This weekend saw action across Friday and Saturday, with 7s arriving in force on Sunday on what was a busy weekend.
Despite the continuing tough conditions, grounds staff across the country excelled themselves in keeping games on. Perhaps nowhere more so that at the Hurstpierpoint College U18 Sussex Open 7s on Sunday, which were live here on NexGenLive and can be rewatch on the NextGenLive YouTube channel and through the embedded video below.
Elsewhere things were exciting right across the country with superb action and some outstanding performances.
Friday 30th January
Friday was a busy one and perhaps the pick of the bunch was an epic 22-22 draw at Cheltenham Tigers between Sir Thomas Rich’s and Old Swinford Hospital. A real advert for the school game, with both sides giving it everything and highlighting the sheer quality of state school rugby, in this the year where state school rugby has made a real statement. A fantastic game.
At Broadstreet RFC Bablake took victory with a strong performance against Bishop Vesey’s Grammar. Both sides made the most of the experience but it was Bablake that found the most success, winning 24-14. Meanwhile up at Chester RUFC this brilliant 2026 run from Birkenhead continued, they faced Stonyhurst and put in another fantastic display for a 24-5 victory.
Down at Havant RFC there was a cracking game between two sides that always seem to have a healthy rivalry, Shiplake College and Reading Blue Coat. It was an U17 game, and on this evidence both sides have plenty to be excited about next year as Reading Blue Coat edged a thriller 33-26. There was U17 action at Hazelwood as well as Bishop Wand hosted Berkhamsted and Brighton College in a triangular. Results were not recorded.
Friday Results
Bishop Vesey’s GS 14-24 Bablake (Broadstreet RFC)
Shiplake College U17 26-33 Reading Blue Coat U17 (Havant RFC)
Sir Thomas Rich’s 22-22 Old Swinford Hospital (Cheltenham Tigers)
Stonyhurst 5-24 Birkenhead (Chester RUFC)
Saturday 31st January
On Saturday two of the U18 Continental Tyres Schools Cup semi finalists were in action, Whitgift and Campion. Whitgift were on the road at St Joseph’s College and won a dogged outing 17-0 to keep momentum high en route to their semi final with Epsom College, despite players missing due to academy action. For Campion it wasn’t quite the day they wanted, going down in a tight game at home to RGS High Wycombe 24-17, a brilliant outing for RGS who were excellent. For Campion though, the knowledge that they have returning players from Saracens to come should give them every confidence going forward.
Elsewhere in the South East, Wymondham College travelled to London to take on Merchant Taylors’ and won a fantastic game of rugby 31-20, an excellent occasion.
Up In Scotland there was action at Edinburgh Academy as they put in one of their best displays in a 65-7 defeat of Dundee High. St Columba’s College were also in good form, winning 28-17 at St Aloysius’ College. There was also U17 action in Scotland as Stewart’s Melville showed the depth of their quality in a stunning 50-7 victory over Dollar Academy.
The North West of England is always busy at this time of year and was so again on Saturday. Bolton School had an excellent victory over Lancaster RGS, 20-13, while Calday Grange Grammar travelled to Manchester Grammar and had a magnificent 41-17 victory, a brilliant effort.
Back on the Wirral, Wirral Grammar were equally good at home to Altrincham Grammar, winning 48-17, a fantastic display. St Anselm’s College travelled from the Wirral to face Kirkham Grammar’s 2nd XV, they played well but in a sign of the sheer depth of quality that Kirkham Grammar have, their 2nd XV just edged it, 15-14. Down in Shropshire, meanwhile, St Ambrose College were the visitors to Haberdashers’ Adams and it was a trip to remember as they sealed a stunning 54-0 victory.
Saturday Results
Bolton 20-13 Lancaster RGS
Campion 17-24 RGS High Wycombe
Edinburgh Academy 65-7 Dundee HS
Haberdashers’ Adams 0-54 St Ambrose College
Kirkham GS 2nd XV 15-14 St Anselm’s College
Manchester GS 17-41 Calday Grange GS
Merchant Taylors’ 20-31 Wymondham College
St Aloysius’ College 17-28 St Columba’s
St Joseph’s College 0-17 Whitgift
Stewart’s Melville U17 50-7 Dollar Academy U17
Wirral GS 48-17 Altrincham GS
Sunday 1st February
Sunday saw 7s season roll into view as Hurstpierpoint College hosted their U18 Sussex Schools Open 7s. A brilliant occasion despite the heavy rainfall.
16 sides were in action across four groups, and come the end of the morning Bedford, Dulwich College, Seaford College, and St John’s Leatherhead had topped the groups to reach the Cup semi finals. Meanwhile second placed sides were in the Plate semi finals, third place in the Vase, and fourth in the Bowl.
Eton College would end up winning the Plate, beating Tonbridge in the semi finals to set up a final with Trinity, who had beaten Ipswich. They played superbly well in the final for a 17-5 victory. Over in the Vase Newman College claimed the spoils, beating Gordon’s in an epic final 22-18 to seal the silverware, meanwhile Sutton Valence secured the Bowl, beating host Hurstpierpoint College’s B team 27-12.
Over in the Cup St John’s were outstanding, what a 7s side they might have this year, beating Dulwich College 22-5 in their semi final. So too were Seaford College, riding the wave of confidence brought about by their brilliant triumph at their own Seaford Southern 10s last week, beating Bedford 24-0.
The final was an altogether tougher affair though as the conditions really set in. St John’s took an early lead but a converted Seaford College try before half term saw them have the edge, 7-5, at the break. The second half was a tough old affair, a slippy ball, and some exhausted bodies. Both sides threw everything at it but they could not break through again, with Seaford College sealing the 7-5 victory and with it the title.
Two Cup titles in successive weekends for Seaford College, a magnificent start to the short form season. They are going to be a force throughout. A brilliant series of performances from them, credit too to St John’s for a brilliant effort, and to Hurstpierpoint College for putting on such a fantastic tournament.
Sunday Results
Hurstpierpoint College U18 Sussex Schools Open 7s – Seaford College Champions
Still to Come:
Barnard Castle v Bradford GS
Ibstock Place v Fidelis College (Chiswick RFC)
Lord Williams’ v Chesham GS
Merchant Taylors’ v Hutton GS
Merchiston Castle 2nd XV v Hutchesons’ GS
Shrewsbury v Oswestry
St Peter’s, York U17 v Barnard Castle U17
