Another busy weekend of schools rugby awaits, with action across Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, and both the fifteen-a-side and seven-a-side versions of the game taking place.
The Prem Rugby Next Gen League is back in full flight, so squads for some games are compromised as a result, but the rugby on show is set to be fantastic.
There is live action as well, on Friday night the Brighton RFC U12 Friday Night Lights league continues for Leg 2 LIVE here on NextGenLive, you can head to the NextGenLive YouTube channel for that – if it is anything like Leg 1, it will be a fun filled evening.
Sunday then brings the first live 7s action of the year as Hurstpierpoint College host their annual U18 Sussex Open 7s. The action will be LIVE on the NextGenLive YouTube Channel and you can also click through the embedded video below for what will be a fantastic day of 7s on Sunday.
Hurstpierpoint College U18 Sussex Open 7s – LIVE
All in all, it is set to be a brilliant weekend of schools rugby!
Friday 30th January
It’s a busy day on Friday, with some fantastic fixtures. Cheltenham Tigers hosts a game between two of the best state school sides in the country, indeed Sir Thomas Rich’s were Top 5 in the Daily Mail Trophy. They are up against Old Swinford Hospital in what should be a fantastic game of rugby on Friday.
Also in the Cotswolds, Stowe on the Wold RFC hosts a mini-tournament, with Chipping Norton, Cotswold School, Farmor’s, and Kingham Hill among the participants on what should be a special evening of schools rugby.
Up near the birthplace of the game, Broadstreet RFC welcomes Bishop Vesey’s Grammar and Bablake. The two should be well matched and it ought to yield another cracking contest.
Continuing North, in form Stonyhurst and Birkenhead meet at Chester RUFC, both sides have been excellent and an entertaining evening should be on the cards. The touchlines will likely be packed for a special evening.
Down South, Chiswick RFC hosts Ibstock Place once again, this week they welcome Fidelis College for another big Friday night contest. Out in Berkshire, Lord Williams’ welcome Chesham Grammar School.
There is also U17 action on Friday night as well as Hazelwood, the former home of London Irish, welcomes resident side Bishop Wand, one of the ACE league’s finest, and two excellent school sides in Berkhamsted and Brighton College. The games will be training games with a view to next season, but none will be holding back, such is the competitiveness and quality among their players.
Also in U17 action are Shiplake College and Reading Blue Coat, who meet at Havant RFC on Friday night, two sides that know each other well and have plenty of rivalry.
Friday Fixtures
Bishop Vesey’s GS v Bablake (Broadstreet RFC)
Ibstock Place v Fidelis College (Chiswick RFC)
U18 Tournament: Chipping Norton, Cotswold, Farmor’s, Kingham Hill (Stow on the Wold RFC)
Lord Williams’ v Chesham GS
Shiplake College U17 v Reading Blue Coat U17 (Havant RFC)
Sir Thomas Rich’s v Old Swinford Hospital (Cheltenham Tigers)
Stonyhurst v Birkenhead (Chester RUFC)
U17 Triangular: Berkhamsted, Bishop Wand, Brighton College (Hazelwood)
Saturday 31st January
Saturday is an exciting day, not least because two of the Continental Tyres Schools Cup semi finalists are in action in tricky fixtures. Campion, who will play the superb Northampton School for Boys in their semi final, are hosting RGS High Wycombe. Both sides have some real similarities, so expect a tough game. Campion will be keen to get miles in the legs ahead of that semi final, but RGS High Wycombe would love to spoil the part.
Whitgift, meanwhile, are on the road on Saturday. They play Epsom College, a top team, in their semi final and their preparation continues with a tough trip to Suffolk to take on St Joseph’s College. Much like the Campion v RGS game, Whitgift will be eager for momentum but St Jo’s will be itching to spoil things.
Back in Whitgift’s native London, Merchant Taylors’ are in action, welcoming Wymondham College to town for a fixture that should be plenty of fun.
Much of the rest of the action in England takes place in the West and North West of the country. Shropshire sees a bit of a derby as Shrewsbury and Oswestry go head to head, while Haberdashers’ Adams welcomeSt Ambrose College, who are playing some nice rugby.
On the Wirral, Altrincham Grammar are hosted by Wirral Grammar School, who have been playing well, meanwhile Calday Grange Grammar are on the road at Manchester Grammar, and the excellent St Anselm’s College have a tough task on their hands, they head to Kirkham Grammar School to take on Kirkham’s 2nd XV.
Across the water, Merchant Taylors’ are in action against Hutton Grammar School, while over in Greater Manchester Bolton welcome Lancaster RGS, which should be a fantastic game.
Up in the North East, Barnard Castle and Bradford Grammar School meet in a game that resonates with schools rugby history nerds, two absolute giants of the game going head to head in what is always a special game. Barnard Castle are also in U17 action on Saturday, they travel down to Yorkshire for a huge game at St Peter’s York.
Across the border it’s a busy day in Scotland, as ever. Subscribers can watch Merchiston Castle in action again as they host Hutcheson’s Grammar, Merchi will likely be without fly half Jake Dalziel after the 17 year old was named in the Scotland U20 squad yesterday for the U20 Six Nations, a stunning achievement.
Elsewhere, Edinburgh Academy are on the road after a good display last week, they head to take on a good Dundee High School side. Meanwhile over in the West St Aloysius’ College take on St Columba’s. There is also U17 action in Scotland, and big action too as two giants of Scottish rugby meet, Stewart’s Melville and Dollar Academy, a tell-tale game ahead of 2026/27.
Saturday Fixtures
Barnard Castle v Bradford GS
Bolton v Lancaster RGS
Campion v RGS High Wycombe
Dundee HS v Edinburgh Academy
Haberdashers’ Adams v St Ambrose College
Kirkham GS 2nd XV v St Anselm’s College
Manchester GS v Calday Grange GS
Merchant Taylors’ v Hutton GS
Merchant Taylors’ v Wymondham College
Merchiston Castle v Hutchesons’ GS
Shrewsbury v Oswestry
St Aloysius’ College v St Columba’s
St Joseph’s College v Whitgift
St Peter’s, York U17 v Barnard Castle U17
Stewart’s Melville U17 v Dollar Academy U17
Wirral GS v Altrincham GS
Sunday 1st February
Sunday’s action revolves around the LIVE action at the Hurstpierpoint College U18 Sussex Schools Open 7s. Sixteen sides will be in action in what, despite recent weather, should be a fantastic day of 7s at the school that recently celebrated 100 years of rugby.
With some of the strongest sides around heading to the tournament, including last week’s Seaford 10s winners, Seaford College, it is going to be highly competitive. The action on the main pitch will be LIVE on the NextGenLive YouTube channel, and you can read our full preview of the competition here: Hurstpierpoint college U18 Sussex Schools Open 7s Preview.
Sunday Fixtures
Hurstpierpoint College U18 Sussex Schools Open 7s
