After a weather affected opening midweek to kick off 2026, a weekend of rugby awaits us to really get things going for the New Year.
The Prem Rugby Next Gen League enters Round 5 this weekend, and our preview of that will be available on Friday, but that has not stopped plenty of schools rugby action over Friday and Saturday as well.
Many will be missing players due to the academy commitments, but there are still some outstanding fixtures in both England and Scotland as 2026 really kicks into gear.
Friday 9th January
The Weekend’s Action kicks off on Friday with some key games, including two sides with close ties to Northampton Saints going head to head as ACE side Moulton College take on the Merchiston Festival champions, Finborough. Both are strong sides and it should be a fantastic game on Friday, a real chance for both sets of players to show their class in what will be a tough game.
In Sussex another tough game as Eastbourne College, who have a busy January schedule, take on Worthing College, who are also pretty busy this month. Both sides have plenty of quality and will be looking at this game as a way of getting their 2026 off to a flying start.
Over to the West there are some cracking games, including both of the sides that will be taking part in the Apple Cup LIVE on NextGenLive later this month, Hereford Cathedral School and Hereford 6th form College. Hereford Cathedral take on Barr’s Hill as they get their preparation going for that Apple Cup, meanwhile Hereford 6th form College have a tricky task on their hands, taking on a Bromsgrove U17 side that is expected to be very strong.
Friday Fixtures
Bromsgrove U17 v Hereford 6th form College
Eastbourne College v Worthing College
Hereford Cathedral v Barr’s Hill
Moulton College v Finborough
Saturday 10th January
On Saturday there is plenty of action, including two of last term’s best sides going head to head as Brighton College take on Continental Tyres Schools Cup semi finalists, Campion. The two met early in the season, with Campion taking a narrow win, will they back that up or will Brighton get their own back? It’s going to be a fascinating watch either way. Out to the East, meanwhile, Coopers’ Coborn and St George’s Harpenden go head to head in what should be a good game of rugby, while back in London Fulham Boys travel to Latymer Upper, another that should be a great contest.
In the West Midlands Bishop Vesey’s Grammar welcome a strong Old Swinford Hospital side, while there is also U17 action in Warwickshire as Warwick host Solihull, with Solihull hoping to repeat the trip of their U18s by claiming a famous victory. Shropshire meanwhile sees Oswestry host Shrewsbury, two sides that know each other well.
There is a good amount of action in the North West, not least a cracker at King’s Macclesfield as they welcome Kirkham Grammar, though Kirkham will be missing a lot of players to Sale Sharks commitments. That should make for a very good game though, one to watch.
Along the road St Ambrose College welcome St Anselm’s College over from the Wirral, two sides that always seem to put on a show. Meanwhile also travelling from the Wirral are Birkenhead, they head to Altringham Grammar School. There is also a Wirral derby as Calday Grange Grammar host Wirral Grammar, always a great occasion and a definite one to watch.
Up in Scotland George Watson’s College prepare for their upcoming final with Strathallan with a huge game against Stewart’s Melville, that will be a crucial fixture, meanwhile Dollar Academy will be eager to start 2026 with a bang but they face a tough trip to Glenalmond College. Meanwhile on the West Coast Hutchesons’ Grammar welcome St Columba’s, and in Aberdeen Robert Gordon’s College look to start 2026 well against a High School of Dundee side that was outstanding last term.
Saturday Fixtures:
Altrincham GS v Birkenhead
Bishop Vesey’s GS v Old Swinford Hospital
Calday Grange GS v Wirral GS
Campion v Brighton College
Coopers’ Coborn v St George’s Harpenden
George Watson’s College v Stewart Melville
Glenalmond College v Dollar Academy
Hutchesons’ GS v St Columba’s
King’s Macclesfield v Kirkham GS
Latymer Upper v Fulham Boys’
Oswestry v Shrewsbury
Robert Gordon’s College v Dundee HS
St Ambrose College v St Anselm’s College
Warwick U17 v Solihull U17
