This Wednesday night, Sixways Stadium is once again the host of the 18th Annual Modus Cup, the yearly clash between RGS Worcester and King’s Worcester’s 1st XVs, with a 5:30 pm kick-off under the lights on NextGenLive. Potentially thousands will be present as Kings go hunting for a historic hat-trick of victories in this fixture, a feat that has not been achieved for nearly a decade.
It is the 18th meeting between these sides with the Modus cup on the line, and although Kings have spent the last few years extending their lead at the top of the tie to 10-7 in their favour, it was actually RGS that had the early domination in the Cup. RGS won three of the first four before King’s hit back, winning five of the next six through to 2016. Since then, after a short run of tit-for-tat meetings, the Kings have again begun to stamp a bit of authority on the fixture, winning 4 of the last 5. They may be the favourites again come mid-week, but you can find out for yourself at Sixways, or catch every minute of the coverage on the NextGenLive YouTube channel:
But let’s not make any assumptions about these two teams, instead, here’s are review of both their seasons so far. We will begin with the side looking to claim a first win in this tie since Loic Keasey led them to a dramatic 3-point victory in 2022. They have had a very successful season and will be confident coming into this week’s game. They have already pulled off some excellent results this season, including overturning a number of sides that beat them last year. 2 wins on tour to South Africa in pre-season were followed up by a fantastic win over Sir Thomas Rich’s, who have gone on to have a miraculous season. Their first game proper of the domestic calendar was a narrow defeat to Bloxhom at “Fortress Flagge”, but the men in green and white responded excellently to their debut defeat. They took down King’s Gloucester before beating Dean Close for the first time in a few attempts. A loss to Bromsgrove in the cup and a close-fought contest against Christ College Brecon did not dampen their spirits, and their winning run in the build-up to the Modus Cup has been monumental. Big bonus point wins over KES Birmingham and Three Spires School were followed up by two clean sheets against Solihull and Monday’s Border Shield competitors, Malvern College, who were both beaten by a single score. There is already plenty for former Wales 7s and now RGS Worcester head coach Robert Lewis to smile about this season, like the school’s brand new partnership with championship phoenixes Worcester Warriors, but a win in the Modus cup would be the highlight of the season. Watch out for Gloucester forward Monty Jones in the back row, and skipper Liam Chadwick, who pulls the strings from scrum half.
But what of Kings? You might wonder why, after RGS have had such a strong season, the Dots are still the slight favourites? I’m sure this run of results will convince you: 40-17 (w) v Old Swinford, 55-27 (w) v Bloxham, 48-3 (w) v Malvern, 50-21 (w) v Kingswood, 44-0 (w) v Solihull Ex Cetera, Ex Cetera. When the dots have hit the heights this season, they have been unplayable. They are spearheaded by an almighty pack, with Captain Will Dorell, under early-days contract at Coventry having flirted with England selection, Vice-Captain Charlie Mason, who is reasonably nailed on for Gloucster in the front row of the academy league, and Gloucester u18 captain Henry Horsfall, who was capped by his country in South Africa in the summer, and will have a big part to play if fit and ready. But there lies the great hope for RGS in this one – “when fit and ready” – a mantra that Kings have not always subscribed to this season. Amongst some outstanding results were some final scores slightly harder to explain. Remember that big win at Old Swinford? They were knocked out of the national cup by them in September, before their season really got going. And more recently, they were beaten by Bedford in the national plate, and lost to Dean Close when they last took to the field at the end of November. Benjamin Williams’ side have had moments this year, as all schoolboy sides do, when they have not cleared the high expectations that some of their other run-outs have set. They are capable of glorious performances, but will we see another when the pressure is on under the lights at Sixways? At “Mini-Modus” this weekend just gone, King’s Second side managed to pull off the win over RGS, but can the seniors do the same?
RGS Worcester v King’s Worcester: Wednesday 10th December 5:30 pm | On NextGenLive
