Kirkham Grammar School secured a remarkable fourth title at the Sedbergh National 10s, winning the 2026 competition with a stunning performance against six-time champions Millfield in the final.
It capped the most extraordinary weekend of rugby at Sedbergh School, where the spirit of school rugby was in full show as everyone mucked in to find a way of turning a competition that was battling the elements on Day 1 to such an extent that half of the day had to be chalked off, into a tournament on Day 2 that will go down as one of the very best in recent memory.
Kirkham have been serious contenders in this tournament for a long time, finalists in four of the last five editions and champions in two of those, 2022 and 2023. However they did not have it all their own way in a testing Day 2 here in 2026.
A quick redraw had been done after Day 1 was cut short, accelerating straight to the Cup, Plate, and Bowl mini pools. Each competition had two pools of three, with the winners meeting in the final.
Hosts Sedbergh were in a Cup group with Millfield and Barnard Castle, while Kirkham had Seaford College and Stamford for company, and in their opening game against Seaford they came up against a mighty challenge, 17-5 down they somehow found a way to a draw, but it left the competition out of their hands slightly.
All the could do was beat Stamford and hope Seaford couldn’t achieve the same result, and that was exactly what they did, putting in one of the performances of the weekend for a dominant victory, while Seaford College did win but only 33-26, which sent Kirkham to the final.
Millfield meanwhile saw Sedbergh put in a dominant performance against Barnard Castle in the pool opener, which would have left them feeling a tad worried against the hosts, who were near full strength while Millfield were largely L6th. An epic game unfolded though, won at the death 15-14 by a Millfield penalty.
That blew the group wide open, and an astonishing final game against Barnard Castle for Millfield left every side at various points thinking they had a shot at the final. Millfield knew a win would send them through, while Sedbergh needed Barnard Castle to lose by more than one, and Barney themselves needed a big win. What emerged was a stunning contest, that went this way and that before a late late score for Millfield gave them the breathing room to head to the final.
In that final they faced a Kirkham Grammar School side that was utterly on their game. Aggression and power up front creating the sort of go-forward that allowed them to flood the field in the open. It was staggering to watch. Jamie Cope and Will Kelso were outstanding, but Arthur Scrase in particular was just monumental throughout, deservedly securing the Player of the Tournament award in the process.
His side just proved to be relentless as they surged to a brilliant 39-5 victory and a heartily deserved title after a season of such promise had failed to deliver them the big silverware – to this point.
There was silverware too to RGS High Wycombe, they claimed the Plate, that they last won in 2022, after pool victories over Hampton and RGS Worcester sent them to the final against a Dulwich College side that had beaten Ipswich and the reigning champions, Brighton College.
In the final Dulwich gave it a good go, but RGS’ momentum was unbelievable as they sealed a 19-10 victory and the Plate title.
QEGS Wakefield, meanwhile, secured the inaugural Bowl title after beating King’s Macclesfield and Hurstpierpoint College in the pool, setting up a final with Felsted, who had beaten Cokethorpe and KES Bath. In the final QEGS Wakefield were simply outstanding, one of the great finals performances, as they sealed a 53-12 victory. The most incredible way to sign off their school careers, particularly given the school’s upcoming merger, this might be their last such title in their current guise.
Signing off the schools careers in a memorable way was the aim of the whole tournament. From the near wash-out on Sunday to the epic rugby of the Monday, this tournament delivered on the promise and more. Each and every player will have tales from this tournament for years to come.
That ultimately, is the point, memories for like. All 18 sides in this newly expanded competition will have those. For the six finalists more to than most, and for QEGS, RGS, and particularly Kirkham Grammar School, some of the very greatest memories of all.
A remarkable tournament, as ever, that delivered in spades today. As did Kirkham Grammar School, 2026 champions, and a truly outstanding rugby team.
Roll of Honour:
Cup Winners
2026 Kirkham GS
2025 Brighton College
2024 Sedbergh
2023 Kirkham GS
2022 Kirkham GS
2021 Cancelled
2020 Cancelled
2019 Sedbergh
2018 Sedbergh
2017 Sedbergh
2016 RGS High Wycombe
2015 Sedbergh
2014 Millfield
2013 SGS College
2012 SGS College
2011 SGS College
2010 Cancelled
2009 Millfield
2008 Cancelled
2007 Sedbergh
2006 Millfield
2005 King’s Macclesfield
2004 Sedbergh
2003 Kirkham GS
2002 Millfield
2001 Cancelled
2000 Sedbergh
1999 Millfield
1998 Millfield
Plate Winners
2026 RGS High Wycombe
2025 Dulwich College
2024 Hurstpierpoint College
2023 Hurstpierpoint College
2022 RGS High Wycombe
2021 Cancelled
2020 Cancelled
2019 Llandovery College
2018 St Peter’s, York
2017 Stamford
2016 QEGS Wakefield
2015 Brighton College
2014 Brighton College
2013 Millfield
2012 Barnard Castle
2011 King’s Macclesfield
2010 Cancelled
2009 Old Swinford Hospital
2008 Cancelled
2007 Manchester GS
2006 Manchester GS
2005 QEGS Wakefield
2004 Brighton College
2003 Manchester GS
2002 Brighton College
2001 Cancelled
2000 Manchester GS
1999 Lancaster RGS
1998 Bristol GS
Bowl Winners
2026 QEGS Wakefield
