Millfield claimed the 2024 Howden Rosslyn Park National Schools 7s U14 title in the most stunning fashion, bouncing back from defeat to claim the silverware, while in the U16s the competition was fierce.
It was all part of an epic Day 3 at the Howden Rosslyn Park National Schools 7s, and builds towards an even bigger Day 4 on Thursday in which the Boys U16 competition will conclude, the Boys U18 Cup and Girls U18 Cup will begin, and the Girls U18 ACE and Prep Schools competitions will start and finish.
As ever, all of the action on pitches RE1 and RE2 will be streamed live here on NextGenXV through the NextGenXV YouTube Channel, and you can see the links for the action on RE1 and RE2 for Thursday embedded below.
Boys U14 Cup
It truly was a sensational U14 competition, with Millfield crowned champions in a fantastic final against St Paul’s.
It felt almost like a case of when the music stops Millfield come out on top, for they had been made to work oh so hard throughout the competition. Once through to Day 2 they topped their initial pool over Whitgift and RGS Newcastle to send them to the Quarter Final pools, but in there life was tough and they went down 19-5 to Rodillian Academy and needed results elsewhere to go their way in order to make it to the semi finals as a best runner up.
St Paul’s and King’s Macclesfield, the U14 fifteen-a-side champions, had made it through their quarter final pools to the knockout semi finals, but it was Rodilliand that Millfield would meet again in theirs.
The Somerset side rounds their performance of the day to exact revenge with a 36-12 victory to send them into the final, where they would face St Paul’s, who had sensationally beaten King’s Macclesfield 31-5 in their semi final, a performance that will live long in the memory.
The final was a classic that ebbed and flowed but Millfield fought their way to a 21-12 lead only for St Paul’s to claw one back to 21-17. It was three tries a piece, but it was the kicks that edged it for Millfield, who simply keep on adding to the legend, claiming the U14 Cup and no doubt eyeing up further trinkets later in the week.
That’s for later though, for now it was all about this wonderfully resilient group of U14s that had to do it the hard way, and yet found a way. The Millfield legacy lives on.
Champions: Millfield
Cup Final: Millfield 21-17 St Paul’s
Cup Semi Finals: St Paul’s 31-5 King’s Macclesfield, Millfield 36-12 Rodillian Academy
Cup QF Pools Final Standings:
A: 1 St Paul’s, 2 Dyffryn Aman, 3 Robert Clack
B: 1 King’s Macclesfield, 2 Y Pant, 3 QEGS Wakefield
C: 1 Rodillian, 2 Millfield, 3 Hymers
Cup Day 2 Pools Final Standings:
A: 1 St Paul’s, 2 Tiffin, 3 Rugby
B: 1 Robert Clack, 2 Lord Wandsworth, 3 Gresham’s
C: 1 Dyffryn Aman, 2 Habs’ Elstree, 3 Framlingham College
D: 1 QEGS Wakefield, 2 Epsom College, 3 Berkhamsted
E: 1 Y Pant, 2 Harrow, 3 Bedford
F: 1 King’s Macclesfield, 2 Merchiston Castle, 3 KCS Wimbledon
G: 1 Rodillian, 2 JESS, 3 Canford
H: 1 Millfield, 2 Whitgift, 3 RGS Newcastle
I: 1 Hymers, 2 Blundell’s, 3 Denstone
Plate Winners: Sedbergh
Plate Final: Sedbergh 19-17 Ipswich
Plate Semi Finals: Ipswich 28-19 Kirkham, Sedbergh 24-12 Warwick
Plate QF Pools Final Standings:
A 1 Ipswich, 2 George Waton’s, 3 Whitchurch
B: 1 Kirkham, 2 Rhydywaun, 3 Penryn
C: 1 Sedbergh, 2 Warwick, 3 Reigate GS
Plate Day 2 Pools Final Standings:
A: 1 Ipswich, 2 Marlborough, 3 Barnard Castle
B: 1 Whitchurch, 2 Durham, 3 Wimbledon College
C: 1 George Watson’s, 2 Langley Park, 3 St Peter’s, Gloucs
D: 1 Rhydywaun, 2 Finborough, 3 Hill House
E: 1 Penryn, 2 St Anselm’s, 3 St Peter’s, York
F: 1 Kirkham, 2 Solihull, 3 British School, Netherlands
G: 1 Reigate GS, 2 RGS Guildford, 3 Brynteg
H: 1 Sedbergh, 2 Calon Cymru, 3 Mount St Mary’s
I: 1 Warwick, 2 Collegiate, 3 Tonbridge
Boys U16 Cup
The Boys U16 Cup competition started off in brilliant fashion on Wednesday and looks set to hit even greater heights on Thursday. From a staggering 252 teams, we head into the second day of the competition with just 28 teams left competing.
Reigning champions Harrow remain, they topped their pool before beating Rugby in their eliminator, setting them up for an exciting Cup Day 2 Pool with RGS Guildford, Reading Blue Coat, and last year’s Plate winners, Tonbridge, who knocked out a good Radley College side in their eliminator.
Day 2 sees the 28 remaining side split into 7 pools of 4 teams each, with the winners and the best runner up heading to the Cup quarter finals, while the remaining runners up are divided into two Plate semi final pools of three.
Semi finalists last year, Sedbergh are in Pool D with QEGS Wakefield, Campion, and Bristol Free School, while quarter finalists Whitgift are in with KCS Wimbledon, Stowe and Garth Olwg in Group C.
Last year’s Plate runners up were Epsom College, but they will fancy more this year, though they have a tough Pool B with Llandovery College, Northampton School for Boys, and The Oratory for company.
In truth though, all 28 will fancy their chances in what is set to be an awesome final day of U16s action.
Cup Day 2 Pools:
A: Tonbridge, RGS Guildford, Reading Blue Coat, Harrow
B: Llandovery College, Epsom College, NSB, The Oratory
C: Whitgift, KCS Wimbledon, Stowe, Garth Olwg
D: QEGS Wakefield, Sedbergh, Campion, Bristol Free School
E: Trinity, Bedford, Oundle, Stanwell
F: Warwick, George Watson’s, Oakham, Rhydywaun
G: Bloxham, King’s Macclesfield, Cheltenham, Clifton
Elimination Round Results:
Harrow 19-7 Rugby
Tonbridge 24-10 Radley College
RGS Guildford 19-14 Wellington College
St Paul’s 14-24 Reading Blue Coat
Lord Wandsworth College 7-63 Epsom College
Abingdon 24-28 Llandovery College
NSB 28-1 Solihull
The Oratory 29-17 Eton College
Whitgift 26-21 Haileybury
Hurstpierpoint College 12-29 KCS Wimbledon
Stowe 28-10 Uppingham
Garth Olwg 35-24 Whitchurch HS
Sedbergh 52-0 Langley Park
Bristol Free School 10-5 Blundell’s
QEGS Wakefield 43-7 Preseli
Campion 38-14 Newman College
The Leys 7-33 Trinity
Stanwell 19-14 Canford
Ivybridge 26-28 Oundle
Dyffryn Aman 19-43 Bedford
Rhydywaun 28-7 Glantaf
St John’s Leatherhead 0-40 George Watson’s
Kingswood 17-27 Oakham
Warwick 54-7 Caterham
Cheltenham College 51-7 Norwich
King’s Worcester 7-26 Bloxham
Clifton College 45-0 Samuel Whitbread
King’s Macclesfield 24-21 Duke of York’s
Boys U18 Cup
The Boys U18 Cup arrives in town on Thursday as the busiest day of the Howden Rosslyn Park National Schools 7s kicks off.
Harrow School begin their title defence looking to add to their already magnificent season that has seen them already wrap up an unbeaten season, the Daily Mail Trophy, and the Continental Tyres U18 Schools Cup. They are already the first side in history to hold both the Schools Cup and the Rosslyn Park 7s at the same time, on Thursday they will bid to go one further and become the first to win both in the same school year.
It will be tough though, they begin their campaign from a brutal Group A with ACE side Bishop Wand, Welsh giants Coleg y Cymoedd, and two fantastic English side, Abingdon and Seaford College for company.
It is not just their own group that will cause trouble though, the competition is fierce across the board. Millfield, the Howden Rosslyn Park National Schools 7s’ most successful side ever, are in red hot form, having one their last three tournaments on the bounce. They are going to be rocking and they will have to be because they have another tough group, Hampton, St Joseph’s College, and ACE pair Bishop Burton College and SGS Filton College.
The side that Harrow beat in that epic Cup final were Kirkham Grammar School, holders of the St Joseph’s Festival and Sedbergh 10s, who would love to bounce back with success here at Rosslyn Park. They reside in Group L and it is a superstar group, Brighton College, last year’s finalists and an outstanding side, St Benedict’s, ACE side Exeter College, and ACE giants Hartpury College, who have been looking in good 7s form.
Wellington College are perennial winners here at the Howden Rosslyn Park National Schools 7s, indeed they are coached by a double champion, and they reside in Group J alongside Beechen Cliff, Norwich, Oaklands College, and Richard Huish, the Schools Bowl finalists.
Sedbergh had a tough 15s season but their 7s season has been a story of success. They are going to be among the favourites but face a rampant Eton College side, likewise Blundell’s and Denstone College, plus ACE side Myerscough College. Over in Group H it’s super competitive as well, a strong Clifton College side headlining perhaps, though John Fisher are legends here and Stowe and King’s Macclesfield have come up from the Vase and are going to be instantly competitive, likewise Gordon’s, the Harlequins ACE side.
Epsom College have also come up from the Vase and will be competitive in an exciting Group G with Barnard Castle, Canford, and two former champions, Warwick and Whitgift. Meanwhile in Group F are last year’s Vase champions, Rugby School, who face Welsh legends Coleg Sir Gar, Radley College, Finborough, and ACE side Stourport High. Over in Group E are two Welsh behemoths, Newport High and Cardiff and Vale College, while there is also a trio of English heavyweights, Bedford, Berkhamsted, and Bromsgrove.
Group B looks strong, old rivals Tonbridge and Dulwich College meet, and are joined by 2013 finalists Woodhouse Grove, ACE side Henley College, and the top side in Wales this year, Llandovery College. Over in Group C are the 2016 and 2017 champions, Cranleigh, along with ACE pair Brooksby Melton and Gosforth Academy, as well as the ever-exciting Oakham, and a Glantaf side that has been carving up this season. Group D, finally, includes one of the best sides of the season, Ipswich, along with Trinity and Hurstpierpoint College, two top sides, plus Wales’ Coleg Llandrillo and ACE side City of Oxford.
From start to finish the Boys U18 Cup is going to be full on, and full of entertainment!
Girls U18 Cup
The Girls U18 Cup sees 48 teams competing to be crowned the best 7s team in the land, and it is set to be an absolutely outstanding tournament. Newman College were champions last year and they start in Group D alongside Gordon’s, King’s Taunton, Royal Hospital School, and Samuel Whitbread Academy, a brilliant group from which to begin.
It was Peter Symonds’ College that they got the better of in that final, they find themselves in Group K along with Bridgwater and Taunton, Exeter College, Langley Park, and St John’s Leatherhead.
There is a healthy international presence in the competition as well, with Canada’s ‘For the Love of the Game’ in Group E alongside Bishop Wordsworth’s, Blundell’s, Langley, and Ysgol Penweddig, while in Group B are Belgium’s Sint-Jan Berchmanscollege.
Without a doubt the Girls U18 Cup competition is one of the highlights of the Howden Rosslyn Park National School 7s, a joyous two days with a real competitive edge as well. This year looks set to take that on to a whole new level as well.
Girls ACE
The Girls ACE competition is an intense and superbly high quality competition, with just ten teams involved in a tournament that is likely to produce household names galore. Hartpury College have been the dominant force in this competition, winning again last year with victory over Exeter College in the final, and they will be the favourites heading into this year as well.
They are drawn alongside Bishop Burton College, City of Oxford College, SGS Filton College, and Worthing College, while Exeter will see Loughborough College, Oaklands College, Henley College, and Worthing College’s 2nd VII. It is going to be short sharp and intense, with the top two from each group heading to the semi finals.
Prep Schools
The Prep Schools competition sees a whopping 300 fixtures take place, with sixty teams competing in total across ten groups of six teams each. The Prep Schools tournament is a wonderful event, not just for the competition on the field but for the energy off the field and the opportunity for the U13s and the U18s to mingle, a chance for the U13s to witness some of their heroes in action on the field before trying to replicate it themselves. Truly one of the great parts of the Howden Rosslyn Park National Schools 7s.
Thursday 21st March Live Schedule
RE1
10.00 Seaford College v Bishop Wand (Boys U18 Cup Group A)
10.20 Cranleigh v Oakham (Boys U18 Cup Group C)
10.40 Radley College v Rugby (Boys U18 Cup Group F)
11.00 Beechen Cliff v Norwich (Boys U18 Cup Group J)
11.20 Abingdon v Coleg y Cymoedd (Boys U18 Cup Group A)
11.40 Berkhamsted v Newport HS (Boys U18 Cup Group E)
12.00 Blundell’s v Sedbergh (Boys U18 Cup Group I)
12.20 Brighton College v Exeter College (Boys U18 Cup Group L)
12.40 Llandovery College v Tonbridge (Boys U18 Cup Group B)
13.00 Henley College v Woodhouse Grove (Boys U18 Cup Group B)
13.20 Barnard Castle v Whitgift (Boys U18 Cup Group G)
13.40 Millfield v St Joseph’s College (Boys U18 Cup Group K)
14.00 Loughborough College v Oaklands College (Girls ACE Group B)
14.20 Coleg Llandrillo v Trinity (Boys U18 Cup Group D)
14.40 Clifton College v King’s Macclesfield (Boys U18 Cup Group H)
15.00 Exeter College v St Benedict’s (Boys U18 Cup Group L)
15.20 City of Oxford College v SGS Filton College (Girls ACE Group A)
15.40 Brooksby Melton College v Glantaf (Boys U18 Cup Group C)
16.00 Finborough v Stourport HS (Boys U18 Cup Group F)
16.20 Girls ACE Final
16.40 Boys U16 Cup Final
17.00 Boys U16 Plate Final
RE2
10.00 Abingdon v Harrow (Boys U18 Cup Group A)
10.20 Gosforth Academy v Glantaf (Boys U18 Cup Group C)
10.40 Coleg Sir Gar v Finborough (Boys U18 Cup Group F)
11.00 Richard Huish v Wellington College (Boys U18 Cup Group J)
11.20 Harrow v Bishop Wand (Boys U18 Cup Group A)
11.40 Bromsgrove v Cardiff & Vale College (Boys U18 Cup Group E)
12.00 Denstone College v Myerscough College (Boys U18 Cup Group I)
12.20 Hartpury College v Kirkham Grammar (Boys U18 Cup Group L)
12.40 Abingdon v Seaford College (Boys U18 Cup Group A)
13.00 Coleg Llandrillo v Ipswich (Boys U18 Cup Group D)
13.20 Canford v Epsom College (Boys U18 Cup Group G)
13.40 Bishop Burton College v Hampton (Boys U18 Cup Group K)
14.00 EggChasers VII v Exeter College (Girls ACE Group B)
14.20 City of Oxford College v Hurstpierpoint College (Boys U18 Cup Group D)
14.40 John Fisher v Stowe (Boys U18 Cup Group H)
15.00 Brighton College v Kirkham Grammar (Boys U18 Cup Group L)
15.20 Bishop Burton College v Worthing College (Girls ACE Group A)
15.40 Gosforth Academy v Oakham (Boys U18 Cup Group C)
16.00 Coleg Sir Gar v Rugby (Boys U18 Cup Group F)
16.20 Norwich v Richard Huish (Boys U18 Cup Group J)
16.40 Kirkham Grammar v St Benedict’s (Boys U18 Cup Group L)
