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The 25th Kukri North of England Schools’ 7s is on Sunday and the 45 team tournament gives us our first look at many of the Northern Schools. Sedbergh School beat Hymers College in the final last year to win their fifth Championship in 10 years. During that period Kirkham Grammar are the only other multiple winner with 2 championships, whilst Ellesmere College, The Manchester Grammar School and Llandovery College have all won one.
As ever, it shall be based at Birkenhead Park FC, Upper Park, Birkenhead, but as usual the morning round-robin matches will be played at the grounds of Birkenhead School and St Anselm’s College. During the afternoon the Club’s 1st XV pitch will be the venue for the QFs, SFs and Final of the Bowring Trophy (for the 8 Group winners) and the semi-finals and Final of the Boodle and Dunthorne Salver (for the Group Runners up).
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Here are our Group Previews:
Group A
Mount st Mary's sit at the top of the Schools Rugby Performance League. They have won 14 from 14 in the long version of the game but they struggled at the Durham 7s where they lost 46-0 to RGS, Newcastle. They will improve and should not be written off here. Rydal Penrhos are always competitive but have had a mixed start to their Sevens season losing 6 games and winning 3. What is perhaps more telling is that the losses have been to the likes of Millfield, Llandovery, Ellesmere and Monmouth and they have always been competitive. With two tournaments under their belt they will be fit and are worth keeping an eye on. An outbreak of mumps and the bad weather has had an adverse effect on Sedbergh’ s season and they will be chomping at the bit for the Sevens to kick off. Can they add to their 5 titles in 10 years? It will be interesting to see. Wirral Grammar have had a great year but will be disappointed by their performance in the sixth round of the Daily Mail when they went out 31-0 to King's Macclesfield. They could be a force at Sevens. Interestingly they are in the same group as Rydal Penrhos at The Nationals which should add a bit of spice to that match. Ysgol Gyfun Gwyr lost to Whitgift in the final 16 of The Nationals last year and are a good side. The Welsh team play with pace and passion and will be very hard to beat.
Predicted Group Winners: Sedbergh School
Group B
Merchant Taylors, Crosby are an unknown quantity on the Sevens circuit this season but at the longer version of the game they competed well against Wilmslow High so will have quality, and they also beat RGS, Lancaster who are a good side: definitely one to watch. RGS, Worcester will be full of confidence after a great showing at The Marches last weekend. Whilst they lost the final heavily to local rivals King's Worcester the experience will stand them in good stead and they will be a tournament fitter. Solihull had a disappointing run at The Marches but have a good squad and we expect them to perform better this weekend. St Anselm’s College will be competitive but might not fancy playing fellow group members Wilmslow High School who put 50 points on them earlier in the year. They had a good win over Sandbach later in the season which demonstrates they can play. This will be our first look at Wilmslow High's 7s squad and we expect them to go far this year. The Cheshire School have real talent in the side and will be exciting to watch.
Predicted Group Winners: RGS, Worcester
Group C
Barnard Castle have had a good year. They performed well but not spectacularly at The Marches where they lost to last years Nationals victors Coleg sir Gar in the Plate quarter-final. They made the semi-final at the Durham 7s going out to eventual winners RGS, Newcastle. They will improve as the season continues. Liverpool College have had a mixed year but are in a very winnable group at the Nationals and will be looking to build toward that. RGS Lancaster have won 7, lost 7 this year so its hard to predict how they will perform at 7s but a 9-6 loss to Wilmslow in the fifth round of the Daily Mail demonstrates they can compete at the top level. Rossall are an unknown quantity but beat AKS Arnold in November. Woodhouse Grove were battle hardened after a pre-season tour to South Africa and they have played some excellent rugby this season on a very hard fixture list. Anthony Cadman’s teams always play good rugby and they won’t roll over.
Predicted Group Winners: Woodhouse Grove
Group D
Two years ago Adams Grammar had a good run in the National Open and made the final 16. This year they have won 5 and lost 4 but the losses where all top quality opposition. Durham School reached the final of their own Sevens event where they lost a tense final to RGS Newcastle. They had a good run in the Daily Mail and may be one of the favourites here. King Henry VIII have had a tough XV-a-Side season but are always a free flowing side to watch and the Coventry School will fight for every inch. Stockport Grammar School have a narrow winning record this season, 8 wins from 14. A promising season tailed off due to the weather and they will be raring to go. The Manchester Grammar School have had a great year with their 5 losses coming against the country’s top sides. They have 16 wins this season and will be a good 7s side.
Predicted Group Winners: Durham School
Group E
Ampleforth College have had a difficult season so far and find themselves in a really tough group. Denstone College have had a mixed year with losses to Kirkham Grammar, Ellesmere College and King's Macclesfield but they are one of the few sides to get the better of Northampton School for Boys.Their 15 a side form did not translate into Sevens form at the Oakham Sevens last weekend where they lost every match. Hymers College are in a winnable group at the National Festival and will be looking to build some momentum. They have had a tough 15-a-side season and will be hoping to find some success at Sevens. They have been runners up here 4 times in the last 6 years so have pedigree. Sandbach School have had a mixed year with 7 wins, 10 losses and a draw. This will be our first look at their Sevens squad so it will be interesting to see how they perform. King's Worcester may be the favourites here. They already have The Marches and the Christ College 7s trophies in their cabinet this season and will be very hard to beat. Their Sevens record reads P14 W14 at the moment and it will take a big effort from someone to stop them.
Predicted Group Winners: The King's School, Worcester
Group F
Birkenhead School had a good run in the Daily Mail Vase before going out to St Ambrose College. They will be a threat. Giggleswick School went down heavily to Kirkham earlier in the season and also lost to RGS Lancaster. They did beat AKS Arnold 42-15 so can be a threat but they struggled at the Durham 7s where thjey lost 4 from 5. Pocklington School have had a tough season and will hope to put their XV-a-side form behind them here. St Ambrose College may have one eye on the Daily Mail Vase but have had a good season and beat fellow group members Birkenhead in the fifth round of the Daily Mail Vase to knock them out. This will be our first look at The King's School, Macclesfield's 7s side and they should be great to watch. They have wins over fellow Northerners Sedbergh, Lymm High School and QEGS Wakefield. If they can translate that into Sevens form they will be hard to beat.
Predicted Group Winners: The King's School, Macclesfield
Group G
Calday Grange had a tough 15-a-side season and will be hoping to find success at the shorter version of the game this year. They find themselves in a tough group. Ermysted’s Grammar lost to fellow Group members Stonyhurst in the Daily Mail Cup. It was a good game and they will look forward to taking revenge here. Stonyhurst College have seen their season affected by the weather but have a side that may be suited to Sevens. RGS, Newcastle made the fifth round of the Daily Mail Cup where they lost narrowly to Durham School. They got revenge in the final of the Durham 7s where they beat them to win the title. They have a rock solid defence and they will fancy their chances here and won’t be intimidated by anyone else in the group. Sherborne School also had a good run in the Daily Mail Cup where they eventually went out to Dulwich College. Whilst they lost narrowly to Wellington College and Bryanston School at the Bryanston 7s last weekend they will be amongst the favourites here.
Predicted Group Winners: RGS, Newcastle
Group H
Arnold School, King Edward and Queen Mary Schools merged this year to form AKS Arnold and they have had a strong season. This will be our first look at them as a Sevens side and it will be interesting to see if they gel. Ellesmere College have enjoyed a perfect XV a side season and will go into this group full of confidence after a decent start to their Sevens year. They played some great Sevens at the Christ College event only losing (narrowly) to eventual winners King's Worcester in a game they will feel they should have won. They are amongst the favourites here. Kirkham Grammar have not had a vintage year and where well beaten by Ellesmere College at Brecon. They might feel they have a stronger squad present this weekend and the two times winners have been masters of the upset this season. Their drawn games against Wirral and King's Macclesfield put a stop to (at that point) two otherwise perfect records. They can certainly rise to the occasion. QES Kirkby Lonsdale went as far as the Daily Mail Vase Sixth Round and will be a threat in this group. The final member of the group is Trent College. Trent have had a good XV a side season and could have beaten Warwick in their fith round Daily Mail exit. They will challenge for qualification to the Bowring Trophy here.
Predicted Group Winners: Ellesmere College
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