Half term is over and it’s straight back into an absolutely packed midweek of schools rugby action, teams all over the country are going to have to blow any cobwebs away fast.
A huge amount of that action is knockout action as it is the Regional Semi Finals stage in the U18 Continental Tyres Schools Cup, Plate, Vase, and Bowl competitions, with the vast majority of those Regional Semi Finals taking place across this Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, it is an electric start to the second half of term.
Tuesday 3rd November
Tuesday features two massive Cup ties. In Midlands B in the Continental Tyres Schools Cup Stamford host Uppingham a big local rivalry and fixture between two sides that have been playing excellent rugby this term, it could go any way.
Down in South West A, a mouth-watering regional semi final as Sherborne host Millfield. Millfield have entered a hybrid 1st XV/2nd XV into the competition, and they have been going nicely, but a very similar side travelled to Sherborne at the start of the season and lost. It was the catalyst for a brilliant first half of term for Sherborne, who would love to do the double, but Millfield will be eager to get a bit of revenge. It should be a cracker.
In the Plate, South West B has a massive game as Cup legends Collegiate host a bang in form St Edward’s Oxford side, both teams have to feel they are right in the mix for the title, but this is a huge game to get through first.
Over in the Vase, meanwhile, Christ’s Hospital, who have been excellent this year, host Maidstone Grammar School in London & South East B for a place in the regional final.
There is knockout action in Scotland too. In the Cup Quarter Finals, Strathallan, who have been excellent this year, head to Dundee High School, who have had some massive performances this season. Meanwhile in the Plate, Madras College are hosting Fettes College, who will be eager to bounce back after defeat to Loretto. Over in the Shield Quarter Finals, Dollar Academy, eager to bounce back after defeat to Stewart’s Melville, host Dunbar Grammar.
Back in England, there is one game outside of the knockouts on Wednesday as West Buckland host Callywith College.
Tuesday Fixtures
Christ’s Hospital v Maidstone GS (Vase, Round 4, LSE B)
Collegiate v St Edward’s, Oxford (Plate, Round 2, South West B)
Dollar Academy v Dunbar GS (Shield QF)
Dundee HS v Strathallan (Cup QF)
Madras College v Fettes College (Plate QF)
Sherborne v Millfield (Cup, Round 3, South West A)
Stamford v Uppingham (Cup, Round 3, Midlands B)
West Buckland v Callywith College
Wednesday 5th November
Wednesday is, simply, a massive day. There are knockout games everywhere you look. Both North A Continental Tyres U18 Schools Cup Regional Semi Finals take place on Wednesday, one of the favourites, Kirkham Grammar School, have a huge clash against the impressive Scarisbrick Hall, while St Ambrose College, who have been playing well, host a strong King’s Macclesfield side – who have a busy week, King’s Macclesfield will be LIVE on NextGenLive against Denstone College this Saturday.
North B is also packed, the excellent Durham host Park View, whose rise this year has been outstanding. There is a huge Yorkshire derby in the other regional semi as last year’s finalists, QEGS Wakefield host another top side, Woodhouse Grove.
The back to back champions are in action in London & South East A, Harrow. After an epic draw with Clongowes Wood on Saturday, check out our report here – Harrow 31-31 Clongowes Wood, they now travel out to Hertfordshire to take on Richard Hale. Richard Hale are an impressive outfit, and this is one of the biggest days they have had. In the same section there is another belter as Epsom College, among the favourites, host a very strong Hurstpierpoint College side, it should be a cracker.
London & South East B sees a derby between two of the competition’s great sides, Croydon’s Whitgift and Trinity go head to head. One or other of these two reached every final from 2019 to 2023, which makes for a very special occasion on Wednesday. On the other side of the draw, it’s two of Kent’s finest teams, two of the best state schools in the country, unbeaten Skinners’ hosting a brilliant The Judd side, both of whom had impressive victories over the weekend.
The Cup action on Wednesday is rounded off in South West B, where Cup legends RGS High Wycombe host a very impressive Reading Blue Coat side in the regional semi final. The winner will play one of the form sides around, Radley College or Abingdon, in the next round – those two meet on Saturday.
The Plate is equally busy, North A again sees both games take place as Lancaster RGS host AKS Lytham, two historic greats, and Lymm High School welcome the highly impressive Ellesmere College. Over in North B, meanwhile, a potential cracker as Scarborough College host RGS Newcastle, likewise Pocklington host Thomas Rotherham College.
In Midlands A lurk one of the form teams of the season, King’s Worcester, who have a massive home game against Bedford Modern for a place in the Midlands A regional final. There’s a potential for a derby either way in that final too, as RGS Worcester host Bedford.
London & South East A sees a full set of games, the excellent St Benedict’s have to whip over the M25 to get to Essex and take on RGS Colchester. Meanwhile in South West London, Hampton are at home against Worth, two sides that could go far. Over in the B section, Simon Langton Grammar welcome Ravens Wood, which ought to be a tight contest.
South West A looks incredibly exciting. Former Cup champions St Peter’s Gloucester head to QEH for what should be a cracking contest, while on the other side two of the potential favourites go head to head as Ivybridge Community College host Taunton School, it could be a great game. There is also a South West B game on Wednesday as Lord Wandsworth College, whose U16s were so good last year, host RGS Guildford, Cup finalists in 1993.
The Vase has plenty of regional semi final action too. Wirral Grammar host Sandbach in North A, while inMidlands A Hereford 6th form College host Aylesbury Grammar, which ought to be a good game. Meanwhile in London & South East A Dr Challoner’s Grammar host UCS.
Over in The Bowl there is plenty of action too, North A sees John Taylor High School host Newcastle-under-Lyme, while in North B Hymers College host Wilmslow High School, two sides that know their way around a knockout tie.
In Midlands A Bablake welcome Ratcliffe College, two sides that have been playing well. London & South East A sees QES Barnet welcome Cardinal Vaughan, while over in the B section Graveney and Gravesend Grammar meet in what should be a good game. South West B, meanwhile, sees Pangbourne College host Claires Court.
Scotland has plenty of knockout action too, in the Cup Quarter Finals Loretto welcome Merchiston Castle. Both are playing brilliantly this year and will fancy their chances, Loretto is a tough destination, but Merchiston are coming off the back of victory over the previously unbeaten George Watson’s.
There are three Shield Quarter Finals too, Hutcheson’s Grammar hosting Glasgow High School and Linlithgow Academy welcoming St Aloysius College. Meanwhile Robert Gordon’s College are at home against North Berwick High School.
Wednesday Fixtures
Ashville Harrogate v Yarm
Bablake v Ratcliffe College (Bowl, Round 3, Midlands A)
Balcarras v Cheltenham Bournside
Beaumont v Sandringham
Burford v Kingham Hill
Chesham GS v John Hampden GS
Costwold v Cleeve
Dr Challoner’s GS v UCS (Vase, Round 4, LSE A)
Durham v Park View (Cup, Round 3, North B)
Epsom College v Hurstpierpoint College (Cup, Round 3, LSE A)
Fulham Boys v Latymer Upper
Glyn v City of London Freemen’s
Graveney v Gravesend GS (Bowl, Round 3, LSE B)
Habs’ Abraham Darby v Hereford Cathedral
Hampton v Worth (Plate, Round 2, LSE A)
Hereford 6th form College v Aylesbury GS (Vase, Round 4, Midlands A)
Hutchesons’ GS v Glasgow HS (Shield QF)
Hymers College v Wilmslow HS (Bowl, Round 3, North B)
Ivybridge Community College v Taunton School (Plate, Round 2, South West A)
John Taylor HS v Newcastle-Under-Lyme (Bowl, Round 3, North A)
King Henry VIII v KES Camp Hill
King’s Worcester v Bedford Modern (Plate, Round 2, Midlands A)
Kirkham GS v Scarisbrick Hall (Cup, Round 3, North A)
Lancaster RGS v AKS Lytham (Plate, Round 2, North A)
Langley Park v Hayes
Linlithgow Academy v St Aloysius’ College (Shield QF)
Lord Wandsworth College v RGS Guildford (Plate, Round 2, South West B)
Loretto v Merchiston Castle (Cup QF)
Lymm HS v Ellesmere College (Plate, Round 2, North A)
Oakwood Park GS v Beth’s GS
Pangbourne College v Claires Court (Bowl, Round 3, South West B)
Park House v The Oratory
Pocklington v Thomas Rotherham (Plate, Round 2, North B)
QEGS Wakefield v Woodhouse Grove (Cup, Round 3, North B)
QEH v St Peter’s, Gloucester (Plate, Round 2, South West A)
QES Barnet v Cardinal Vaughan (Bowl, Round 3, LSE A)
Reading v St James
RGS Colchester v St Benedict’s (Plate, Round 2, LSE A)
RGS High Wycombe v Reading Blue Coat (Cup, Round 3, South West B)
Richard Hale v Harrow (Cup, Round 3, LSE A)
Riddlesdown Collegiate v Sackville
Robert Gordon’s College v North Berwick HS (Shield QF)
Rydal Penrhos v Oswestry
Ryde v Queen Mary’s College
Salesian College v Holyport College
Samuel Ryder v Dame Alice Owens 2nd XV
Scarborough College v RGS Newcastle (Plate, Round 2, North B)
Sedbergh 2nd XV v Stonyhurst
Sedbergh 4th XV v Ermysted’s GS
Sibford v Chipping Campden
Sir Henry Floyd GS v Great Marlow
Sir Thomas Rich’s 3rd XV v Marling
Simon Langton GS v Ravens Wood (Plate, Round 2, LSE B)
Skinners’ v The Judd (Cup, Round 3, LSE B)
Solihull v Cokethorpe
St Ambrose College v King’s Macclesfield (Cup, Round 3, North A)
St Paul’s 2nd XV v Latymer Upper
The Grange v Fallibroome
Whitgift v Trinity (Cup, Round 3, LSE B)
Wilmington GS v Gravesend GS 2nd XV
Windsor Boys’ v LVS Ascot
Wirral GS v Sandbach (Vase, Round 4, North A)
Wrekin College v St Joseph’s College, Stoke
Thursday 6th November
Thursday has fewer fixtures but some crucial ones amongst it, not least in the U18 Continental Tyres Schools Cup South West A Regional Semi Final, where Monmouth, the Welsh giants, host Sir Thomas Rich’s, one of the very best teams in the country this year. It’s a huge game.
Outside of the knockouts, a massive game in Bath as KES Bath welcome Beechen Cliff, the Bath ACE side, that should be a fantastic occasion.
Elsewhere, Severn Vale are on the road at Holmleigh Park, while St Katherine’s take on Sidcot. Meanwhile St Joseph’s College, Reading are at home against Wellington College’s 4th XV, who will pose a challenge for sure.
Thursday Fixtures
KES Bath v Beechen Cliff
Holmleigh Park v Severn Vale
Monmouth v Sir Thomas Rich’s (Cup, Round 3, South West A)
St Joseph’s College, Reading v Wellington College 4th XV
St Katherine’s v Sidcot
