Preview: 39th Annual St Joseph’s College National Schools Rugby Festival | Live Rugby

The 39^th Annual St Joseph’s College National Schools Rugby Festival takes place this weekend, with action across Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.

After a successful launch last year the U15 tournament returns, kicking off on Friday 17^th October and concluding on Saturday 18^th, Saturday 18^th also sees the beginning of the flagship U18 tournament, for the 39^th time, with the Pools taking place on Saturday and the knockout games taking place on Sunday 19^thOctober.

As always, every single minute of the action will be broadcast LIVE here on NextGenLive – both pitches across the whole of Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, plus an U18 Festival Preview show live on Friday evening.

You can catch all the action on the NextGenLive YouTube Channel, and through all of the embedded links below.

Friday Pitch 1

Friday Pitch 2

Preview Show

Saturday Pitch 1

Saturday Pitch 2

Sunday Pitch 1

Sunday Pitch 2

The Festival is one of the highlights of the schools rugby calendar, a weekend of incredible intensity and competition – and plenty of fun as well, these are the trips on which memories are forged that last forever.

Two days of intense action means deep squads are vital, while the sheer scale of the crowds is something that takes some getting used to – especially if you find yourselves up against the hosts, St Joseph’s College, who bring thousands to the touchline and a raucous atmosphere unlike any other really in UK schools rugby.

On the field it is all about getting points on the board, games are short, 24 minutes, there isn’t enough time for letting the game come to you, points need to be scored and quickly. Tries are the order of the day too, a two try advantage is incredibly difficult to turn around given the time limitations.

That is what makes the festival so special, that intensity on and off the field that requires incredible composure in order to go far.

It is no surprise, therefore, that some of the great sides in schools rugby history have been the ones to rise to the top here, Millfield 8 times, Collegiate 6 times, Bradfrod Grammar, St Michael’s College, Brighton College, Wellington College, Kirkham Grammar, Dulwich College’s dynasty began here, St Joseph’s College themselves have won three times with great sides, the great RGS High Wycombe side of ’99, Blackrock College in 2000, and many more.

This year expect another outstanding team to rise to the top, and there are plenty of those in the mix here in 2025.

2025 St Joseph’s Festival U18 Draw (Saturday 18^th & Sunday 19^th October)

Pool 1: Berkhamsted, Kirkham Grammar, RGS High Wycombe, Strathallan

Pool 2: Cheltenham College, Hampton, Millfield, QEGS Wakefield

Pool 3: Denstone College, Seaford College, Wellington College, Whitchurch High

Pool 4: Brighton College, Hurstpierpoint College, Marlborough College, St Joseph’s College

Half the field are former champions, Kirkham Grammar and RGS High Wycombe in Pool 1, Hampton, Millfield, and QEGS Wakefield in Pool 2, Wellington College in Pool 3, Brighton College and St Joseph’s College in Pool 4.

All will push hard this year and among them are some of the key contenders as well, it is going to be intense at the top. Of the other 8 sides three have lifted silverware other than the De La Salle Trophy here, Hurstpierpoint College, Whitchurch High, and Denstone College. Meanwhile the cohort seeking for the first silverware looks like it contains some key challengers too, Cheltenham College return to the festival and are definitely dark horses, Berkhamsted will have learned so much from a brutal pool last year and will challenge. Marlborough College also return and will be eager to make an impact, meanwhile Seaford College have been knocking on the door for ages, perhaps this is there time. Strathallan had their best ever tournament last year, and this year will arrive battle ready having competed at the Merchiston Festival. Could a first ever Scottish winner be in the making.

It is going to be a glorious weekend in the U18 tournament, 16 top quality sides all scrapping for that De La Salle Trophy. Expect rugby of the highest order, come sunshine or rain it is always a weekend where the jaw simply the drops at the quality of play. Future internationals will be everywhere you look.

A weekend like no other.

2025 St Joseph’s Festival U15 Draw (Friday 17^th & Saturday 18^th October)

Pool 1: Northampton School for Boys, Berkhamsted, Finborough, Trinity

Pool 2: Seaford College, Canford, Truro School, Woodhouse Grove

Pool 3: Samuel Whitbread, Felsted, Cheltenham College, Clifton College

Pool 4: St Joseph’s College, Blundell’s, Campion, Kirkham Grammar

The U15 Tournament has expanded hugely from last year’s inaugural tournament, rising from 8 teams to 16 and now mirroring the U18 tournament, with the group stages on Friday and the knockouts on Saturday.

All but two of last year’s inaugural U15 sides return, Northampton School for Boys, Berkhamsted, Canford, Blundell’s, Felsted, and, of course, the hosts, St Joseph’s College.

Berkhamsted and St Joseph’s College double up with sides in the U15s and the U18s, offering them both the chance to repeat St Michael’s College’s remarkable U15/U18 double last year. Joining the tournament this year and also with that chance of doubling up are Seaford College, Cheltenham College, and Kirkham Grammar School, all of whom will be major challengers.

In the U15 tournament exclusively, alongside NSB, Canford, Blundell’s, and Felsted, are Trinity School, Canford, Truro School, Woodhouse Grove, Samuel Whitbread Academy, Campion, Clifton College, and local rivals of St Jo’s, Finborough.

It promises to be a fantastic tournament, and without doubt it will be an incredible experience for all involved, sampling the intensity and the atmosphere of arguably the biggest U18 tournament around.

St Joseph’s Festival 2025 Schedule:

Day 1 – Friday 17^th October (U15s only)

Day 2 – Saturday 18^th October (U18 unless stated)

Day 2 Pitch 3 – Not Live – U15 knockouts.

Day 3 – Sunday 19^th October (U18 unless stated)

St Joseph’s Festival U18 Roll of Honour:

De La Salle Trophy Winners 

Plate Winners

Bowl Winners

Shield Winners