This Sunday, the 1st of March, Oakham School host their annual 7s tournament, expanded this year yet again to include 6 competitions, including two women’s events. Our live coverage will include all the action from the U18 boys and Girls competition, while the rest of Oakham is overtaken with Rugby from U11S and up.
The action from Oakham’s historic Doncaster Close main pitch will all be broadcast on NextGenLive through our YouTube channel and the embedded video below. The action will begin with the U18 Girls fixtures, followed by the start of the U18 Boys competition – watch out for some special moments and an array of action-packed finals from that famous old field.
U18 Boys 7s
This competition draws big names, and at this stage of the season, with the Academy League wrapped and the first few tournaments of the season done and dusted, these sides should be on top form. Only top spot is good enough to secure a place in the cup semi-finals, so every match will be crucial. The Cup final will be live at 3:45 pm, and all roads lead to it.
Group A includes the defending champions Bromsgrove, as well as the Merchiston Castle champions Finborough and last season’s U16 cup champions Oundle. It is an incredibly difficult group, with multiple teams with series pedigree at this tournament. Felstead and Uppingham cannot be counted out, but Bromsgrove, off the back of another strong season, will be looking to back up their title with another, and make it their third win in 4 seasons. Finborough are having an excellent year, and Oundle have a very talented group of U17S, including both of Northampton Saints’ starting centres at that age group, and it will be a tough job for either side to make it to the cup.
Group B includes record five-time champions Bedford, although they have not won the tournament since 2019. Cheltenham College are having another fantastic season, and are unlikely to be less exciting on the 7s field than they were last year. Radley made the national cup quarter-finals while also having their best XV’s season for a fair few years. Sedbergh are bringing their second team as they also contest the North of England 7s on Sunday, and Denstone have a hhandfulof absolutley outstanding players but have not quite been able to make things click this year. The door is open for Radley, perhaps as dark horses, or Cheltenham to continue their great campaign.
Group C is a very interesting group, which is perhaps the hardest to call. Campion are national semi-finalist, although one could argue that their strengths lie in the pack, although one will always root for them as the sole state representatives in this pool. Teddies have had a good year, but in Turay and Wilkinson have two outside backs that can win a tourney on their own. Rugby School won last year’s plates and will hope to be up for a better prize this season, while Stamford are the champions from two years ago. Stowe are always competators at the top end of the schools circuit, so one could make a case for any of these sites topping this group.
Group D includes two real stand-outs – the hosts, Oakham, and St Joseph’s College. St Joes made the final of the Ealing 7s just a few weeks ago, and their U16’s won the plate last season, while Oakham, on home soil, will be fancied by all in attendance. They have also had a great season to back up their home support. Warwick cannot be ignored, however, especially after James Townsend’s fantastic performance for the Leicester Tigers on finals day. Eton and Gresham’s are no slouches, but then no one in this tournament could be submitted into that category; if either of them manages to reach the cup, it will be a very impressive endeavour.
Oakham 7s U18 Boys Groups
| Group A | Group B | Group C | Group D |
| Felstead | Bedford | Campion | St Joseph’s College |
| Bromsgrove | Cheltenham College | St. Edward’s, Oxford | Warwick |
| Finborough | Radley College | Rugby | Oakham |
| Oundle | Sedbergh | Stamford | Greshams |
| Uppingham | Denstone College | Stowe | Eton College |
U18 Girls 7s
Six sides compete in this season’s U18 girls competition, with the round robin concluding with a final play-off game to decide the champion, in a change-up of last tournament’s semi-finals. Oakham, Wymondham, Campion, Stamford, Bishop’s Versey and Brooksby Melton all compete. Oakham were silver medalists last year, beaten in the final by Brooksby. After drawing with them in the group stage, Brooksby beat the hosts 20-10 in the final. Campion returns for another season after failing to pick up a win, and will be hoping to go one better this year with the introduction of Stamford, Wymondham and Bishop Versey. Wymondham RFC have a thriving women’s section, and there will hopefully be a good connection between the school and club. These games will cover the morning section, and the final will also be live at midday.
Live Stream Schedule – Doncaster Close 1
10.00am Oakham v Oundle U18 Girls
10.20am Oakham v Campion U18 Girls
10.40am Oakham v Stamford U18 Girls
11.00am Oundle v Uppingham Group A U18 Boys
11.20am Oakham v Greshams Group D U18 Boys
11.40am Eton v St. Joseph’s Group D U18 Boys
12.00pm Play off Rank 1 v Rank 2 U18 Girls
12.20pm Greshams v Warwick Group D U18 Boys
12.40pm Sedbergh v Cheltenham Group B U18 Boys
13.00pm Denstone v Radley Group B U18 Boys
13.20pm Bedford v Cheltenham Group B U18 Boys
13.40pm Oundle v Bromsgrove Group A U18 Boys
14.00pm St.Edwards Oxford v Campion Group C U18 Boys
14.20pm Rugby v Stowe Group C U18 Boys
14.50pm 3rd Group A v 3rd Group B Bowl Semi-final U18 Boys
15.10pm 1st Group C v 1st Group D Cup Semi-final U18 Boys
15.45pm Cup Final. U18 Boys
Roll of Honour
U18 Boys Cup
2025 Bromsgrove
2024 Stamford
2023 Bromsgrove
2022 Rugby
2021 Cancelled
2020 Cancelled
2019 Bedford
2018 Cancelled
2017 Bedford
2016 Bedford
2015 Wellington College
2014 Bedford
2013 Bedford
U18 Boys Plate
2025 Rugby
2024 Oakham
2023 Stowe
2022 Royal Hospital School
2021 Cancelled
2020 Cancelled
2019 Denstone College
2018 Cancelled
2017 The Oratory
2016 Rugby
2015 Stamford
2014 Denstone College
2013 Uppingham
U18 Boys Bowl
2025 Stowe
2024 Eton College
2023 St Joseph’s College
2022 Oakham
U18 Boys Shield
2025 Oundle
2024 Rugby
2023 Rugby
2022 Stamford
U18 Girls Cup
2025 Brooksby Melton College
U16 Boys Cup
2025 Oundle
2024 Oakham
2023 Bromsgrove
2022 Bedford
2021 Cancelled
2020 Cancelled
2019 Bromsgrove
2018 Cancelled
2017 Stowe
2016 Uppingham
2015 Bedford
2014 St Joseph’s College
2013 Denstone College
U16 Boys Plate
2025 St Joseph’s College
2024 Ipswich
2023 Uppingham
2022 Bromsgrove
2021 Cancelled
2020 Cancelled
2019 St Edward’s Oxford
2018 Cancelled
2017 N/A
2016 St Joseph’s College
2015 Denstone College
2014 Warwick
2013 Bedford
U16 Boys Bowl
2025 Rugby
2024 Radley College
2023 St Edward’s, Oxford
2022 Felsted
U16 Boys Shield
2025 Eton
2024 Campion
2023 St Joseph’s College
2022 Stowe
