Almost all of the U18 Regional Semi Finals in the Continental Tyres Schools Cup, Plate, Vase, and Bowl competitions have now taken place, leaving us down to the last 16 teams in each competition.
The Regional Finals are scheduled to begin next week, and they are the last round that is split into the 8 regions; North A and B, Midlands A and B, London & South East A and B, and South West A and B.
After this round, sides move into the National Quarter Finals. Those qualifying from the North and Midlands are put into a pot and drawn for the quarter finals and semi finals, likewise London & South East and the South West qualifiers on the other side of the draw. Meaning, therefore, that the final is between the North/Midlands winner and the LSE/South West winner.
U18 Cup
In the flagship Cup tournament the back to back reigning champions Harrow are into the London & South East A final after a 48-22 victory at a brave Richard Hale. They will now host Epsom College, a side that will pose a serious challenge after their superb 40-3 victory over Hurstpierpoint College.
Last year’s runners up, QEGS Wakefield, are also still in the hunt after an excellent 22-14 victory over the perennially impressive Woodhouse Grove. They now travel to 2006 and 2001 finalists Durham in the North B regional final after Durham put on an impressive 46-10 victory over Park View.
Kirkham Grammar School reached the final in 2024 and 2022 and are itching to go one better. They are through to the North A final after a 28-0 victory over Scarisbrick Hall. Up against them are a very gritty King’s Macclesfield side, who beat St Ambrose College 20-15 away from home.
One of the hot favourites this year are Northampton School for Boys, the 2013 finalists have a side made up of U15 champions of 2023 and 2025 and runners up in 2024. They are going strong still in Midlands A after a hard earned 36-29 victory over 2015 and 2016 champions Bromsgrove. Up against them in the regional final, 2012 finalists Old Swinford Hospital, who impressed onlookers in their 43-22 victory over Rugby School.
Another favourite are the side that beat NSB in that 2024 U15 final, Radley College. They were outstanding last weekend in their South West A derby game against Abingdon to progress, 35-14. Up against them are the 1998 and 1999 finalists, RGS High Wycombe, who won a thriller against Reading Blue Coat, 39-36, to progress.
Three time champions Whitgift are also through, reaching the London & South East B final after a stunning 43-0 victory over local rivals and 2022 champions Trinity. They now travel to Skinners’, whose late heroics to defeat The Judd 27-26 kept their unbeaten season alive.
In Midlands B 2024 Plate runners up Uppingham are through after a really tight victory over old rivals Stamford in their regional semi final. They now face the highly impressive Campion, the 2001 champions who were outstanding to win 34-19 at Ipswich.
Sir Thomas Rich’s, who have been so good all year, are through in South West A but they were made to work by Monmouth, just edging it 18-17 away from home. They now host Sherborne, who sensationally defeated Millfield for the second time this season, another tight game, 11-7.
North A
Kirkham Grammar 28-0 Scarisbrick Hall
St Ambrose College 15-20 King’s Macclesfield
North B
Durham 46-10 Park View
QEGS Wakefield 22-14 Woodhouse Grove
Midlands A
Northampton School for Boys 36-29 Bromsgrove
Old Swinford Hospital 43-22 Rugby
Midlands B
Stamford 8-12 Uppingham
Ipswich 19-34 Campion
London & South East A
Richard Hale 22-48 Harrow
Epsom College 40-3 Hurstpierpoint College
London & South East B
Skinners’ 27-26 The Judd
Whitgift 43-0 Trinity
South West A
Monmouth 17-18 Sir Thomas Rich’s
Sherborne 11-7 Millfield
South West B
Radley College 35-14 Abingdon
RGS High Wycombe 39-36 Reading Blue Coat
U18 Plate
The quality of sides in the Plate competition is high, and the regional finals are going to be fierce. One has already happen, 2023 Cup champions Oakham defeating Norwich 39-10 in Midlands B.
Over in Midlands A, Bedford School are through and will be hosting a King’s Worcester side that is absolutely flying, and defeated Bedford’s local rivals Bedford Modern 28-12 in their regional semi.
The most successful side in Schools Cup history, Collegiate, are through in South West B in the tightest of fashions, progressing after a draw with St Edward’s Oxford. They now face 1993 Cup finalists RGS Guildford, who came through a tight one with Lord Wandsworth College 22-20.
QEH defeated former Cup winners St Peter’s Gloucester 29-21 in South West A, they now face one of the favourites, Taunton School, who were impressive in a 34-12 away victory at Ivybridge.
In London & South East B Sir Joseph Williamson’s won a cracking game at home to Sutton Valence, 32-24. They now host Ravens Wood, a side to look out for, who won 24-17 at Simon Langton Grammar.
2008 Cup finalists St Benedict’s are through in London & South East A after a sensational 74-12 victory at RGS Colchester, they now face a side used to competing at the sharp end in the form of Hampton, who beat Worth 26-17.
North A has a fantastic regional final, Lancaster RGS will host after an outstanding 43-13 victory over AKS Lytham. They will face Ellesmere College, who have to be one of the favourites for this Plate, they won 38-7 at Lymm High in their regional semi final.
Scarborough College are through in North B after a 17-12 defeat of 2010 Cup finalists RGS Newcastle, they will now host Yorkshire rivals Pocklington in the regional final.
North A
Lancaster RGS 43-13 AKS Lytham
Lymm HS 7-38 Ellesmere College
North B
Scarborough College 17-12 RGS Newcastle
Pocklington HWO Thomas Rotherham College
Midlands A
Bedford HWO RGS Worcester
King’s Worcester 38-12 Bedford Modern
Midlands B
The Perse AWO Oakham
Norwich v Bye
Oakham 39-10 Norwich
London & South East A
RGS Colchester 12-74 St Benedict’s
Hampton 26-17 Worth
London & South East B
Sir Joseph Williamson’s 32-24 Sutton Valence
Simon Langton GS 17-24 Ravens Wood
South West A
QEH 29-21 St Peter’s, Gloucester
Ivybridge Community College 12-34 Taunton
South West B
Collegiate 22-22 St Edward’s, Oxford
Lord Wandsworth College 20-22 RGS Guildford
U18 Vase
The Vase still has a few fixtures to play, in Midlands A Princethorpe College and Loughborough Grammar meet this Saturday, the winner will host Aylesbury Grammar, who beat Hereford 6th form College 7-3, in the regional final.
North B sees Prince Henry’s Grammar and Birkdale meet on Wednesday. The winner will travel to the excellent Dame Allan’s, who defeated Ermysted’s Grammar 55-5.
In North A, Sandbach won a brilliant game 38-24 at Wirral Grammar, they now host King’s Grantham, who won a cracking game 31-21 at Trent College.
Over in Midlands B, Hitchin Boys’ earned an impressive 25-18 home victory over Gresham’s, they will host Bishop’s Stortford College in the Regional Final.
Dr Challoner’s Grammar are into the London & South East A Regional Final after a 40-14 defeat of UCS, they now welcome Wimbledon College, which ought to be a fantastic game.
In London & South East B two sides in red hot form will meet, Maidstone Grammar’s 35-14 victory at Christ’s Hospital sees them host Duke of York’s Royal Military, who won 17-5 a Eastbourne College.
Poole Grammar progressed in South West A after a 31-22 defeat of Wellington School, the regional final will see them host Plymouth College.
Meanwhile in South West B Reed’s are through after a stunning 63-5 victory at St Bartholomew’s. They now host KES Southampton in the regional final.
North A
Wirral GS 24-38 Sandbach
Trent College 21-31 King’s Grantham
North B
Dame Allan’s 55-5 Ermysted’s GS
Prince Henry’s GS v Birkdale (Weds 19th)
Midlands A
Princethorpe College v Loughborough GS (Sat 15th)
Hereford 6th form College 3-7 Aylesbury GS
Midlands B
Hitchin Boys’ 25-18 Gresham’s
Bishop’s Stortford College v Bye
London & South East A
Dr Challoner’s GS 40-14 UCS
Wimbledon College v Bye
London & South East B
Christ’s Hospital 14-35 Maidstone GS
Eastbourne College 5-17 Duke of York’s RMS
South West A
Poole GS 31-22 Wellington
Plymouth College v Bye
South West B
St Bartholomew’s 5-63 Reed’s
KES Southampton v Bye
U18 Bowl
There are going to be some big games in the Bowl. North B will see Ripon Grammar, who won 18-3 at Ilkley Grammar, host a Hymers College side that was sensational against Wilmslow High, winning 56-0.
Newcastle-Under-Lyme were just as impressive in North A, winning 57-7 at John Taylor High, they now travel to Shrewsbury, who were also outstanding in a 41-11 victory over King William’s College.
In Midlands A Bablake beat Ratcliffe College 32-21 to progress, they host Hereford Cathedral School in that regional final.
Langley will meanwhile host the Midlands B regional final after a 40-10 victory at Roundwood Park on Monday. They will face Saffron Walden.
South West B saw Pangbourne College progress after a tight 17-15 victory over Claires Court, they will now host Embley.
Clayesmore progressed in South West A, winning 35-10 at home to Monkton Combe, they now host Truro School in their regional final.
QES Barnet won a fantastic contest with Cardinal Vaughan to progress, 28-25, they now host Hinchley Wood in the London & South East A regional final.
Over in London & South East B, meanwhile, Gravesend Grammar were excellent at Graveney to win 21-0, their regional final sees them host Tunbridge Wells Grammar.
North A
King William’s College 11-41 Shrewsbury
John Taylor HS 7-57 Newcastle-Under-Lyme
North B
Ripon GS 18-3 Ilkley GS
Hymers College 56-0 Wilmslow HS
Midlands A
Bablake 32-21 Ratcliffe College
Hereford Cathedral School v Bye
Midlands B
Roundwood Park 10-40 Langley
Saffron Walden v Bye
London & South East A
QES Barnet 28-25 Cardinal Vaughan
Hinchley Wood v Bye
London & South East B
Graveney 0-21 Gravesend GS
Tunbridge Wells GS v Bye
South West A
Clayesmore 35-10 Monkton Combe
Truro School v Bye
South West B
Pangbourne College 17-15 Claires Court
Embley v Bye
