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The Schools Sevens season in the UK is compact, intense and climaxes with a bang at Nationals this week at Rosslyn Park. 

Schools began their preparations for the season in earnest as early as the beginning of January and tournaments have come thick and fast over the past five weeks.

UR7s has been there to cover them all. 

All hard work that has been put in by coaches and players alike has been for this week, as the teams take to the A3 at Rosslyn Park RFC as the Under-18s teams take to the field in the National Schools Festival (one term rugby schools) and Open (two term rugby schools).

UR7s have spent many a match on the side of the field this season and are in position to preview the group stages for this year’s tournaments on the schools and players that we believe will see their hard work pay off at the largest Sevens tournament in the world.

After looking at the Festival it is now the turn of the Open tournament. UR7s members voted on our latest poll that this event is the stronger of the two Under-18 tournaments at Nationals.

GROUP A - KIRKHAM, GWENT, CITY OF LONDON FREEMEN, QUEEN ELIZABETH BRISTOL, ST. PETERS GLOUCESTER
St Peters, Gloucester have been one of the most dominant programmes on the circuit in the past five years and produced some great players under the tutelage of Dave Pointon. Queen Elizabeth will look to make Day 2 and will be battling their local rivals for the runners-up spot in the group. Kirkham could be without a couple of stars on international duty and are not coming into the tournament in the form they were last year but will still have too much Sevens class for the West Country schools.

COACHES QUOTE - “we have a very tough draw, if we can get out of the group stages it will be a result. This year will really be a good experience for the younger players to take into next year” Kirkham Head Coach Alad Tranhaile.

Predictions – Kirkham to be just good enough.

GROUP B – GRAVESEND, PETER SYMOND’S, COLEG SIR GAR, QUEEN ETHELBURGA'S, PEMBROKESHIRE COLLEGE
Coleg Sir Gar have taken some time to find their form this season in part due to the group of death they found themselves in at the South Coast Sevens in Portsmouth. Coleg showed their improvement whilst losing in the quarters last week to finalists Tonbridge. The rest of the group will be in a fight for the runners-up position with the Welsh side having too much class out wide including Dale Ford and Aled Davies who have been scoring freely.
Predictions – Coleg Sir Gar looking to bigger things on Day 2.

GROUP C - TRURO COLLEGE, GLANTAF, GREENHILL, BETHANY, LLANHARI
A battle of the West in Group C with two welsh sides taking on last year’s Daily Mail winners Truro College. Truro have not met last years standards though recent England Colleges selection Richard Kevern will be a constant danger. Glantaf could prove to be a dark horse for a semi-final spot and if they get through an intense all welsh battle against Llanhari they should prove too strong.

Predictions – Glantaf too quietly take the group.

GROUP D - EXETER COLLEGE, CROESYCEILOG, ROBERT CLACK, MERCHISTON CASTLE, MONMOUTH COMPREHENSIVE
Group D is the first really interesting group with all the home nations being represented. Merchiston Castle will be aiming to make an impact on Day 2 and will look to negotiaite tricky games against Monmouth and Exeter. Guy Skivington-Jones has proven to be a real find for the Scottish school and has the ability to turn a game. With the Scottish lads being exposed to more sevens through the ‘King of Sevens’ circuit in Scotland they should prove to be too strong for their rivals.

Predictions – More success for Scotland with Merchiston Castle topping the group.

GROUP E - MILTON KEYNES, PRESELI, ASHTON PARK, KING EDWARD & QUEEN MARY, BURY
Milton Keynes have used Sevens to get rugby into the school and its great to see them taking part at Nationals. They have been somewhat lucky with their group in that it’s for anyone to win. Preseli have some form in recent performance at Christ’s Hospital but this is by no means the par. King Edwards performed with similar success in the North at Fyle and Birkenhead so this game should see the group winners emerge.

Predictions – King Edward & Queen Mary to sneak it against the Welsh side.

GROUP F – SEDBERGH, PLASMAWR, LONDON ORATORY, FILTON, LYMM

Sedbergh v Filton is going to a huge game with the winner of the group surely emerging from this match. Player of the Tournament at North of England was Sedbergh scrum-half Sam Stuart and he was outstanding and Filton will struggle to contain him if he is on form. Filton are a strong unit and have risen to be a real force improving with each tournament this season only having lost to Wellington and Tonbridge recently.

Lymm is the former school of England flyer Dave Strettle and recent plate finalist in Birkenhead might struggle in this company with Plasmawr and the Oratory look to succeed and sneak a surprise victory over one of the big two.

COACHES QUOTE “We have a very tough group, so our biggest challenge is to get through the group stages. Our plan is to take one game at a time and we are confident we can get through the groups.
“If we take every game as it comes we have a squad that can get to the last four.”  Filton College, Director of Sport, George Tavner.

Predictions – Sam Stuart to lead Sedbergh past a strong Filton side to top the group

GROUP G – HENLEY, ALTON, JUDD, CIRENCESTER, PANT

Henley College were excellent here last year and will look to once again make an impact. They look to be up against it on current form with Judd having won two tournaments so far this year in Kent. Henley will look for the excellent Lubbock to make an impact. The other three sides look to be fighting it out for the consolation positions.

Predictions – Form to be reversed with Henley topping the group.

GROUP H – MOUNT ST. MARY’S, OAKLANDS, ST. JOSEPH’S, STONYHURST, PORTSMOUTH

There is going to be great rugby played in this group. St. Josephs, Ipswich hosts of the famous XVs tournament have had a strong season and will be looking to force there way into the mix. Oaklands have an affiliation with Saracens and this has been evident in the past few seasons, they will expect to challenge.

Portsmouth GS were a revelation at their home tournament beating a good Hartpury side in the group stages and though lack some speed out wide, will be very difficult to break down. Stonyhurst are always strong at this level and will be looking to cause a shock or two.

Predictions – Oaklands to top the group but with a loss.

GROUP I – MAIDSTONE, BASSALEG, IVYBRIDGE, KING EDARDS ASTON, SOLIHULL

Recent form points towards Ivybridge being too strong for their rivals in this group. They were efficient and powerful in taking the Fylde Sevens two weekends ago. Without pace man Ollie Massey they may struggle later in the tournament but it looks that Solihull and Bassaleg will be fighting it out for the runners-up spot. The Welsh side have played well this season and will look to make Day 2.

Predictions – Ivybridge to top the table with relative ease.

GROUP J – BRYNTEG, EMANUEL, ST. EDWARDS LIVERPOOL, KING EDWARDS ESSEX, TASKER MILWARD
Tournament draws do throw up some interesting ones, with St. Eds Liverpool going up against King Eds. in Essex. Eyes will not been on this game though for possible progression for the second day. Brynteg will be too strong for this group with Emanuel looking to secure the runners-up spot with some classic spread-the-defence Sevens. The powerful Brynteg side are led by example by scrum-half/sweeper Tom Habberfield.

Predictions – Brynteg to do enough to move on.

GROUP K - REIGATE GRAMMAR, POCKLINGTON, KINGS MACCLESFIELD, ST. CENYDD, TAVISTOCK
Tough group to call at the top with Reigate and Kings looking to advance in 1st place. Reigate have had a very strong season so far making a couple of finals but leader George Wheeler is looking to lift some silverware.
Kings performed very well in Birmingham whilst making the final of the Solihull Sevens. If they can hold themselves strong in the midfield and deal with Reigate at the breakdown then Kings have every chance. The others look like they are playing for the positions but with Sevens you never know…

Predictions – Reigate to sneak the win.

GROUP L - COOPERS COBURN, COLSTONS, EAST NORFOLK, ARNOLD, QUEEN ELIZABETHS
Colstons are one of the real form sides of the season and will look to progress with plenty to spare on Day 1. The side from Bristol performed well in making the final at South Coast before losing to Millfield. It was the same result in Taunton when the two sides met in the semi-finals but the game will go down as one to remember and is a candidate for match of the season heading into Nationals. Jackson Szbar has been Colstons star so far this season, scoring plenty of tries from the outset he is going to be tough to handle in this company. Arnold will be looking to guarantee the runners-up spot are a solid performance at Fylde.

COACHES QUOTE: “We were disappointed to lose to Tonbridge at the Surrey Schools but we are heading into the National Schools in a positive frame of mind and we have a squad that is capable of reaching the last four. It would be a disaster to not get through the first day.” Peter Thornley, Director of Sport at Colstons
Predictions – Colstons to move on comfortably with Arnold topping the rest.

GROUP M - KING HENRY V111 , RICHMOND, LLANDOVERY, QUEEN ELIZABETH KIRBY , RGS NEWCASTLE
The Daily Mail Cup Finalists RGS Newcastle maybe looking past this week with Twickenham calling and if that is the case then this is going to a tough group for side from the North-East. Richmond College performed well at the Surrey Sevens last week in winning the Plate whilst Llandovery are one of the very best of the welsh schools who will be looking to do some damage.

The Welsh side enjoy having a future star in their midst in George North who has trained with the Welsh IRB 7s side and he should see his team through the group.

Predictions – Llandovery to beat Richmond whilst RGS will look for a more fruitful return at Twickenham next month.

GROUP N - PRINCE HENRY, STOCKPORT, WILMSLOW, GWYR, TIFFIN

Local side Tiffin will be looking to please the onlookers and in this group they could find themselves qualifying for Day 2 with their main rivals for the group being Prince Henry. Henrys have two schoolboy internationals evenly spread between backs and forwards in Chris Walker and Chris Gemmell. This should give the required balance to see themselves through.

Predictions – Prince Henry with Gwyr as the dark horse.

GROUP O – SEEVIC, NEWCASTLE, FARNBOROUGH, NEATH, ST. OLAVES
St Olaves are in great form following the 15s season and will be looking to defend English honour against rivals Neath. Newcastle are somewhat of an unknown quantity at this level but will be looking to make the trip down the M1 worth it by making an impact.

Neath will play a physical style and it will be Olaves ability to deal with this that will decide the group

Predictions – Olaves to win out with Newcastle joining their counterparts with a long drive home.

GROUP P- WIRRAL, CWMCARN, WARWICK, RYDAL PENRHOS, ISLEWORTH AND SYON

Another local side in Isleworth in this group who may struggle. The two welsh sides will be looking to fight it out for top spot with Warwick perhaps causing an upset if they can get their wide men onto the ball early.

Predictions – Cwmcarn.

GROUP Q - OLD SWINFORD HOSPITAL, JOHN FISHER, WISBECH, BRO MORGANGYWG, WORTHING

John Fisher are one of the stronger teams in London and will certainly look to be coming back on Day 2. Ben Bowling and David Priest will look to command the midfield but will come up against strong competition in Wisbech and Worthing College.

 Predictions – John Fisher to have too much.

GROUP R- CAMPION, COWBRIDGE, QUEEN MARY’S COLLEGE, MANCHESTER, BRO MRYDDIN

Campion, Manchester and Bro Mryddin appear to be the three sides fighting it out for Group R. In Sam Pacey, Manchester have a man that lives up to the name and can finishes chances when needed.

The dark horse of the group is the Welsh side; Bro Mryddin will try to disrupt the more classic approach to Sevens by their English counterparts by taking the ball directly through the midfield. 

Predictions – Campion to struggle with Bro Mryddin taking the group.

GROUP S- HAMPTON, CWM RHYMNI, CHISLEHURST AND SIDCUP, TREORCHY, WEST SOMERSET COLLEGE
Hampton was part of a great game in the Surrey last-16 when coming up short to a talented Harrow side. They will be looking to get out of the groups and into the knock-outs this week as well and will look to Jack Palmer to score some tries.

This group is going to be a bruising affair with ‘Chizzy’ not being small and two welsh sides in the group it looks like West Somerset are facing a tough day.

Predictions – Hampton to make the knockouts again.

GROUP T - BRIGHTON COLLEGE, QEGS WAKEFIELD, AMMAN VALLEY, AMPLEFORTH COLLEGE, BRADFORD GS
Someone got the seedings wrong with this group. There appears to be four sides who are capable of making the final day fighting it out for top spot in Group T.

Brighton College were superb in winning the Sussex Open and the benefit of having London Irish scrum-half Peter Richards helping with coaching was obvious in pushing Millfield all the way in Richmond last week. Ollie Richards and Craig Holland have been exceptional this season.
Ampleforth were the last side to capture the Festival and Open tournaments in the same year and though history does not mean anything, they come into the competition with some form.

Big rivals QEGS and Bradford will be a great game of bruising 7s. Amman Valley look to be facing a very long day on the A3.

Predictions – Brighton College to be the lucky ones.

GROUP U - WELBECK, STRADE, MILLFIELD, SWANSEA COLLEGE, CAERLEON.
As with the festival, the favourites find themselves in somewhat of an easy group considering their class. Millfield have been exceptional since their loss to Brecon at Marches Sevens winning South Coast, Taunton and Surrey Sevens. They were pushed hard by Harrow last week when the London school disrupted their dominance at the breakdown.

UR7s player of the tournament at Surrey Sevens Henry Thomas will be captaining the side once more and with Flyer Miles Mantella in try scoring form they will have too much for the Welsh sides who appear to be the pick of the rest.

Predictions – No surprises; Millfield!

Once again the National Schools Open delivers a mouth watering tournament in both size and quality. There are plenty of sides in with a chance of not just making the knock-out stages but making an impact later in the tournament. It will just as interesting at Hong Kong this weekend and UR7s will be there every step of the way to see who will be selected to the team of the tournament and of course take the overall title.