Live Rugby: North of England Schools 7s | Draw and Preview

The 2025 North of England Schools 7s takes place this Sunday 2^nd March across three locations on The Wirral.

Birkenhead Park FC will host two groups and the knockouts rounds of the competition, while Birkenhead School and St Anselm’s College will each host three groups during the morning’s competition.

The action from the main pitch at Birkenhead Park FC, which includes Group A and B action, plus the Bowring Trophy and Boodle & Dunthorne Salver knockout rounds, will again be broadcast live here on NextGenXV, through the NextGenXV YouTube Channel and through the embedded video below.

The North of England Schools 7s is one of the biggest and most prestigious tournaments on the schools rugby calendar, running since 1989 when Cowley School won the Bowring Trophy. It features 40 teams from across England, Wales, and Scotland, split into eight groups of five teams each.

Some of the great school 7s sides in history have taken part in this competition, from those Cowley sides of the late eighties to the wonderful Stonyhurst sides of the mid to late nineties, through to the recent era where Kirkham Grammar School and Sedbergh have been challenging each other. Though Sedbergh’s form at the North of England Schools 7s has been firmly consistent since it began, picking up their first title in 1993 and a further 10, including the last two in 2022 and 2023 (2024 was lost to the weather, sadly).

It is the key tournament on the road to the Howden Rosslyn Park National Schools 7s for all involved, it is one of the most intense and challenging tests of the 7s season. It is competitive too, only those in the top three from each group will make it through to the afternoon’s play at Birkenhead Park FC, with the top side from each group heading to the Trophy quarter finals, second to the Plate quarter finals, and third to the Bowl quarter finals, which was introduced in 2022.

The sense of history and quality at this tournament, played at the group that Austin Healey once called home, is there is the names of some of those that have won the Graeme Marrs Player of the Tournament Trophy. Sedbergh’s Ben Redshaw claimed the last two back to back, sharing the 2022 award with Barnard Castle’s Harry Williams, Newcastle Falcons teammate Connor Doherty picked it up with Kirkham Grammar in 2017, likewise Sedbergh’s Sam Stuart in 2010. The tournament sees Gallagher Premiership stars of tomorrow lighting up today.

As mentioned, Groups A and B take place at Birkenhead Park FC, with Groups C, D, and E at Birkenhead School, and Groups F, G, and H at St Anselm’s College. With the sides all gathering at Birkenhead Park FC for the knockouts.

The Draw

As reigning champions, Sedbergh are in Group A and they will be seeking to make it three titles on the bounce, a feat only previously achieved once – when Sedbergh themselves won in 2004, 2005, and 2007 (like 2024, they 2006 tournament was lost to the weather). They start as favourites to do just that but they have a challenging group to get through first though, near enough on home turf are Wirral Grammar School, beaten finalists in that inaugural tournament back in 1989. They will be first up on the live stream, facing a Hereford Cathedral School side that will feel they can make the afternoon stages. Oswestry are also in Group A, looking their first silverware at this competition, and completing the group are Old Swinford Hospital, winners earlier this year of the inaugural John Fisher State Schools Festival and the first ever Bowl champions at this tournament, back in 2022.

Over in Group B are the most recent side since Sedbergh to win this competition, Barnard Castle, and they will be challengers again this year no doubt. Up against them are the back to back national champions from Wales, Llandovery College, who ought to be considered among the favourites as well as they big to add to their 2003 title here. In fact it is a hugely challenging group, featuring 2014 champions Woodhouse Grove, a wonderful side, and Hymers College, who reached four finals in five years between 2008 and 2012. Princethorpe College complete the group and will be eager to make a real challenge to get into those afternoon knockouts.

Over at Birkenhead School in Group C are yet more giants, including Newcastle Falcons’ ACE side Gosforth Academy, probably the strongest side from the north in that competition. Alongside them are the hosts of Pools C, D, and E, Birkenhead School, who would love to convert hosting into a first piece of silverware. Also in the group are Scottish giants Loretto, they have been outstanding this year, as have England’s Mount St Mary’s College, Bowl holders after their 2023 title and a side that will be itching for a Trophy or Salver run. As will Ellesmere College, who had one of their best ever fifteen-a-side seasons and will be looking to turn that into 7s triumph. They won this title in 2011 and they will be among those seriously contending this year too.

Group D is another excellent group, containing a Dame Allan’s side that has impressed this year. Dame Allan’s are hosting their own 7s on the 19^th March, the last run out ahead of Rosslyn Park, and it will be LIVE here on NextGenXV. Joining them at Birkenhead School are a St Ambrose College side that has looked very impressive this year, and will be eager to add to their Salver triumph of 20 years ago. King’s Worcester are one to watch as well, they have had a fantastic season this year and, after Salver success in 2022, they will be eyeing up the big prize. This is another group with an international flavour, with Scotland’s Fettes College and Wales’ St David’s College completing the group, both have superb reputations.

The final group at Birkenhead School is Group E, which contains the four time champions Kirkham Grammar School, whose most recent title was in 2017. They will be among the top handful of favourites again this year, and without fifteen-a-side Cup distraction as they have had in recent years, they will be very dangerous. Alongside them are other legends of this competition, 1991 champions Trent College, who have also reached two further finals and won the Salver in 2013. Alongside them, a side whose 2020 Salver final defeat is surprisingly their best return, Lancaster RGS. Bishop Vesey’s Grammar School will be pushing hard in this group too, likewise Queen Ethelburga’s, who have had some wonderful teams.

Over at St Anselm’s College, the hosts are in Group F, from where they will aim for their first piece of silverware in this competition. Given their form this season, that does not look too unlikely. Alongside them are some legends of this competition in the form of Stonyhurst, winners in 1995, 1996, and 1999. Scarborough College are also in this group and have been excellent in the last few years, while Malvern College are the reigning Salver Champions, they will be pressing for a similar run or better. Newcastle School for Boys complete the pool, they reached the Bowl final last time out.

In Group G, Hill House are a side to watch. They have been excellent this season and have contributed heavily to the Yorkshire Academy side. Dollar Academy travel down from Scotland and will be strong challengers too. 2002 champions Manchester Grammar School will be keen to launch a big challenge from this pool, they also won the Salver a decade later. Bishop Heber and Shrewsbury are yet to win silverware here, but both will fancy their chances of a place in the knockout rounds in one competition or another this year.

The final group at St Anselm’s College is Group H, and it features the side that has lost out to Sedbergh in the last two finals, Denstone College. They will be strong challengers again this year, after some excellent performances, including at the NextGenXV Global Schools Challenge. Alongside them are four sides that have not yet won silverware, or reached a final, here at the North of England Schools 7s, Austin Friars, Birkdale, Grammar School at Leeds, and perhaps most surprisingly, St Peter’s York. In particular, GSAL and St Peter’s will feel that they can really challenge this year though.

Overall, it looks set to be another fantastic Sunday of School 7s at the North of England Schools 7s, truly one of the most important tournaments of the term and one that all will be using as a key stepping stone on that road to the Howden Rosslyn Park National Schools 7s.

Live Schedule

The Live Stream will be available, as mentioned, on the NextGenXV YouTube Channel, and will feature Groups A and B in the morning, followed by the Trophy and Salver Quarter Finals, the Trophy semi finals, and the Trophy and Salver finals.

Pitch 1, Birkenhead Park FC

10:00 Wirral Grammar v Hereford Cathedral (Group A)

10:18 Barnard Castle v Woodhouse Grove (Group B)

10:36 Sedbergh v Hereford Cathedral (Group A)

10:54 Llandovery College v Woodhouse Grove (Group B)

11:12 Sedbergh v Wirral Grammar (Group A)

11:30 Woodhouse Grove v Hymers College (Group B)

11:48 Sedbergh v Old Swinford Hospital (Group A)

12:06 Llandovery College v Princethorpe College (Group B)

12:24 Sedbergh v Oswestry (Group A)

12:42 Woodhouse Grove v Princethorpe College (Group B)

13:40 Salver Quarter Final 1

14:00 Salver Quarter Final 2

14:20 Salver Quarter Final 3

14:40 Salver Quarter Final 4

15:00 Trophy Quarter Final 1

15:20 Trophy Quarter Final 2

15:40 Trophy Quarter Final 3

16:00 Trophy Quarter Final 4

16:20 Trophy Semi Final 1

16:40 Trophy Semi Final 2

17:10 Salver Final

17:30 Trophy Final

Non-Live Schedule

Pitch 2, Birkenhead Park FC

10:00 Old Swinford Hospital v Oswestry (Group A)

10:18 Princethorpe College v Hymers College (Group B)

10:36 Wirral Grammar v Oswestry (Group A)

10:54 Barnard Castle v Princethorpe College (Group B)

11:12 Hereford Cathedral v Old Swinford Hospital (Group A)

11:30 Llandovery College v Barnard Castle (Group B)

11:48 Hereford Cathedral v Oswestry (Group A)

12:06 Barnard Castle v Hymers College (Group B)

12:24 Wirral Grammar v Old Swinford Hospital (Group A)

12:42 Llandovery College v Hymers College (Group B)

13:40 Bowl Quarter Final 1

14:00 Bowl Quarter Final 2

14:20 Bowl Quarter Final 3

14:40 Bowl Quarter Final 4

15:00 Bowl Semi Final 1

15:20 Bowl Semi Final 2

15:40 Salver Semi Final 1

16:00 Salver Semi Fnial 2

16:40 Bowl Final

Pitch 1, Birkenhead School

10:00 Loretto v Ellesmere College (Group C)

10:18 Lancaster RGS v Trent College (Group E)

10:36 Loretto v Birkenhead (Group C)

10:54 St Ambrose College v Dame Allan’s (Group D)

11:12 Fettes College v St David’s (Group D)

11:30 Kirkham Grammar v Bishop Vesey’s (Group E)

11:48 Loretto v Gosforth Academy (Group C)

12:06 King’s Worcester v St David’s (Group D)

12:24 Mount St Mary’s v Gosforth Academy (Group C)

12:42 Kirkham Grammar v Queen Ethelburga’s (Group E)

Pitch 2, Birkenhead School

10:00 Gosforth Academy v Birkenhead (Group C)

10:18 St David’s v Dame Allan’s (Group D)

10:36 Mount St Mary’s v Ellesmere College (Group C)

10:54 Kirkham Grammar v Trent College (Group E)

11:12 Ellesmere College v Gosforth Academy (Group C)

11:30 Trent College v Queen Ethelburga’s (Group E)

11:48 Fettes College v St Ambrose College (Group D)

12:06 Trent College v Bishop Vesey’s (Group E)

12:24 Ellesmere College v Birkenhead (Group C)

12:42 Lancaster RGS v Bishop Vesey’s (Group E)

Pitch 3, Birkenhead School

10:00 St Ambrose v King’s Worcester (Group D)

10:18 Bishop Vesey’s v Queen Ethelburga’s (Group E)

10:36 Fettes College v King’s Worcester (Group D)

10:54 Lancaster RGS v Queen Ethelburga’s (Group E)

11:12 Mount St Mary’s v Loretto (Group C)

11:30 King’s Worcester v Dame Allan’s (Group D)

11:48 Mount St Mary’s v Birkenhead (Group C)

12:06 Kirkham Grammar v Lancaster RGS (Group E)

12:24 Fettes College v Dame Allan’s (Group D)

12:42 St Ambrose College v St David’s (Group D)

Pitch 1, St Anselm’s College

10:00 Newcastle School for Boys v Stonyhurst (Group F)

10:18 Austin Friars v St Peter’s, York (Group H)

10:36 Newcastle SfB v Malvern College (Group F)

10:54 Dollar Academy v Shrewsbury (Group G)

11:12 Hill House v Manchester Grammar (Group G)

11:30 Denstone College v St Peter’s, York (Group H)

11:48 Newcastle SfB v Scarborough College (Group F)

12:06 Bishop Heber v Manchester Grammar (Group G)

12:24 St Anselm’s College v Scarborough College (Group F)

12:42 Denstone College v Grammar School at Leeds (Group H)

Pitch 2, St Anselm’s College

10:00 Scarborough College v Malvern College (Group F)

10:18 Manchester Grammar v Shrewsbury (Group G)

10:36 St Anselm’s College v Stonyhurst (Group F)

10:54 Denstone College v Birkdale (Group H)

11:12 Stonyhurst v Scarborough College (Group F)

11:30 Austin Friars v Birkdale (Group H)

11:48 Hill House v Dollar Academy (Group G)

12:06 Grammar School at Leeds v St Peter’s, York (Group H)

12:24 Stonyhurst v Malvern College (Group F)

12:42 Birkdale v St Peter’s, York (Group H)

Pitch 3, St Anselm’s College

10:00 Dollar Academy v Bishop Heber (Group G)

10:18 Birkdale v Grammar School at Leeds (Group H)

10:36 Hill House v Bishop Heber (Group G)

10:54 Austin Friars v Grammar School at Leeds (Group H)

11:12 St Anselm’s College v Newcastle School for Boys (Group F)

11:30 Bishop Heber v Shrewsbury (Group G)

11:48 St Anselm’s College v Malvern College (Group F)

12:06 Austin Friars v Denstone College (Group H)

12:24 Hill House v Shrewsbury (Group G)

12:42 Dollar Academy v Manchester Grammar (Group G)

Roll of Honour

Bowring Trophy 

Boodle & Dunthorne Salver

Bowl

Graeme Marrs Memorial Trophy (Player of the Tournament)