This week is one of the most crucial on the schools rugby calendar, with both fifteen-a-side and seven-a-side fixtures that are crucial in the overall context of the season.
There are some of the most crucial 7s tournaments of the campaign as well as key semi finals in the Continental Tyres U18 Schools Plate, alongside a number of other big fixtures.
Tuesday 3rd March
The action starts on Tuesday, a single fixture in Scotland as High School of Dundee host Lathallan, Dundee High have had a good season but will need to be sharp against a tidy Lathallan side on Tuesday.
Tuesday Fixtures
Dundee HS v Lathallan
Wednesday 4th March
Wednesday sees plenty of 7s, covered below, but there is also some crucial fifteen-a-side action, including both Continental Tyres U18 Schools Plate semi finals.
They feature some of the giants of the school game, the first ever U15 Cup winners, back in 1988, RGS Guildford, three-time U18 Cup winners, Oakham, and Ellesmere College side that has been truly outstanding over the past couple of years, and Taunton School, a side that is really elevating themselves to the upper echelons of the school game.
Taunton will be hosting RGS Guildford, two brilliant sides that have competed against, and beaten, some of the very best around this season. Meanwhile Oakham head to take on Ellesmere College in a game that again feels almost too close to call, it is going to be a thrilling afternoon.
The Plate semis follow on from the Bowl semi finals, which took place over the weekend. Hymers College booked their place in the final with a brilliant 22-12 victory at Shrewsbury, while Gravesend Grammar sealed their final berth against Hymers in a tight, tense, and brilliant semi final at home to Clayesmore, winning 19-17.
Elsewhere, there is plenty of action in the South East, as ever, with Woking College hosting George Abbot and Wilson’s welcoming Carshalton. Meanwhile Riddlesdown Collegiate host Graveney and Godalming College head to Salesian. Fixtures continue, with Latymer Upper hosting a Radnor House XV and Oakwood Park Grammar travelling to take on The Archbishop’s.
Wednesday Fixtures
Ellesmere College v Oakham – Continental Tyres U18 Schools Plate Semi Final
Latymer Upper v Radnor House
Riddlesdown Collegiate v Graveney
Salesian v Godalming College
Taunton v RGS Guildford – Continental Tyres U18 Schools Plate Semi Final
The Archbishop’s v Oakwood Park GS
Wilson’s v Carshalton
Woking College v George Abbot
Wednesday 7s
Middlesex 7s at St Benedict’s
The Middlesex 7s takes place on Sunday, one of the great tournaments each year. Sixteen teams will head to the host school, St Benedict’s, for what is sure to be a huge day of action.
Some of the best sides in all of schools rugby are involved, the likes of Harrow, Millfield, and Daily Mail Trophy champions Northampton School for Boys.
NSB have a tricky group, joining last year’s champions, Hampton, along with the Shield winners, London Oratory, and a Christ’s Hospital side that had an excellent 15s season and join the competition this year,
Hosts St Benedict’s, who won the Bowl last year are in Group A alongside one of the tournaments greatest sides, former champions Harrow. Alongside those two are the ACE giants, Gordon’s, champion of that competition in 2024, and Finborough, who won this season’s Merchiston Festival.
In Group B lurk last year’s runners up, Millfield, who won the recent Hampton 7s, alongside last year’s Plate winners, Oaklands College. Alongside them Windsor Boys’ and a John Fisher side that returns to the competition after missing out last year.
Group D features three sides either joining or rejoining this year, ACE giants Bishop Wand alongside Shiplake College and Radnor House. All three will need to be at their best to topple Abingdon though, they have been outstanding this season.
Pool winners will head to Cup semi finals, with second going to the Plate, third to the Bowl, and fourth to Shield, meaning at least four games for every side.
Middlesex 7s Draw:
Group A – Finborough, Gordon’s, Harrow, St Benedict’s
Group B – John Fisher, Millfield, Oaklands College, Windsor Boys’
Group C – Christ’s Hospital, Hampton, London Oratory, NSB
Group D – Abingdon, Radnor House, Shiplake College, Bishop Wand
Solihull 7s
Wednesday also sees the sixteen team Solihull 7s take place, another giant of the school scene. The teams are split into four groups of four teams each, with the top two from each heading to Cup quarter finals and the bottom two to the Plate quarter finals.
Bromsgrove were last year’s champions and are drawn into Group C alongside newcomers Alcester Grammar School, as well as Loughborough Grammar and the ever-competitive Old Swinford Hopsital.
Hosts Solihull are in Group A where they are joined by the excellent Monmouth, who return after missing out last year. Alongside those two, two strong sides in Bishop Vesey’s Grammar and Princethorpe College.
Group B contains last year’s runner-up, Cheltenham College, and last year’s Plate champions, King’s Macclesfield. Both side be serious contenders again this year in a brutal group that also contains St Peter’s Gloucester and an outstanding Warwick School side.
Over in Group D, three newcomers join KES Birmingham; Samuel Whitbread Academy, Leicester Grammar School, and Denstone College, who will surely be among the favourites on Wednesday.
An outstanding day of 7s awaits!
Solihull 7s Draw:
Group A – Bishop Vesey’s GS, Monmouth, Princethorpe College, Solihull
Group B – Cheltenham College, St Peter’s Gloucester, King’s Macclesfield, Warwick
Group C – Alcester GS, Bromsgrove, Loughborough GS, Old Swinford Hospital
Group D – Denstone College, KES Birmingham, Leicester GS, Samuel Whitbread Academy
