The 2025 Merchiston Castle School U18 Rugby Festival takes place this Saturday and Sunday, 11th and 12th October 2025, one of the great weekends on the schools rugby calendar.
Every single game will be broadcast LIVE here on NexGenLive – with all games available on www.merchistonrugbyfestival.tv and the Pitch 1 action also available on the NextGenLive YouTube Channel and through the embedded videos below.
Day 1
Day 2
Sixteen sides will be in action at this 6th annual Merchiston Castle School U18 Rugby Festival, 9 sides returning from last year and seven new entrants. In this article we take a look at each and every one of the teams competing ahead of one of schools rugby’s greatest events.
You can also check out our full preview of the weekend here: Merchiston Festival Preview – where we look at the tournament as a whole, the structure, and detail.
Team by Team Guide
Group 1: Merchiston Castle, Durham, Sherborne, RGS Newcastle
Merchiston Castle
As last year, the back to back champions arrive at their title defence with a perfect record so far this season, winning six from six – including in the new Scottish Schools and Clubs U18 Open League. Undoubtedly among the favourites again this year, though a few neighbours might have a differing view. Some magnificent players among their side, but the collective is where it’s at – expect expansive rugby from the hosts and favourites.
Season Record: P6 W6 L0
Last Year: Champions
Best Festival Performance: Champions 2023, 2024
Durham
Durham picked up the Shield title last year, but 2023 was their highlight at the Festival, finishing in 3rd place. They might well have sights set even higher this year though – they arrive with five wins from five with the likes of Ampleforth College and QEGS Wakefield beaten, and on Wednesday a 13-6 victory over fellow competitors Barnard Castle in the Cup. They are going to be among the favourites this year and will be a real challenge to Merchiston Castle in this group. A side to watch, without doubt.
Season Record: P6 W6 L0
Last Year: Shield Winners
Best Festival Performance: 3rd 2023
Sherborne
A Bowl semi final for Sherborne in their Festival debut last year, the will be looking at that Trophy competition this year for sure. Indeed the scrap to get into that Trophy competition from this group is going to be massive. They have had some magnificent results already this season, with victories over Millfield and Marlborough College. Last weekend was a tricky one, but this is a fantastic side that are going to be serious challengers, as shown by their gritty midweek Cup win over Exeter School.
Season Record: P6 W4 L2
Last Year: Bowl Semi Final
Best Festival Performance: 2024 (Debut)
RGS Newcastle
It has been a tough start to the year for RGS but this is a side that knows knockout rugby better than most, they are former St Joseph’s Festival champions, for a start. They will have picked up some confidence a fortnight ago as well, despite defeat, running Ampleforth College incredibly close in the Cup. That suggests they will be competitive, and if RGS are competitive, look out.
Season Record: P4 W0 L4
Last Year: N/A
Best Festival Performance: Debut Tournament
Group 2: Marr College, Ampleforth College, Finborough, George Watson’s College
Marr College
A frustrating cancellation last week due to the weather conditions means Marr College arrive without a came for a little while. However it has been a promising start to the season for Marr, who have only been defeated by George Watson’s College, who are playing out of their skin at the moment. The only trouble for Marr, George Watson’s are in this group, but oh how they would love a spot of revenge.
Season Record: P3 W2 L1
Last Year: N/A
Best Festival Performance: Debut Tournament
Ampleforth College
It has been a strong start to the season from Ampleforth College, and they will fancy themselves to be able to really challenge in this group. They had a tough outing against Durham on Saturday, but that only serves to highlight the challenge that Durham post in Group 1. Keep an eye on Ampleforth College this weekend, they could impress particularly as they seek to bounce back from midweek.
Season Record: P5 W2 L3
Last Year: N/A
Best Festival Performance: Debut Tournament
Finborough
Not all of Finborough’s results have been published this season, but what is clear is that this is a side that has been prepared to challenge themselves, playing Kirkham Grammar and St Joseph’s College, two superb sides, and running each of them close. They have some tremendous players in their ranks and plenty will be expecting them to have a major trophy run here at the Merchiston Festival.
Season Record: N/A
Last Year: Plate Runners Up (6th)
Best Festival Performance: 2024 (Debut)
George Watson’s College
After a two year absence George Watson’s College return to the Merchiston Festival and they return as one of the favourites. They have played 11 games already this season, including a couple of pre-season games, and have barley conceded. They sit at the top of the Scottish Schools and Clubs U18 Open competition, and they are flying. The hope for other sides, Stewart’s Melville and Strathallan have really challenged them recently. However this side is going to challenge in a big way, as shown by a storming midweek performance in the Cup.
Season Record: P11 W11 L0
Last Year: N/A
Best Festival Performance: 2021
Group 3: Boroughmuir RFC, Oakham, Barnard Castle, Scarborough College
Boroughmuir
Boroughmuir RFC are the only ever present at the Festival outside of the host, Merchiston Castle. Last year they had their best ever result, finishing in third place – outdoing their 4th place in 2022. Results have been tricky in the new Scottish Schools and Clubs U18 Open league, but they are the best of the club sides in the competition at the moment, sitting 5th of 8th currently. They will be eager to repeat last year’s efforts.
Season Record: P4 W1 L3
Last Year: 3rd
Best Festival Performance: 2024, 3rd
Oakham
Oakham arrive for their debut tournament with a big reputation, given their multiple Schools Cup titles in England. They should be one of the strongest sides in the competition as well, having had a strong start to the season, including victories over Woodhouse Grove and Rugby School, and a draw with Bromsgrove. The intensity of a two day tournament will be new, but not to their coaching staff, who have experience plenty before, expect a strong challenge.
Season Record: P5 W2 D1 L2
Last Year: N/A
Best Festival Performance: Debut Tournament
Barnard Castle
Barnard Castle arrive unbeaten and determined to achieve their best ever Festival performance, having competed in the past three, finishing 5th in 2022, their best finish. This year has seen them past Woodhouse Grove, Dame Allan’s, and the final side in this group, Scarborough College, they ought to be full of confidence and will feel that they can mount a Trophy challenge. Running Durham so close in midweek shows their quality.
Season Record: P4 W3 L1
Last Year: Shield Runner Up, 14th
Best Festival Performance: 2022, 5th
Scarborough College
After their tournament debut last year, Scarborough College are back for more this year and looking to mount a major challenge. They should feel confident of doing so, they have started the season brilliant, winning three on the spin in pretty strong fashion. They came unstuck against group rivals Barnard Castle last time out, but you suspect that will only motivate them to get their own back up in Edinburgh this weekend, particularly after a brilliant performance in victory over Hymers College in midweek.
Season Record: P5 W4 L1
Last Year: Shield Semis
Best Festival Performance: 2024 (Debut)
Group 4: Strathallan, St Peter’s York, Dulwich College, Dame Allan’s
Strathallan
Strathallan arrive as one of the favourites. They have been outstanding this season, winning their first five fixtures on the bounce. They then lost out to George Watson’s College, but they pushed the table-toppers harder than anyone else has this season – far harder. They will be major contenders, and with consistent tournament experience at the St Joseph’s Festival and Global Schools Challenge, they will be well equipped for this weekend and demonstrated that in a dominant Cup performance in midweek. One to watch.
Season Record: P7 W6 L1
Last Year: N/A
Best Festival Performance: Debut Tournament
St Peter’s, York
St Peter’s started the season with a bang, strong victories over Stonyhurst and tournament rivals RGS Newcastle. They have since lost out to QEGS, Woodhouse Grove, and Sedbergh, but they are three of the strongest about. St Peter’s will be strong challengers and will be looking at this group and believing they have a real chance of getting into the Trophy competition.
Season Record: P5 W2 L3
Last Year: N/A
Best Festival Performance: Debut Tournament
Dulwich College
After a brilliant debut effort last year, winning the Plate, Dulwich College return again for more. The season has not begun the way the would have wanted, but their fixture list explains that somewhat, their opposition so far has been astonishing, Bedford, Brighton College, Cranleigh, Harrow, Trinity, and Wellington College. Few others in the country have to deal with that sort of fixture list. So form may not be where they want it to be but their battle-hardness certainly is, they have seen it all already this season, nobody here has faced bigger challenges, and that will stand them in good stead.
Season Record: P6 W0 L6
Last Year: Plate Winners, 5th
Best Festival Performance: 2024, 5th
Dame Allan’s
Back for their third Merchiston Festival in a row and every year they have built and built. This year they arrive perhaps in their most promising form yet, winning five of their six games to date, including a victory on Scottish soil against Fettes College. Their only defeat was in mid-September to Barnard Castle but it was a good performance – Dame Allan’s were strong here last year, expect them to be even stronger this year, and they arrive after a superb week that saw them progress to Round 4 of the Continental Tyres U18 Schools Vase.
Season Record: P7 W6 L1
Last Year: Bowl Semis
Best Festival Performance: Bowl Semis 2024
