This Wednesday sees the annual Middlesex Schools U18 7s take place at St Benedict’s School in Ealing.
The tournament consists of fifteen teams, split into three groups of four and one group of three, from which the top side from each pool heads to the Cup semi finals, second to the Plate semi finals, third to the Bowl semi finals, and fourth place to the Shield semis finals.
Since 2013 this competition has largely been dominated by reigning champions Hampton and the 2023 champions Harrow, with only John Fisher in 2014 breaking their hold on the competition, Hampton and Harrow will both be in action on Wednesday, but John Fisher will not.
A week on from hosting their own annual 7s, Hampton will be aiming for a first back to back effort at the Middlesex 7s, though they did win either side of a cancelled 2018 tournament. Millfield won at the Hampton 7s last week, and were Plate champions here last year, they return against and will surely be big challengers, meanwhile Gordon’s, who hosted their invitational 7s on Sunday, won the 2023 Plate and are back again to try and push for even higher honours.
Hosts St Benedict’s are the reigning Bowl champions, while Saracens’ ACE side Oaklands College won the Shield last time around.
Interestingly, the reigning Plate, Bowl, and Shield champions are all drawn together in Group A, with Latymer Upper, another that attended last year’s competition, drawn alongside them with the tricky task of taking on Millfield, Oakland’s College, and St Benedict’s.
Group B meanwhile contains two sides that were not involved last year, Abingdon School and The Oratory, who will both add plenty. Joining them are the aforementioned Gordon’s, and the 2023 champions Harrow. Harrow have a Continental Tyres Schools Cup Final to think about, but have such a depth of quality that they will challenge almost regardless of the side they put out.
Another side that will definitely challenge are Wellington College, who are in the three-team Group C. Joining the schools rugby giants are Bath ACE side Beechen Cliff, who return to the tournament after missing out last year. Windsor Boys School complete the group, a tough challenge for them against two giants, but a challenge they will relish.
Reigning champions Hampton are drawn in Group D and making the group challenge to their efforts to go back to back are one of the strongest state school sides in the country, Northampton School for Boys, who should arrive among the favourites. Alongside them another strong state school in the form of London Oratory, and a Finborough side that joins the tournament this year and will certainly add plenty.
As ever, it should be a fantastic competition, one of the most competitive around!
Middlesex 7s Draw
| Group A | Group B | Group C | Group D |
| Latymer Upper | Abingdon | Beechen Cliff | Finborough |
| Millfield | Gordon’s | Windsor Boys’ | Hampton |
| Oaklands College | Harrow | Wellington College | London Oratory |
| St Benedict’s | The Oratory | Northampton SfB |
Roll of Honour
Cup
2024 Hampton
2023 Harrow
2022 N/A
2021 Cancelled
2020 Harrow
2019 Hampton
2018 Cancelled
2017 Hampton
2016 N/A
2015 Harrow
2014 John Fisher
2013 Hampton
Plate
2024 Millfield
2023 Gordon’s
2022 N/A
2021 Cancelled
2020 St Paul’s Catholic College
2019 St Benedict’s
2018 Cancelled
2017 Merchant Taylors’
2016 N/A
2015 RGS High Wycombe
2014 Tiffin
2013 Dulwich College
Shield
2024 St Benedict’s
2023 RGS Guildford
2022 N/A
2021 Cancelled
2020 Skinners’
2019 Henley College
Bowl
2024 Oaklands College
2023 Beechen Cliff
2022 N/A
2021 Cancelled
2020 Windsor Boys’
2019 UCS
