This weekend is arguably the biggest and most important of the term, the final weekend before half term, and the weekend in which some of the biggest competitions in schools rugby take place.
NextGenXV will be LIVE at two of those Festivals, the 38th St Joseph’s College National Schools Rugby Festival, probably the most prestigious competition in the schools fifteen-a-side game, and the inaugural John Fisher State Schools Festival, a huge innovation for state schools rugby.
You will be able to watch all of the action at both through the NextGenXV YouTube Channel, and links to the Day 1 action at both are below.
St Joseph’s Festival Day 1
John Fisher Festival Day 1
Ten to Watch
As ever, our preview begins with our Ten to Watch, and with so many sides involved in Festival action this weekend it is a good opportunity to feature some sides that have not appeared so frequently in the Ten to Watch. It means that almost 70 teams will have appeared in the Ten to Watch in this first half of ter.
Bishop Wordsworth’s v Gordon’s – Saturday
Bishop Wordsworth’s had a tough outing last week but showed their grittiness to come through a tight game in midweek at Lord Wandsworth College. That will leave them feeling good ahead of hosting Gordon’s this Saturday, who are feeling pretty good themselves after an outstanding 36-20 victory over St Paul’s last time out. Their ACE side is flying, and ‘The Boars’ as the regular 1st XV are starting to follow suit with some excellent performances too. Should be a fantastic game.
Ellesmere College v Wirral Grammar – Saturday
Ellesmere College have quietly put together one of the best first halves of the season in the country, they are unbeaten with six wins from six and only Haberdashers’ Adams have really come close to them. This week they host Wirral Grammar and look to complete the unbeaten half term. Wirral are going to be determined though, they are yet to win this season and with this followed by St Anselm’s before half term they will be thinking they have two tough chances to get that first win before the break. They will make life really tough for Ellesmere, and hope to put the pressure of that record back on their hosts.
Eltham Festival – Saturday
The Eltham College Festival expands up to eight teams this year as it grows in size and prestige. Some excellent sides will be in attendance, and you can read all about it in our preview here: Eltham College Festival Preview.
John Fisher Festival – Live, Saturday & Sunday
A huge moment for State Schools Rugby as John Fisher launch their inaugural Festival, twelve teams will be competing and every minute of the action will be available LIVE on the NextGenXV YouTube Channel. At the top of this article are the Day 1 live stream links, while below are the Day 2 links. Meanwhile you can check out our preview of the Festival here: John Fisher Festival Preview.
Llandovery College v Christ College – Friday
One of Wales’ greatest rivalries, this fixture only returned to the calendar 2023 after an 11 year absence, Llandovery won 25-19 in February of that year, before going to be crowned Welsh national champions. Christ College got their own back this February though, after that league season was done, winning an epic 17-16, but now they meet in the meat of the season. Llandovery arrive in the better form, they have lost just once in the Welsh Schools and Colleges League and game both Millfield and Clifton College a good game, meanwhile Christ College have struggled a little. However, Christ College picked up their first victory of the season and will have gained a huge amount of confidence from that. More to the point, in fixtures like these form goes out of the window. Passion will be at sky high levels. One to watch.
QEH v KES Bath – Saturday
KES Bath are one of the stories of the season, they have won five from five including against the likes of Collegiate, Dean Close, and a Dauntsey’s side that has been tearing up trees. They have been outstanding. Victory at QEH on Saturday would make it an unbeaten first half of term, a terrific achievement. QEH are not going to make it easy though, the home side are in fine form themselves and have won three on the spin. Only Exeter School and a very good Taunton side have beaten them, and that was back in September. This is a huge game, with so much riding on it.
St George’s Harpenden v The Perse (West Anglia Schools League) – Saturday
The latest instalment in the West Anglia Schools League, that also features Merchant Taylors’, St Albans, Bedford Modern, and Bishop’s Stortford High School. St George’s are in good form this season, particularly in the last month. It’s only their second game in the league, their first was way back in the opening week of the season where they pushed a strong Merchant Taylors’ side all the way in defeat. For The Perse it’s actually a third West Anglia Schools League fixture on the spin. They lost a tight one to Bishop’s Stortford a fortnight ago, but last week bounced back for a 29-20 victory over Bedford Modern. They will arrive with confidence for what ought to be a cracker.
St Joseph’s Festival – Live, Friday, Saturday, & Sunday
This year’s St Joseph’s Festival might just be the most competitive ever – and that’s saying something, because it is always ferociously competitive. Every second of the action will be LIVE here on NextGenXV, and it actually starts a day early this year with a new U15 Festival kicking off on Friday. That should be brilliant, and will lead into an epic two days of U18 rugby where some of the very best in the country will be in action. It will all be available LIVE on the NextGenXV YouTube Channel. At the top of this article are the Day 1 live stream links, while below are the Day 2 links and the U15 links. Meanwhile have a look at our full preview of the Festival here: St Joseph’s Festival Preview.
Taunton v Clifton College – Saturday
This might be a tricky one for Clifton College, who asserted themselves as one of the top two in the country last week with their dramatic late victory at Millfield. They have been sensational, and only a last play victory for Sedbergh has denied them an unbeaten season to date. However Taunton are an excellent side, they have won three absolute epics in a row in the last three weeks, over Collegiate, Sherborne, and Monmouth. Only local rivals King’s College Taunton have beaten them. Like Clifton, they have beaten Millfield, albeit a Millfield 2nd XV in the Cup, but it all points to a side that will not be overawed.
Truro School v Plymouth College – Friday
The return fixture in this Cornwall/Devon rivalry. They two met a fortnight ago at Plymouth Albion and Plymouth College were on fire that night for a 40-7 victory. Now they meet again, this time in Cornwall, and it’s knockout rugby – Round 3 in the Continental Tyres Schools Vase. Given that prior victory, Plymouth will start as favourites, but this is no forgone conclusion, home advantage will count for plenty, and knockout rugby changes the dynamics of any game. It ought to be a fantastic occasion on Friday afternoon.
Friday 18th October
There are a handful of other fixtures on Friday, and they should really whet the appetite. It’s a fast turnaround for London Oratory after their Oratory Derby defeat to The Oratory on Wednesday night, see highlights below. They have the chance to bounce straight back when they host a touring Bristol Grammar School side on Friday evening, who will be looking to put in one of their best displays of the year.
Not too far from there, Tiffin and Glyn go head to head in a massive game for both sides. Each has been building up to this one intensely for what is a huge occasion and should be played in a fantastic atmosphere.
In the Midlands, Bishop Vesey’s Grammar and Queen Mary’s Grammar go head to head in a game that should provide a brilliant memory with which to go into half term and beyond. Meanwhile back in the South East Lingfield head to Dunottar to take on their 2nd XV.
Friday Fixtures
Bishop Vesey’s Grammar v Queen Mary’s Grammar
Dunottar 2nd XV v Lingfield
London Oratory v Bristol Grammar
Tiffin v Glyn
Saturday 19th October
With half term upon us and so many festivals in action, it’s a short fixture list on Saturday, but one with plenty of quality nonetheless.
St Anselm’s College have been outstanding in the North West this term so far and will look to finish with a flourish in a tricky home game against Altrincham Grammar School. St Ambrose College have also been excellent at times, they head to a determined Lymm High School.
Across in Yorkshire, Ampleforth College have looked good this season and will be keen to head into the half term break on a high. They travel for a tricky away fixture though, taking on a good Ashville College side. Over in Pocklington meanwhile there is a cracking looking matchup as they host Hymers College, both sides have had some good performances this year, expect a good game.
Down in the South West Sir Thomas Rich’s will look to back up a good performance last week as they host The Crypt, a strong side themselves. Another game that should be a cracker. Meanwhile Westonbirtwelcome Clifton High, another game that should be a tight one.
Heading East, The Oratory look to build on a brilliant performance in the Oratory derby at Grasshoppers RFC on Wednesday (scroll up for the highlights) when they host Churcher’s College on Saturday. It’s a tricky task though, Churcher’s are in outstanding form at the moment. It promises to be a brilliant contest.
Over in Hertfordshire the ever excellent Richard Hale are on the road at Bishop’s Stortford High School, with both looking to head into half term full of confidence. Meanwhile across in Cambridge, The Leys have been quietly building a very good first half of term, they will want to head into the break feeling that, but will have to contend with a strong RGS Colchester side.
Down in Kent, usually such a busy area, there is just the one game as Maidstone Grammar host a strong Chislehurst & Sidcup side.
Saturday Fixtures
Ashville Harrogate v Ampleforth College
Bishop’s Stortford High v Richard Hale
Lymm High v St Ambrose College
Maidstone Grammar v Chislehurst & Sidcup Grammar
Pocklington v Hymers College
Sir Thomas Rich’s v The Crypt
St Anselm’s College v Altrincham Grammar
The Leys v RGS Colchester
The Oratory v Churcher’s College
Westonbirt v Clifton High
