The 2025 St Joseph’s College National Rugby Festival takes place this weekend, the 39th edition of this incredible tournament.
16 of the best U18 rugby sides from around the country will gather in Suffolk for two days of intense action on Saturday 18th and Sunday 19th October, and there will be an U15 tournament mirroring the U18s as well, running from Friday 17th to Saturday 18th October.
You can check out our full preview of the festival here, 2025 St Joseph’s Festival Preview, here in this Team by Team Guide we focus in on the U18 teams – their form heading into the tournament, their history at the tournament, and what we can expect from them.
Live Streaming
As ever, every single game of the 2025 St Joseph’s Festival will be broadcast LIVE here on NextGenLive. All games will be available on the NextGenLive YouTube Channel and through the embedded links below, including Friday night’s preview show.
Friday Pitch 1
Friday Pitch 2
Preview Show
Saturday Pitch 1
Saturday Pitch 2
Sunday Pitch 1
Sunday Pitch 2
2025 St Joseph’s Festival U18 Team by Team Guide
Pool 1: Berkhamsted, Kirkham Grammar, RGS High Wycombe, Strathallan
Berkhamsted
Berkhamsted were incredibly unlucky last year with what was an absolutely brutal draw. This year things aren’t much easier, but there is a sense that this Berkhamsted side could make a real impact at the Festival. A defeat and a draw from their last two games might not read like a threat, but in context it makes them real contenders – the defeat saw them give one of the very best in the country, NSB, a cracking game, while the draw was against another of the very best, Cranleigh. Dark horses, for sure.
Season Record: P6 W2 D1 L3
Last Year: Bowl Finalists (10th)
Best Festival Performance: 2024, 10th (Debut)
Kirkham Grammar
Surely one of the favourites for the tournament, which they won in 2023 with a last gasp Ollie Davies drop goal against group rivals RGS High Wycombe. They have been brilliant this season, running Clifton College close and beating Sedbergh. Their most recent game was a humbling one against Irish giants Terenure College, but it will stand them in good stead for this weekend. They are used to playing the best, used to high intensity, and they know what it takes here. One to watch.
Season Record: P8 W6 L2
Last Year: Bowl Champions (9th)
Best Festival Performance: Champions, 2023
RGS High Wycombe
RGS High Wycombe have reached the last two finals in a row but just haven’t quite been able to get over the line, losing at the death to Kirkham in 2023 and then facing that mighty St Michael’s side last year. How they would love to repeat their triumph of ’99. They are always contenders here, the tournament just seems to suit them, and they are playing some nice rugby at the moment, including a brilliant victory in the Cup last week.
Season Record: P5 W3 D1 L1
Last Year: Trophy Finalists (2nd)
Best Festival Performance: Champions, 1999
Strathallan
Back to back tournaments for Strathallan after a strong showing at the Merchiston Festival last weekend, where they finished 6th. At the end of Day 1 they were viewed as one of the most impressive teams of all and they will look to carry that momentum through into this tricky group. They have been outstanding this season, only George Watson’s have beaten them in a full game, and even there they ran them closer than any other. Last year they had their best ever St Joseph’s result of 8th, and if they can get out of this group there is every reason to set their sights even higher.
Season Record: P6 W5 L1 (Also 6th at Merchiston Festival)
Last Year: 8th
Best Festival Performance: 8th, 2024
Pool 2: Cheltenham College, Hampton, Millfield, QEGS Wakefield
Cheltenham College
Cheltenham College return to the Festival after a year’s absence and they return as genuine dark horses. They season record may look so so, but don’t be fooled by the stats, they have been utterly brilliant. Even in defeat they pushed two outstanding sides, Kingswood and Wellington College, all the way. They scored a staggering 75 against Monmouth, have beaten an otherwise unstoppable King’s Worcester side, and arrive looking very strong. Dark horses for sure.
Season Record: P5 W3 L2
Last Year: N/A
Best Festival Performance: 10th, 2023
Hampton
It has been a tricky start to the season for the 2015 champions, who played brilliantly last year at the Festival for a 6th place finish. Nevertheless, there are signs that they have found their stride at just the right moment after a gutsy victory over St John’s Leatherhead last week took them into the second round of the Plate. That should give them real confidence of stringing together some momentum here at St Jo’s.
Season Record: P6 W1 L5
Last Year: Plate Finalists (6th)
Best Festival Performance: Champions, 2015
Millfield
The most successful side in St Joseph’s Festival history, with 8 titles including most recently back to back titles in 2021 and 2022. They won the Plate last year, but they will have sights set higher. Their season record might suggest that this isn’t a vintage Millfield outfit, ignore it. This is a superb Millfield side – and you only need to look at their last three Saturday’s to see it, a draw with NSB, a close victory over Wellington College, and a brilliant 33-12 away win at Clifton College. They are one of, if not the, best teams in the country. They are almost always the favourites heading into this competition, and few would argue that they are not favourites again this year.
Season Record: P9 W6 L3
Last Year: Plate Champions (5th)
Best Festival Performance: Champions, 2022, 2021, 2014, 2012, 2006, 2004, 1993, 1990
QEGS Wakefield
QEGS were a fantastic side last year and there was even talk that they could be a dark horse and repeat their 1997 title winning feat. It just didn’t quite come together for them, but their run to the Continental Tyres U18 Schools Cup Final showed just how good they are. They have carried that momentum into this year, winning four of their five games and playing some wonderful rugby along the way. Look out for QEGS.
Season Record: P5 W4 L1
Last Year: 15th
Best Festival Performance: Champions, 1997
Pool 3: Denstone College, Seaford College, Wellington College, Whitchurch High
Denstone College
At the time of writing, Denstone still have one more game before the Festival, at Worksop College on Wednesday. Last year the Staffordshire side picked up the Shield, but they would love to aim for the heights of 2022, when they finished 3rd. They have had some fantastic performances this season, only the very best have beaten them and they will have learned a huge amount from those games as they prepare for a group that contains some of the very best. A great tournament side.
Season Record: P5 W3 L2 (also playing on Wednesday)
Last Year: Shield Champions (13th)
Best Festival Performance: 3rd, 2022
Seaford College
It remains one of the great mysteries of this Festival that Seaford College have never reached the Trophy stage, given the quality of many of their teams over the years. They have another good one this year and in this group they should believe that a place in the Trophy competition is very achievable. Only a fantastic Epsom College side has got the better of them this season, and they arrive off the back of a draw with one of the best around, Whitgift. This is a strong side, another in the dark horses category for sure.
Season Record: P6 W3 D2 L1
Last Year: Shield Runners Up (14th)
Best Festival Performance: 11th, 2018
Wellington College
The 2019 champions are among the favourites again this year. They finished in 3rd place last year and started this season like a rocket ship, winning their first four on the spin against some of the very best in the business. Their only defeat was in an epic contest at Millfield, 27-24, and they bounced right back with a fantastic performance against Cheltenham College last weekend. They are a superb team and, crucially for the Festival, they are deep. One of the favourites for the tournament, without doubt.
Season Record: P6 W5 L1
Last Year: 3rd
Best Festival Performance: Champions, 2019
Whitchurch High
Whitchurch return after a year’s absence and would love to repeat their 2019 form, when they challenged for a place in the final. Their Welsh Schools and Colleges League season has not seen them pick up a victory yet, but don’t let that fool you, they have been in touch in every game, facing Cymoedd, Sir Gar, and Glantaf, three of Wales’ absolute best, and finishing close in all. They have another game to come at the time of writing, and they are going to arrive battle hardened – the Welsh Schools and Colleges League is not easy hunting ground, they will be ready.
Season Record: P3 W0 L3 (also playing Wednesday)
Last Year: N/A
Best Festival Performance: 3rd/4th, 2019
Pool 4: Brighton College, Hurstpierpoint College, Marlborough College, St Joseph’s College
Brighton College
Champions in 2017, Brighton College finished 4th last year and emerged with real credit as the only side to truly challenge the all-conquering St Michael’s. This year they have been in good form, with victories over Tonbridge, Trinity, Dulwich, and group rivals Hurstpierpoint College. Only a very good Campion side has got the better of them. In this Festival though, form is often irrelevant for Brighton College, they have Festival know-how that is almost unmatched. There is always a plan, and they know how to navigate this tournament brilliantly. If they do not go deep, it would be a surprise.
Season Record: P5 W4 L1
Last Year: 4th
Best Festival Performance: Champions, 2017
Hurstpierpoint College
Three victories on the spin ought to see Hurstpierpoint College arrive at the Festival bubbling with confidence. They will have been hurt by last year’s 16th place finish and will want to put on a brighter show this year. They are well placed to do so, playing some strong rugby and reaching top form at just the right moment, this is a Hurst side that can really mount a strong challenge and will fancy their chances of being in the Trophy competition.
Season Record: P7 W4 L3
Last Year: 16th
Best Festival Performance: 8th, 2022
Marlborough College
After a two year gap, Marlborough College return and they will be itching to return with style. Their one previous appearance at the tournament was not what they wanted, a 16th place finish, and you can be absolutely certain that this group is going to be determined to improve on that significantly. Results haven’t gone their way this season, though a 22-8 victory over Dauntsey’s was impressive, but they have faced some of the best around, an unbeaten Abingdon side, a Sir Thomas Rich’s side that is utterly flying, and the superb Radley College to name just a few. They have played a level of opposition that means they are very well prepared heading into the weekend.
Season Record: P6 W1 L5
Last Year: N/A
Best Festival Performance: 16th, 2022
St Joseph’s College
Twelve years is a long time between drinks for St Joseph’s College, but the hosts and three time champions might just be thinking that this is their best shot at the title since that 2013 triumph. They arrive as the only side with an unbeaten record, a record that includes victory at the start of the month against Finborough, who last weekend played sensationally to win the Merchiston Festival. St Jo’s ought to be feeling confident. Of course, at their own Festival form is almost an irrelevance for St Jo’s – such is the swell of optimism, pride, and confidence created through the intense build up and competition. This means everything to them and it is reflected on the pitch year after year. Throw in the added confidence from results this season though, and you have to think that they have a real chance of doing something special.
Season Record: P5 W4 D1 L0
Last Year: 7th
Best Festival Performance: Champions, 2013, 2010, 1995
