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The annual Norton Rose Reigate Charity Sevens takes place on Sunday. This will be our first look at some of the top rugby Schools in the South East. 40 major rugby Schools take part and the tournament is well supported by the London Professional Rugby Clubs. Amongst the spectators will be many rugby stars and many of the games will be officiated by international referees. It will be a great day out and we look forward to seeing you there.
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Here is a look at the groups:
Group A
What a group. Cranleigh School have a great Sevens tradition and have qualified for the knock out stages of the National Sevens 6 times in the last 7 years. The Surrey School will be strong again this year and whilst they lost to Brighton College and Wellington College they hold wins over Daily-Mail Semi-finalists Hampton School and the always strong Epsom College. This will be our first look at KCS Wimbledon’s 7s squad. The School had a great run in the Daily Mail Cup and performed admirably in defeat to Dulwich College in the sixth round. They will have a good sevens side. SGS Filton are a strong 7s side and they shook the rust off last weekend at the Bryanston 7s. They were beaten by the winners, Brighton College, in the semi-final but are a tournament fitter and may go all the way. Sutton Valance had a great season 15-a-side season and only narrowly lost to Hurstpierpoint, Eltham and St Laurence, three excellent sides.
Predicted Group Winners: SGS Filton
Group B
John Fisher have Sevens pedigree and this year they have an excellent squad to choose from. Their First XV had a solid record winning 16 and losing 9 games, although a quick look at the losses will show close games against the top English sides. Last year Reed’s School made the final 16 of the National Sevens, only losing by 2 points to eventual winners Wellington College. They have not enjoyed a great season but play a tough fixture list and will be a big threat. They lost in the Plate Final of their own Sevens to Pangbourne but did beat fellow group members Reigate Grammar at that competition. Reigate Grammar finished their 15-a-Side season with a big win over Wallington and will be disappointed not to continue that momentum in their Sevens season. They will have learnt from the experience at Reed’s and will perform better here. King’s Canterbury have had a mixed year and we will know more about their Sevens form after the Embley Park Sevens on Wednesday. Keep an eye on how they perform there!
Predicted Group Winners: John Fisher
Group C
Brighton College have had another great XV-a-side season and kicked off their Sevens campaign with a terrific win at the Bryanston Sevens on the weekend. They have skill, pace and power and are amongst the favourites to win here. Portsmouth Grammar were our dark horses at the Bryanston Sevens and they went on to lift the Plate. If they don’t manage to upset Brighton College in the group we can see them lifting the Plate again here. Shiplake College will have something to say about that and have terrific pace and play patient sevens. Bishop Stortford High School will provide spirited opposition and have had a good year. They lost narrowly to Stamford in the Daily Mail cup but hold wins over Bedford Modern, Campion and St Joseph's Ipswich.
Predicted Group Winners: Brighton College
Group D
City of London Freemen’s had a good 15-a-side season making it to the later stages of the Daily Mail Vase. In playmaker MacDonald they have someone who can turn a game and hold good wins over Caterham and Christ’s Hospital this year. Cranbrook School reached the same stage of the Vase and hold wins over Kings Canterbury, Christ Hospital and Worth School this year. They will be a threat and it will be a great game against City of London Freemen's. Dulwich College play in the semi-final of the Daily Mail Cup this weekend so are unlikely to field their strongest side. They have such depth that they will be a force. Epsom College look the most likely to progress to the Cup. Last year’s National Sevens Quarter Finalists have had a mixed season but wins over Stowe, RGS Guildford, Eastbourne and Eton and a narrow loss to the mighty Dulwich prove their pedigree. They are in a group they should win at the Nationals and this will be a chance to build some momentum.
Predicted Group Winners: Epsom College
Group E
Canford School are a good side and narrow losses to the excellent Marlborough College and Sherborne School shows they can compete with the best. They had a mixed showing at the Bryanston 7s but will have learnt from that. Christ's Hospital have had a mixed year with 6 wins and 7 losses. They are another School to look out for at Embley Park on Wednesday afternoon where we will get a better read of their Sevens potential. Eastbourne College have had a tough year, only winning two but that did include a solid win over Cranbrook School. They are always a force at Sevens. Wimbledon College have had some good moments this year but wil be looking forward to the Sevens and have been drawn in a group at the Nationals that they ought to win. They will be looking to start their season with a bang here.
Predicted Group Winners: Eastbourne College
Group F
Royal Hospital School had a great start to their XV-a-side season beating Bishop’s Stortford College and Coopers, Company & Coburn. However they went on to lose the next 10 games in a row and will be hoping to stop the rot on the sevens circuit. On Sunday St John’s beat Pangbourne, Wisbech and RGS Guildford to reach the Reeds’ 7s semi-final where they lost by 7-0 to eventual winners The Oratory School. They will be hoping to build on that good showing. Tonbridge School are the group favourites. They beat the Oakham 7s winners Bedford School in the longer version of the game and whilst they have a number of losses on their record this year they are all to excellent sides. Group F also welcomes Victoria College from Jersey and it will be exciting to see how the St Helier side play.
Predicted Group Winners: Tonbridge School
Group G
Hurstpierpoint College will be disappointed not to make it two from two after a Final loss to the Oratory School at Reed's meant they failed to add to the Shiplake Sevens trophy they picked up in early February. They are joined in a tough group by Whitgift School, the Judd School and London Oratory. Whitgift School have had a solid if not spectacular year, losing to Dulwich College, Wellington College, Hampton School and Brighton College. They will have a good sevens side and it will be great to see how they play. Judd School are always well drilled and competitive and had a great win over Skinners in 15-a-side earlier in the season. The London Oratory have had a difficult season and will be looking for the form that saw them beat Local rivals Trinity School in November. The final group game between Whitgift and Hurstpierpoint will likely prove decisive in this group.
Predicted Group Winners: Whitgift School
Group H
Caterham School have had a solid season and have dangerous players in the form of Carter and Armitage. Definitely a side to watch. RGS, Guildford will be looking forward to the 7s season after a tough year at the longer version of the game that has seen them only win one match. They beat eventual Plate Winners Pangbourne College at the Reeds’ Sevens on Sunday but frustratingly couldn’t maintain that level of performance. Wisbech Grammar are a good side and will be battle hardened after a successful tour of Argentina. They beat group compatriots RGS Guildford at Reeds and made the cup semi-final where they lost to Hurstpierpoint College. Worth School performed admirably at the Marches 7s where they beat last year’s National Winners Coleg sir Gar in the group. They play a great brand of 7s and have plenty of pace and power.
Predicted Group Winners: Worth School
