This Wednesday Walsall RFC host five huge games of U18 Colleges rugby as the ECRFU Cup and the AoC Sport Premiership reach their conclusion.
As well as the Men’s ECRFU U18s Cup Final and the AoC Sport Men’s U18 Premiership Final, there are also three ECRFU Women’s U18 Showcase Games between three of the leading lights from the AoC Spot Women’s Leagues.
All five games will be broadcast LIVE here on NextGenXV, through the NextGenXV YouTube channel and through the embedded live stream below.
The day will start at 12.30pm with the ECRFU Men’s U18 Cup Final between Bishop Burton College and Exeter College, before the three ECRFU Women’s U18 Showcase games, with Loughborough College v Exeter College at 2.15pm, Newman College then take on Loughborough at 3pm, with Newman then in action against Exeter at 3.45pm.
At 4.30pm the final game of the day kicks off with the senior Bishop Burton College side taking on Henley College in the prestigious AoC Sport Men’s U18 Premiership Final.
Live Stream Schedule:
12.30 Bishop Burton College v Exeter College – ECRFU Men’s U18 Cup Final
14.15 Loughborough College v Exeter College – ECRFU Women’s U18 Showcase Final 1
15.00 Newman College v Loughborough College – ECRFU Women’s U18 Showcase Final 2
15.45 Exeter College v Newman College – ECRFU Women’s U18 Showcase Final 3
16.30 Bishop Burton College v Henley College – AoC Sport Men’s U18 Premiership Final
ECRFU Men’s U18 Cup Final
Bishop Burton College’s 3rd XV take on Exeter College’s 4th XV after fantastic runs through the competition from both.
Bishop Burton College enjoyed strong victories over Scarborough College (30-0), Wath Academy (57-7), and Hills Road 6th form College (30-0) in their opening three rounds, but their last two games required serious guts, a tight 22-18 quarter final over Tyne Coast College in the quarters, and an even closer 24-21 victory over Worthing College in the semis.
Exeter College, meanwhile, had a close 22-15 victory over Farnborough 6th from College in Round 3 but have otherwise looked very comfortable, with early victories over Richard Huish (53-0) and Bridgwater & Taunton (41-12), before a thrilling 59-33 victory against their mates in the Exeter College 5th XV, a head to head to savour, in the quarter final. They were superb against Hartury College in the semi finals, winning 32-5.
It sets up for a cracking final to open the day’s play on Wednesday, and it promises to be a good game – Bishop Burton aiming for double success on the day, while the flying Exeter College look to spoil the party with another top performance.
ECRFU Women’s U18 Showcase Finals
Newman College, Loughborough College, and Exeter College all topped their respective Development Leagues in the AoC Sport leagues.
Loughborough College were top of the pile in East Midlands/North East, Newman College were top in the Soith East, and Exeter College headed up the South West 1 division.
All three also saw their 1st XVs performing in the top tier of the Women’s Performance League, showing the real depth that all three have.
Now in these round-robin showcase finals, all three will vie to be crowned the best of the best across the Development Leagues.
AoC Sport Men’s U18 Premiership Final
The day concludes with the huge AoC Sport Men’s U18 Premiership Final as Bishop Burton College and Henley College go head to head, and make no mistake, these are two full-bore 1st XVs.
There are five Premier divisions in the AoC Sport Rugby Leagues, and the top 8 sides from them went to the semi finals.
Bishop Burton College had topped Premier E, losing just once all season to set up a quarter final with Hartpury College’s 2nd XV, having topped a pool with Queen Ethelburga’s, Tyne Coat, Hartlepool 6th form College, park View, and Bede Academy.
They won that quarter final 28-5 to set up a semi final with, a side they knew would be an even stiffer challenge; Hartpury College’s 1st XV. Despite the formidable opponent though, Bishop Burton were outstanding to win 19-7 to reach this final.
Henley College had meanwhile topped Premier B to reach this point, losing just one with Hartpury College’s 2nd XV, Newman College, City of Oxford College, and Wales’ Newport High School for company.
It sent them to the quarter finals against Exeter College, against whom they had a cracking game, winning 21-17 to reach the semis. There they met a formidable opponent, Newman College, so good last year and just as tough this year. Henley College were more than a match for them though, securing a 39-17 victory to reach Wednesday’s final.
It is going to be some finale to the schools and colleges season!
