The Quarter Finals of the Continental Tyres U18 Schools Cup, Plate, Vase, and Bowl are now confirmed, with the bulk of the games taking place next week.
Some of the most storied sides in the tournament’s history are in the draw – as well as some of the most determined after so many near misses.
Quarter Finals are due to take place next week, with a few set for the following week, before a hiatus ahead of the semi finals and finals in March.
An update on the U15 tournament will come next week, many of the regional finals across the U15 Continental Tyres Schools Cup, Plate, Vase, and Bowl are yet to take place.
U18 Cup
Two former Champions are in the mix, Campion and Whitgift, along with three former finalists, QEGS Wakefield (6 finals), Kirkham Grammar (3), and Northampton School for Boys (1), will one of them finally get over that final hurdle? NSB are certainly close, they won the U15s in 2023 and 2025, losing to Radley College in the 2024 final, who are also in this quarter final draw. Joining those six are two of this year’s finest sides, Epsom College and Sir Thomas Rich’s, it is a stacked draw.
The opening quarter final is on Tuesday 2nd and what a game it is, Northampton School for Boys v Kirkham Grammar School, two outstanding sides that will truly believe they can go all the way. It’s a horrible draw for both really, but whoever comes out on top might well be the overall favourite.
In the semi finals the winner will face the winner of the last of the quarter finals, on Wednesday 10th December, which sees 2001 champions Campion up against the six times runners-up QEGS Wakefield, who reached last year’s final. It’s another monumental game, between two sides playing fantastic rugby.
On the other side of the draw, two others playing stunning rugby, Epsom College and the 2024 U15 champions, Radley College. If you want to know how good and how close this game might be, you need only roll back the clock to mid-September, when Radley College hosted Epsom College and just edged a 12-10 victory. Now on Epsom College turf, could that just tweak the balance? It’s really too close to call.
The winner will face the winner of another that feels two close to call, Sir Thomas Rich’s v Whitgift. If NSB are the best state school in the country this year, Tommies are a very close second. Meanwhile Whitgift have been outstanding too, only Sedbergh, Wellington College, and NSB have got the better of them – the three time champions are keeping lofty company.
It is, arguably, the strongest quarter final lineup in perhaps a decade. Any one of these sides would be a worthy champion, and that is what makes this year’s competition so utterly compelling.
Northampton School for Boys v Kirkham Grammar (Tuesday 2nd)
Campion v QEGS Wakefield (Wednesday 10th)
Epsom College v Radley College (Wednesday 3rd)
Sir Thomas Rich’s v Whitgift (Wednesday 3rd)
U18 Plate
The Plate is not exactly short of a familiar name to the sharp end of the Cup either, three time champions Oakham are in the mix, alongside former runners up St Benedict’s and Ravens Wood, as well as former Champions Trophy winners Bedford. It also includes rising stars Scarborough college and Taunton School, the excellent Ravens Wood, and an Ellesmere College side that has been brilliant over the last two years.
The action kicks off on Tuesday at Bedford Blues in a real heavyweight tussle as Bedford School welcome Oakham, both have been brilliant at times this year. The winner will face either Ellesmere College or Scarborough College, which should be a game of epic proportions, they play on Wednesday 3rd.
On the same day RGS Guilford, as schools rugby great, welcome Ravens Wood, the side that has developed so much in recent years and are now a key producer of Saracens academy players. The winner of that will have the luxury of being able to watch their potential semi final opponents as former Cup finalists St Benedict’s, who have been brilliant this year, host a Taunton School side that is rapidly becoming dominant, on Wednesday 10th.
Ellesmere College v Scarborough College (Wednesday 3rd)
Bedford v Oakham (Tuesday 2nd) – Bedford Blues
St Benedict’s v Taunton School (Wednesday 10th)
RGS Guildford v Ravens Wood (Wednesday 3rd)
U18 Vase
The Vase is a strong competition as well, with some of this year’s star sides included. It does have one game left to be played from the regional stage, with Dr Challoners’ Grammar hosting Wimbledon College on Saturday.
The winner of that game will be heading to Maidstone Grammar for their quarter final, a treacherous fixture as Maidstone Grammar have been utterly brilliant all season long. That game is yet to have a date, but the winner of it will face either Plymouth College or Reed’s, who meet on Wednesday 3rd, both sides have put in some terrific displays this year, it will be all about getting it right on the night.
Also on Wednesday 3rd, it’s a long trip down from Newcastle to Hertfordshire for the excellent Dame Allan’s, they are heading to Hitchin Boys’. Getting over the bus journey will likely be of huge importance for Dame Allan’s against a street-smart Hitchin side. On the same day at Aylesbury RFC, a likely venue for the semi finals too, Aylesbury Grammar School and King’s Grantham meet, two sides that have had very strong seasons so far.
Hitchin Boys’ v Dame Allan’s (Wednesday 3rd)
Aylesbury Grammar v King’s Grantham (Wednesday 3rd) – Aylesbury RFC
Maidstone GS v Dr Challoner’s/Wimbledon College (Date TBC)
Plymouth College v Reed’s (Wednesday 3rd)
U18 Bowl
Over in the Bowl, Langley welcome Shrewsbury on Wednesday 3rd in a massive quarter final, both sides will be feeling confident. The winner can then watch their potential semi final opponent as Bablake do not host Hymers College until Wednesday 10th, another game between two confident sides.
On the other sides of the draw Gravesend RFC plays host to Gravsened Grammar v Pangbourne College, a major clash between two sides that have played brilliantly to get here. The date of the other quarter final is yet to be confirmed but will see the excellent Clayesmore welcome Hinchley Wood to Dorset.
Langley v Shrewsbury (Wednesday 3rd)
Bablake v Hymers College (Wednesday 10th)
Gravesend Grammar v Pangbourne College (Wednesday 3rd) – Gravesend RFC
Clayesmore v Hinchley Wood (TBC)
