hard way, with nailbiters in every single round.
They are well suited for the nerves and tension of finals rugby, after all every game they have played in this run has been tension ridden.
It is a final to whet the appetite, and one way or another there will be schools rugby history.
StoneX: Wednesday 13th March – U18s Plate and Bowl
12.00 Richard Hale v Richard Huish (Bowl)
13.45 Uppingham v TBC (Plate)
U18 Bowl Final: Richard Hale v Richard Huish
The rise and rise of Hertfordshire’s Richard Hale has been fantastic to watch, and now it is rewarded with a Continental Tyres Schools Bowl final at StoneX, a home from home for some of their Saracens charges. Their campaign has been superb, most notably victory over Loughborough Grammar in the semi finals, a side that had not scored fewer than fifty points throughout the campaign.
Richard Hale will have to be just as good again though in this final, where they face the South West A winners, Richard Huish. Huish have been brilliant, not least in their quarter final over former Vase finalists Sutton Valence. They were on song again in the semi finals over Portsmouth Grammar, a side that, like Loughborough Grammar, had been near enough unplayable through the rounds.
It should make for an outstanding start to the U18 action!
U18 Plate Final: Uppingham v TBC
Uppingham have been outstanding in reaching this Continental Tyres U18 Schools Plate final. The Rutland side have endured some tough times since their most recent heyday in the late 90s and early 00s but this run has invigorated them, beating Cup legends Warwick in their opening game, before form U15 Champions Grammar School at Leeds in the quarter finals, and then a fantastic Solihull side in the semi finals.
The only blight on the campaign is that at the time of writing Uppingham are still unaware as to the identity of their opponents for Wednesday’s Plate final after questions were raised by Campion about the number of U19s in the Newman College squad. It is understood that whilst no regulations have been breached, concerns were raised on safety grounds. As such, their semi final has not been played. NextGenXV’s understanding is that the matter was due to be discussed between headmasters however no resolution has been reached and the issue has now been moved to a dispute committee. However, with time running out until the final, it is certainly an uneasy and unsatisfactory scenario.
NextGenXV have reached out to the Continental Tyres Schools Cup and RFU for comment however, at the time of writing, none has been forthcoming.
Regardless of opposition though Uppingham will arrive full of excitement and with the knowledge that they will have to produce another outstanding display as whoever they face, Newman College or Campion, both are excellent sides. Newman College ran Harrow as close as anyone this season, while Campion knocked out four-time champions Whitgift in Round 2. Whoever ends up in this final, it is going to be a heavyweight contest.
Twickenham Stadium: Thursday 14th March – U18 Cup and Vase, Girls Showcases
11.00 Hartpury College v Exeter College (U18 Girls Colleges)
13.00 Felsted v Ivybridge Community College (Vase)
15.00 Continental Tyres Girls Schools Showcase
16.30 Harrow v Kirkham Grammar (Cup)
U18 England Colleges Women’s Performance League Final: Hartpury College v Exeter College
This marks an historic occasion, the first time that the Schools Cup finals day has also had full female representation – and what a way to start that process, with the final of the U18 England Colleges Women’s Performance League. Hartpury College are, much as in the Boys U18 setup, a phenomenon at U18 Girls level. One only needs to look at their performances at the Howden Rosslyn Park National Schools 7s over the last decade or so to realise that.
However Exeter College have been arguably their closest challengers through that period, certainly in the last five years or so, and have consistently put in superb displays. It is a fitting pairing to kick off this new era of schools finals day at Twickenham Stadium, and a brilliant way to start that day off.
There will also be Girls action at 3pm with the Continental Tyres Girls Schools Showcase, for which details have yet to be announced.
U18 Vase Final: Felsted v Ivybridge Community College
The Vase final looks like being a cracking game. Felsted are a resilient side, as proved by the way they have come through tight games at just about every stage of this competition, knocking out excellent teams such as St Albans, St Ambrose College, and, in the semi final, Durham, in incredibly tense fixtures.
They reached the final of this competition back in 2013, missing out to The Leys, and they would love to reach the peak of the mountain. To do they will have to beat an Ivybridge Community College side that has endured so many good times in this tournament at U15 level, including a share of the Cup in 2020, and that is now itching to see that translate into U18 silverware. Like Felsted, they have had to show real guts to get here, with opponents such as Lord Wandsworth College and Mill Hill requiring superb displays to get past in the semi finals and quarter finals.
It should be a superb way to start the Boys U18 action on Thursday.
U18 Cup Final: Harrow v Kirkham Grammar
There is a legitimate argument to say that this might be the strongest Continental Tyres U18 Schools Cup final ever. Certainly few would argue that within the lifetime of those that will take on the Twickenham turf on Thursday, it is the first time that the two sides widely regarded to be the best in the country have reached the final. Many others in the final have had a claim to be the best in the country, but both sides? Very rarely.
That is the standard that we are looking at with Thursday’s final, almost certainly the two best teams in the country. The only shame is that some of their stars may be absent due to injury, but such is the depth that both Harrow and Kirkham Grammar School possess that they will still both be magnificent, and not just on the field, these two coaching teams have been outstanding. Jonny Roddam at Kirkham Grammar has overseen their development from a top team that was known for its physical edge, to a side that is more all-court than ever before, meanwhile James Melville has overseen a transformation in Harrow that sees them not just as one of the top U18 sides in the country, but also in the mix at U16, U15, and U14 levels as well. Rugby-culture wise, technically, and in the achievement column too, both deserve recognition.
Harrow arrive having gone unbeaten to date, won back to back Daily Mail Trophy titles and the NextGenXV League, and they also hold both the U18 and U16 Cups at the Howden Rosslyn Park National Schools 7s. Kirkham Grammar School meanwhile also went unbeaten, they also claimed the St Joseph’s Festival title in October, the Sedbergh 10s in March last year, and finished runners up to Harrow in the NextGenXV League.
Every major title in schools rugby is currently held by one of these two except this Continental Tyres Schools Cup, and by 6pm on Thursday that too will be added to one or the other’s collection.
It is like Manchester City and Liverpool meeting in the FA Cup Final, or Real Madrid and Barcelona in the Copa del Rey final. It is a meeting of giants and a showcase of all that is great about school rugby. It is a shot in the arm for the tournament as well, not too long ago it was looking vulnerable and there were even whispers that it no longer had a place. Now, with an engaged title sponsor, and the two best in the land in the final, the tournament is thriving.
On the field the action will be intense, these two know nothing less. Kirkham Grammar School progressed through a tough North B section, beating schools rugby legends along the way in QEGS Wakefield, King’s Macclesfield, and Woodhouse Grove before victory over an unbeaten, and superb, Bromsgrove side in the semi finals.
Harrow meanwhile beat Newman College, RGS Guildford, and Hurstpierpoint College to progress from London & South East B before an astonishing 47-5 victory over Ipswich in the quarter finals, a performance that will be the centrepiece of the season should they earn victory on Thursday, then of course their excellent performance over Blundell’s in the semi finals.
Michael Jordan v LeBron James, Federer v Nadal, South Africa v New Zealand. It is Fury v Usyk, it is undisputed. Then might as well bring their trophy haul to Twickenham with them on Thursday and parade them pitchside like heavyweights before kick off.
It is a final for the ages.
