After a fantastic weekend of action last week, another glorious weekend on the schools rugby calendar awaits.
There are a number of absolutely fascinating fixtures all over the country, though the one worry is that for the first time this season the weather could begin to impact games, with a number of cancellations due to waterlogged pitches already in effect.
Sadly that includes this weekend’s live game, which would have been the Apple Cup between Hereford Cathedral School and Hereford 6th form College, though that will be rearranged to Friday 23rd January and will be live on NextGenLive, thankfully so as it is an incredible evening every year.
Others have already been lost at the time of writing, but far more will go ahead on what is expected to be an outstanding weekend of action.
Ten to Watch
Brighton College v Epsom College
Another big game for Brighton College as they reach a key stage in their season. With only four games till Christmas, finishing off the calendar year with a blockbuster vs Wellington College, the south coast side would hope to keep the good times rolling after beating St John’s Leatherhead. Epsom College will be staunch opposition, however, after last week’s key victory over Cranleigh. This extends their unbeaten run to 7 games in a row; could the time be right for Epsom to pick up their first victory in this fixture since 2019, in their 5thmeeting since, or will it be more Brighton glory?
Kingswood v KES Bath
Horrendous weather in the West Country has derailed a fair bit this weekend, but Bath may just survive the storm to allow perhaps one of the biggest games in Somerset to take place. Kingswood School and KES Bath are both strong rugby schools and meet every season. For a long while, it was KES Bath who came into this game as favourites; however, recent history leans towards Kingswood. In their last 17 meetings, KES have one 9 games and Kingswood 8, but in their last 5 meetings, Kingswood have one 4 of them and come into the fixture in fantastic form. Starting the season on a mazy 5-match unbeaten run, knocking off the likes of Sherborne and Cheltenham College, they were knocked out of the national cup by Radley in a narrow 2-point loss, venting their frustration on Blundell’s and Bryanston. A massive game for both.
Kirkham GS v St Joseph’s College
Kirkham comes into this game after an intense period. They have been on the wrong side recently against top class Irish opponents, but other than that, have looked very hard to beat. Against English opposition, they have only lost twice, to Clifton College by 3 points, and, crucially, to St Joseph’s College in the 3/4th place play-off at the hosts’ own festival. It’ll be a tougher test for St Jo’s this time around, however. They were beaten by Berkhamsted at Cambridge Rugby club last time out, another side they bettered in the knock-outs of the Festival. They have a depleted squad, as many do at this point in the season, and will need to be at their best to challenge the Blue Storm, who have a massive cup game against Kings Macclesfield on the horizon as well.
Mill Hill v Finborough
Mill Hill had a strong season last year, with the likes of Noah Caluori racing down the wing, but have looked just as durable this campaign. Harrow and NSB represent the only blemishes on their record, and a win against Uppingham a week ago will inspire confidence. Finborough’s season has seemed to revolve around their brilliance at the Merchiston Castle Festival. They arrived looking for form, only to go undefeated and win the whole thing. This will be their biggest test since that weekend, and given the way that they rise to a challenge, expect this to be a fantastic game of rugby.
Rugby v Uppingham
Uppingham may have been beaten by Mill Hill last weekend and Old Bigside has not historically been a happy hunting ground for the Rutland outfit, however last year they did pick up their first win against Rugby since 2007 and they are playing some wonderful rugby this year. Their 35-17 home triumph in 2024 was a maiden victory in 11 attempts, but now they must travel to the hallowed ground of Rugby’s foundation to try and back up this result. Rugby are chasing a first win since early October, but both teams have enjoyed narrow wins over the same opponents, the likes of Stamford and Oundle, indeed Rugby were looking highly impressive in the first half of term, all of which gives the impression of another fantastic game between these two.
Sherborne v Cheltenham College
Cheltenham College are having a memorable season, but Sherborne are making plenty of noise ahead of this fixture that means so very much to them after an epic season to date as well. Taking on Cheltenham College is a tall order, and Captain Jack Shave and his side have added a few inches to that task with some standout performances, like wins over Millfield, putting 75 points on Monmouth and the demolition of a very good Kings Worcester. Sherborne have their own scorelines to shout about this season, however. After underperforming up in Scotland at the Merchiston Castle festival, they have since gone undefeated, beating Dauntsey’s, Marlborough and knocking Millfield out of the Continental Tyres Schools Cup. Sherborne have been beaten 4 times on the trot by Cheltenham College and will be desperate to set that record straight.
Stonyhurst v King’s Macclesfield
It is another big match week for Kings Macclesfield, whose unbeaten run is becoming very serious. 8 wins in a row, having not lost a game since the 20th of September, when they were beaten by the brilliant NSB. After their first win over Denstone in 10 years last week, they rumbled on in the country cup semi-final on Wednesday, beating Stockport Grammar 33-29. With a massive game ahead in the Cup, being lined up by Kirkham in what will be a season-defining fixture for both sides, on the 19th, so this game is a key momentum builder in the build-up. However, the Lancashire outfit are tricky customers themselves. They are unbeaten in 4 matches, including a victory over historic rivals Ampleforth last weekend, they have been excellent this season, consistently tough, and will provide a stern test.
Strathallan v Stewart’s Melville (Cup Semi Final)
We have already arrived at the Scottish Cup Semi-Final, and Strathallan are at home for another game in a wild season for the Blue and Gold that has already seen them top their group at the Merchiston Festival and reach the bowl final at St Joes a week later. Now, after sauntering to the semis in the Scottish cup, they have a tough game against Stewart’s Melville. Their journey to the final was a lot tougher, edging past Glenalmond College 15-7 – perhaps that fight might carry them through this Semi-final, after a 38-0 drumming of Dollar started a sturdy November. Strath will have to be at their best but can rely on their jubilant support to back them to the hilt.
Warwick v Northampton School for Boys
Northampton School for Boys’ outstanding season has been well documented, and their bounce back from defeat to Sedbergh to progress in the Cup v Bromsgrove on Tuesday only highlighted that. Warwick themselves gave a full-strength Sedbergh a very good game last weekend, losing out by 33-20, so perhaps another decent test for NSB is on the cards. Warwick will certainly hope so, they have had a tricky season to judge, some outstanding victories and some losses that came as a bit of a surprise to outsiders. A big performance here would be some statement.
Woodhouse Grove v QEGS Wakefield
A very interesting game to round out the Ten to Watch as Woodhouse Grove play QEGS for the second time in as many weeks. After QEGS as hosts dug deep to run out 22-14 winners and progress through to the 4thround of the Continental Tyres U18 Schools Cup, Woodhouse Grove are now the hosts as they seek revenge. In between the third round of the Cup, QEGS hosted Bradford Grammar and beat them, while Woodhouse travelled to Durham and pulled off a fantastic result – a 22-19 victory on the road. In their last 5 meetings, Woodhouse have actually beaten QEGS on three occasions, but now they are hoping to stop the visitors from completing a post-covid-3-peat. Each of the last 5 games has also been decided by a margin of ten points or less, so expect fireworks.
Friday 14th November
Without the Apple Cup it is an unusually quiet Friday evening. Hertfordshire sees the excellent St Albans take on a St George’s Harpenden side that has been outstanding of late, it should be a superb game.
Meanwhile in Surrey, an exciting contest between Dunottar and Ibstock Place, two sides that are incredibly competitive on their circuits. Look out later in the year for 7s at Dunottar too.
Friday Fixtures
Dunottar v Ibstock Place
St Albans v St George’s Harpenden
Saturday 15th November
Saturday then brings a whole swathe of exciting fixtures, not least in Somerset where schools rugby giants Millfield take on one of the nation’s rising stars, Taunton School. These two have had some crackers of late, including earlier this season when Millfield took victory but a Taunton comeback almost snatched late victory. It could be a classic.
Elsewhere, Monkton Combe are at home against King’s Bruton, while travelling out of Somerset are Wellington School, they head to Devon to take on Exeter School. Heading out of Devon are Blundell’s, who head up to take on Clifton College in a massive game. Clifton are preparing for Irish giants Blackrock College next week so they will be eager to arrive in peak form, they will need to be sharp though, Blundell’s are a very capable side.
Elsewhere in Bristol, Bristol Grammar, fresh from that thrilling draw v Collegiate, head to Clifton High School while QEH welcome Somerset’s King’s College Taunton. Meanwhile head to Somerset are Collegiate, who will be eager to get over the frustration of last weeks draw as they take on Prior Park College.
Up in Gloucestershire there are some outstanding games, perhaps chief among them being Dean Close hosting Monmouth, two sides capable of brilliance. Along the road Pate’s Grammar host The Crypt, while travelling from the area the excellent King’s Gloucester, who are in Worcestershire to take on Malvern College, who will be on NextGenLive in early December.
Staying in the Cotswolds, Oxfordshire sees the outstanding Radley College in action again after last week’s excellent performance against Abingdon, they take on Oundle, who have been playing some excellent rugby this year. As have Bloxham, with a stack of international stars, they look to continue their impressive form this Saturday at home against a good Bedford Modern side. In Henley, meanwhile, Shiplake College welcome the superb Reigate Grammar School up from Surrey.
Along the M4 to Berkshire, Eton College are at home to Abingdon, who are going to be itching to get back on the horse after last week’s frustrating derby defeat. Windsor Boys’ meanwhile take on Merchant Taylors’, while Pangbourne College welcome Bishop Wordsworth’s up from Wiltshire.
Down in Wiltshire, a big game at Marlborough College as they welcome a Bromsgrove side that has been really purring, that should be a massive fixture. Meanwhile in Dorset there’s a cracking contest as Clayesmorewelcome Dauntsey’s, Milton Abbey are meanwhile on the road at Sherborne, taking on their 4th XV.
Hampshire has some exciting games this weekend, not least Lord Wandsworth College hosting Wellington College, a huge game for LWC. Churcher’s College again face London opposition in the form of Halliford, while Ryde welcome Mount Kelly from Devon. Embley meanwhile host Sussex’s Christ’s Hospital, who have been superb this year.
Over in Surrey a game that was very nearly in the Ten to Watch, St John’s Leatherhead v St Benedict’s, both have been magnificent at times this season. It should be a fantastic contest, both should be at about the same level, making for a brilliant occasion. Another side playing some excellent rugby, RGS Guildford, are hosting one of the form sides in the country, the unbeaten Skinners’, surely one of the best state schools in the country right now. A mighty fixture.
Elsewhere, Gordon’s host The Oratory, a game that promises to be an exciting contest, while Caterham are at home against an exciting Eastbourne College side. Over in Eastbourne’s native Sussex, a superb couple of games. Seaford College play host to Canford, two sides that should have a brilliant game of rugby – one to watch. Meanwhile Worth and St George’s Weybridge go head to head, which again ought to be an excellent game.
Kent, as ever, is stacked full of fixtures. The Judd, who are playing superbly, are at home to Langley Park, meanwhile Sevenoaks take on New Hall, Sevenoaks have been an exciting side this year. As have Maidstone Grammar, who welcome St Olave’s Grammar on Saturday.
King’s Canterbury are at home against Sir Joseph Williamson’s, while King’s Rochester host Cranbrook, with Simon Langton Grammar at St Lawrence College. Cranbrook meanwhile host the ever-challenging Sutton Valence School. Towards London, Dartford Grammar School host Gravesend Grammar and Chislehurst & Sidcup Grammar welcome Colfe’s.
South East London is a hotbed for huge fixtures this Saturday, perhaps nowhere more so than at Dulwich College, where they host Tonbridge in a fixture that has at many points over the years been a fixture where the victors could legitimately claim to be the very best in the business. There is also one of the biggest all-state-school games as John Fisher host Campion, a team that is playing some astonishingly good rugby this year.
Staying in Croydon, Whitgift are at home to St Paul’s, which should be an excellent game, while Trinity vs Hurstpierpoint College looks like a fascinating one, definitely worth a watch.
Over in South West London, KCS Wimbledon, who have been great this season, make the trip to Tiffin, while Wimbledon College are at home in a big game against London Oratory. Claremont Fan Court host Cardinal Vaughan, and Fulham Boys’ are on the road at City of London Freemen’s.
Heading out of London, Berkhamsted look to back up last week’s excellent performance at St Joseph’s College as they host RGS High Wycombe, who are looking for a big performance. Meanwhile, deeper in Hertfordshire, Haileybury, who were outstanding last week, host a determined side from Reed’s. St Edmunds College host QES Barnet, while St Edmund’s great rivals Richard Hale are on the road at Bishop’s Stortford College.
Over in Essex, Brentwood host UCS and Coopers’ Coborn welcome RGS Colchester, while in Suffolk there are some great game, travelling from Essex are the excellent Felsted, who head to take on a very strong side from Ipswich. Travelling along the A14 are Royal Hospital School to take on the competitive Framlingham College, while Culford host the St Joseph’s College 2nd XV.
Over in Norfolk, The Leys travel out of Cambridge after their epic derby victory, they take on Norwich School, meanwhile The Leys’ derby opposition The Perse are at Wymondham College. In Cambridgeshire, Wisbech Grammar host Ratcliffe College, which should be a good one.
Ratcliffe’s native Leicestershire sees Leicester Grammar welcome Nottingham High School, while in Northamptonshire Wellingborough welcome King’s Ely.
Up in Lincolnshire, a cracker as Stamford host Bedford, two giants of modern schools rugby. At the north end of the county, in form Worksop College are in action against Trent College. Moving into Yorkshire, Pocklington welcome Bradford Grammar, which should be a good contest. Game of the day in the area surely though is Barnard Castle’s trip from the north east to take on Scarborough College, which two former Northampton Saints and England teammates in the dugouts, Lee Dickson of Barnard Castle and Ben Foden of Scarborough College.
Up in Scotland, plenty of action, not least a knockout game between Hutcheson’s Grammar and Glasgow High School, a quarter final in the Scottish Schools Shield. A big game awaits the winner too, a semi final at Dollar Academy next weekend. Also in action, the two sides that will meet in the other Shield semi final, both away from home. Robert Gordon’s college head to a strong Dundee High School side, while Linlithgow Academy have a big game against Edinburgh Academy. Elsewhere, Glenalmond College host Fettes College and St Columba’s welcome St Aloysius’ College.
Back in England, Sedbergh’s 2nd XV host Dame Allan’s in what should actually be a brilliant contest, meanwhile in Lancashire Scarisbrick Hall host St Ambrose College and Lancaster RGS welcome Wirral Grammar, two big games. Greater Manchester meanwhile sees Bolton host AKS Lytham, which should be a good game.
Over in Cheshire, Cheadle Hulme are up against Manchester Grammar, which again should be a good game, while Sandbach host St Anselm’s College and The Grange welcome Altrincham Grammar. Over on Merseyside, Merchant Taylors’ are at home to Liverpool College.
In Birmingham, the brilliant King’s Worcester are at Bishop Vesey’s Grammar School, meanwhile KES Birmingham are at home against Bablake. Staying in the West Midlands, KES Stratford welcome Aylesbury Grammar School, which should be a good game, while in Warwickshire Princethorpe College host Loughborough Grammar School.
Saturday Fixtures
Berkhamsted v RGS High Wycombe
Bishop Vesey’s GS v King’s Worcester
Bishop’s Stortford College v Richard Hale
Bloxham v Bedford Modern
Bolton v AKS Lytham
Brentwood v UCS
Caterham v Eastbourne College
Cheadle Hulme v Manchester GS
Chislehurst & Sidcup GS v Colfe’s
Churcher’s College v Halliford
City of London Freemen’s v Fulham Boys
Claremont Fan Court v Cardinal Vaughan
Clayesmore v Dauntsey’s
Clifton College v Blundell’s
Clifton HS v Bristol GS
Coopers’ Coborn v RGS Colchester
Cranbrook v Sutton Valence
Culford v St Joseph’s College 2nd XV
Dartford GS v Gravesend GS
Dean Close v Monmouth
Downside v Wycliffe College
Dulwich College v Tonbridge
Dundee HS v Robert Gordon’s College
Edinburgh Academy v Linlithgow Academy
Embley v Christ’s Hospital
Eton College v Abingdon
Exeter School v Wellington School
Framlingham College v Royal Hospital
Glenalmond College v Fettes College
Gordon’s v The Oratory
Haileybury v Reed’s
Hutcheson’s GS v Glasgow HS (Shield QF)
Ipswich v Felsted
John Fisher v Campion
KES Birmingham v Bablake
KES Stratford v Aylesbury GS
King’s Canterbury v Sir Joseph Williamson’s
King’s Rochester v Cranbrook
Lancaster RGS v Wirral GS
Leicester GS v Nottingham HS
Lord Wandsworth College v Wellington College
Maidstone GS v St Olave’s GS
Malvern College v King’s Gloucester
Marlborough College v Bromsgrove
Merchant Taylors’ v Liverpool College
Millfield v Taunton
Monkton Combe v King’s Bruton
Norwich v The Leys
Pangbourne College v Bishop Wordsworth’s
Pate’s GS v The Crypt
Pocklington v Bradford GS
Princethorpe College v Loughborough GS
Prior Park College v Collegiate
QEH v King’s College, Taunton
Radley College v Oundle
RGS Guildford v Skinners’
Ryde v Mount Kelly
Sandbach v St Anselm’s College
Scarborough College v Barnard Castle
Scarisbrick Hall v St Ambrose College
Seaford College v Canford
Sedbergh 2nd XV v Dame Allan’s
Sevenoaks v New Hall
Sherborne 4th XV v Milton Abbey
Shiplake College v Reigate GS
St Columba’s v St Aloysius’ College
St Edmund’s College v QES Barnet
St John’s Leatherhead v St Benedict’s
St Lawrence College v Simon Langton GS
Stamford v Bedford
The Grange v Altrincham GS
The Judd v Langley Park
Tiffin v KCS Wimbledon
Trinity v Hurstpierpoint College
Wellingborough v King’s Ely
Whitgift v St Paul’s
Wimbledon College v London Oratory
Windsor Boys’ v Merchant Taylors’
Wisbech GS v Ratcliffe College
Worksop College v Trent College
Worth v St George’s Weybridge
Wymondham College v The Perse
