The Langley School National U15 Rugby Festival takes place this weekend, with 14 schools taking part in the competition.
One of the great competitions on the schools rugby circuit, the Langley Festival has been running since 2013 and this year, for the first time, it will be live streamed here on NextGenLive. All three pitches will be available on www.langleyu15rugbyfestival.tv with Pitch 1 available free to air (and on the NextGenLive YouTube Channel, and embedded videos below), while Pitches 2 and 3 will be available on subscription – a reminder, please do not purchase any subscriptions until the day of the event.
Live Streaming:
Day 1, Pitch 1
Day 2, Pitch 1
All Other Pitches here: www.langleyu15rugbyfestival.tv
Groups & Format:
Pool A: Ipswich, Brighton College, Wellington College, Bedford, John Fisher, Dame Allan’s, Advantage Academy
Pool B: Langley, Bradford GS, Dulwich College, Oakham, Hurstpierpoint College, Abingdon, RGS Newcastle
The 14 sides are split into two pools of seven teams each, and the onus will be on try scoring and staying in the game as bonus points are at play in the pool games. The pools will stretch across all of Day 1 and half of Day 2, with games lasting 20 minutes.
The top two teams from each pool with progress to the Cup semi finals, with third and fourth heading to the Plate semi finals, semi finals and finals in those competitions will last 20 minutes. Meanwhile the two 5thplaced finishers in the groups will meet in the Vase final, 6th place will meet in the Bowl final, and 7th place in the Shield final, those Vase, Bowl, and Shield finals will be 40 minute games, ensuring that all teams get the same amount of game time.
Wellington College are the reigning champions, and in recent times they have been the kings of the Langley Festival, winning in 2024, 2023, and 2021. Hurstpierpoint College are the only side to have broken their hold on the tournament since the Covid enforced absence in 2020, winning in 2022, prior to Covid, Brighton College were the last side to pick up this prestigious title.
Wellington College reside in Pool A alongside Brighton College, and they are joined by one of the competitions furthest travelling sides, Dame Allan’s School. Alongside them, London’s John Fisher, one of the great rugby state school, Suffolk’s Ipswich School, and Norfolk’s Advantage Academy, with the ever-competitive Bedford School completing the group.
Over in Pool B reside Hurstpierpoint College, and they are joined by the hosts, Langley School, who would love a big performance over the weekend. Like Pool A, this group contains some sides with big journeys to get here, RGS Newcastle and Bradford Grammar, two legends of school rugby. Also in the group, further legends in Dulwich College and Oakham, what glory they have seen over the years, and Abingdon, who as a school club overall this year are having a season of dreams.
It should be a fantastic weekend, full of intense competition and fast paced rugby, but it is also a weekend where the off-field is just as important. The tournament designed that all fourteen sides have an experience they will remember for years to come, with a real festival atmosphere around the grounds. Truly one of the great weekends of school rugby and a massive opportunity for these fourteen U15 sides to create something special.
Schedule:
Day 1
| Time | Pitch 1 (Live, Free to Air) | Pitch 2 (Subscription) | Pitch 3 (Subscription) |
| 09.30 | Dulwich College v Oakham | Langley v Abingdon | Bradford Grammar v Hurstpierpoint College |
| 10.00 | Ipswich v Dame Allan’s | Brighton College v John Fisher | Wellington College v Bedford |
| 10.30 | Abingdon v RGS Newcastle | Hurstpierpoint College v Langley | Oakham v Bradford Grammar |
| 11.00 | Bedford v Brighton College | John Fisher v Ipswich | Dame Allan’s v Advantage Academy |
| 11.30 | Dulwich College v Abingdon | Oakham v Hurstpierpoint College | Bradford Grammar v RGS Newcastle |
| 12.00 | Wellington College v Dame Allan’s | Brighton College v Advantage Academy | Bedford v John Fisher |
| 13.30 | Hurstpierpoint College v Dulwich College | Abingdon v Bradford Grammar | RGS Newcastle v Langley |
| 14.00 | John Fisher v Wellington College | Dame Allan’s v Brighton College | Advantage Academy v Ipswich |
| 14.30 | Oakham v RGS Newcastle | Dulwich College v Langley | Hurstpierpoint College v Abingdon |
| 15.00 | Bedford v Advantage Academy | Wellington College v Ipswich | John Fisher v Dame Allan’s |
Day 2
| Time | Pitch 1 (Live, Free to Air) | Pitch 2 (Subscription) | Pitch 3 (Subscription) |
| 09.30 | Langley v Bradford Grammar | RGS Newcastle v Dulwich College | Abingdon v Oakham |
| 10.00 | Ipswich v Brighton College | Advantage Academy v Wellington College | Dame Allan’s v Bedford |
| 11.30 | RGS Newcastle v Hurstpierpoint College | Langley v Oakham | Bradford Grammar v Dulwich College |
| 12.00 | Brighton College v Wellington College | Ipswich v Bedford | Advantage Academy v John Fisher |
| 13.15 | Cup Semi Final 1: (Winner Group A v 2nd Group B) | Cup Semi Final 2: (Winner Group B v 2nd Group A) | Plate Semi Final 1: (3rdGroup A v 4th Group B) |
| 13.45 | Vase Final: 5th Group A v 5th Group B (40 mins) | Bowl Final: 6th Group A v 6th Group B (40 mins) | Shield Final: 7th Group A v 7th Group B (40 mins) |
| 14.30 | Cup Final | Plate Final | 3rd Place Play Off (Cup Semi Final Runners Up) |
*The Plate Semi Final 2 (3rd Group B v 4th Group A) at 13.15 and the 7th place play off (Plate Semi Final Runners Up) at 14.30 will both take place on Pitch 4, which is NOT live.
