Preview: Hurstpierpoint College U18 Sussex Open 7s | Live Rugby

February kicks off with a bang this weekend, as The Hurstpierpoint College U18 Sussex Open 7s takes place this Sunday. The tournament has survived a few weather-related scares to take place across 3 pitches, with the Cup final broadcast LIVE on the NextGenLive YouTube channel.

The first live 7s series of the season promises to be a strong start to the campaign, an it’s a huge opportunity for sides to showcase what they have to offer and to build their form ahead of a busy schedule over the next couple of months. You can catch all the action from Pitch 1 via the link below, and our full preview below that.

Some familiar faces from Seaford College last weekend are joined by a few sides in their first tournament action of the campaign. Just like Seaford, let’s have a crack at predicting these groups and preview the tournament proper. Just as last week, the 4 sides in each pool will head straight into the semi-finals of the 4 bits of silverware on offer!

Group 1 – Ipswich School, Newman College, Seaford College, Sutton Valence

Group 1 has two standout sides to discuss after last weekend’s Seaford 10s. Defending champions from the last Sussex 7s in 2024, Ipswich School, are in Group 1 with Seaford College, who were champions on home turf last week and who have put together a strong 7s side. Ipswich missed out on the cup semi-finals after a loss to Gordon’s in the final group game, and were also beaten by this weekend’s hosts, Hurstpierpoint, on their way to the 3rd-tier Vase final, which they won. They are a powerful side whose experience in the short format will serve them well. Seaford, if they are not exhausted from their efforts last weekend, will be faverioutes for the tournament, and this group, while Ipswich should still have the quality to really test the South Coast side. Newman have not have the season they would have hoped for in the ACE league this season, being relegated from the top tier of the south but their ACE strength means they are a big contender too, while Sutton Valence will be excited to test themselves in what is a blockbuster Group 1.

The NextGen Predictor:

Cup – Seaford College

Plate – Ipswich

Vase – Newman College

Bowl – Sutton Valence

Group 2 – Hurstpierpoint College, St John’s Leatherhead, Tonbridge, Worth

The hosts, after a strong showing last week in which they made the plate final and won it after beating national cup semi-finalists Epsom College, have not given themselves an easy ride. Tonbridge School and St John’s, Leatherhead, are two quality sides, with similar results across the XV’s season. Tonbridge lost to Brighton by a single point, and St John’s have had players starting across the academy league for Harlequins this season, while Worth School should not be counted out after a strong season themselves. This is a group that, beyond tipping Hurspierpoint to perform well on home soil, is too close to call! Tonbridge might just have the edge over St John’s, as their best players tend to play in the pack, which might not suit the 7s game as well, but we will have to wait and see.

The NextGen Predictor

Cup – Hurstpierpoint College

Plate – Tonbridge

Vase – St Johns, Leatherhead

Bowl – Worth School

Group 3 – Dulwich College, Eton College, Gordon’s, Hurstpierpoint College B

Another storming group full of top teams, Dulwich College came very close to making the cup final last week, but had to settle for the Vase final after some narrow defeats. After a disappointing XV’s season, they have come alive as the 7s have rolled around. Seaford needed Golden Points in extra time to knock Gordon’s out of the group, who had a great tournament themselves. Eton are also a strong side, who relied on physicality to get the job done at the Kingswood festival back in pre-season, when we last saw them on our screens. It will be an exciting morning for Hursts 2s, who round out the group, they will be eager to test themselves against the best. Gordon’s are a very good 7s side, though that Eton v Dulwich game looks very east as a group opener. It is a match-up with great history, and it should be a thriller.

The NextGen Predictor

Cup – Gordon’s

Plate – Dulwich College

Vase – Eton College

Bowl – Hurstpierpoint 2s

Group 4 – Bedford, Caterham, Eton College B, Trinity

Group 4 is perhaps the most open, although there is one standout side that will be hoping to improve on last week’s showing. Bedford School have had some success on the circuit this season and have been handed a group they know they can win, which will motivate them to challenge the most established side in the group, Trinity. Beaten in the final two years ago, they performed well at Seaford and will have more experience of the small-sided season than their group counterparts. Caterham are mainstays at the tournament and will hope to get themselves in the mix, also at the Sussex 7s. Eton’s second side will also be battling it out in this group and would love a 1st VII scalp.

The NextGen Predictor

Cup – Trinity

Plate – Bedford

Vase – Caterham

Bowl -Eton College 2s

The Sussex 7s, after last year’s cancellation, will be back and bigger than ever, just like Seaford a week ago. Tune in for the first games at 10 am and find the full schedule below; we can’t wait to see you there!

The Schedule – Eastfield 1 will be live on NextGen’s YouTube channel

Knockouts

The first game of the Hurstpierpoint Sussex 7s kicks off at 10 am this Sunday 1st February, on the NextgenLive YouTube Channel