RFU National Schools Cup
The National Schools Cup are a set of annual English schools' rugby union cup competitions. The finals of the Cup and Vase competitions are held at Twickenham Stadium, whilst finals for the Plate and Bowl competitions are held at another venue. Competitions are held at the U18 and U15 age group levels. At each age level there are several competitions.
All fixtures, results and match reports posted on The Rugby Football Union's website. Up until 2015–16, the Vase was awarded for both age groups in a secondary competition for schools knocked out in the early rounds of the Cup.[1][2] Since 2016–17, the Cup and Vase competition in both age groups have been separated, with those eliminated in the first round of the Cup going down into the Plate competition, with those eliminated in the first round of the Vase competition going down to the Bowl competition.
Format[]
Games are played in a direct knockout format, with 8 regions of up to 32 teams each depending on the competition. Teams in the Cup and Vase are decided based on previous years results, with stronger teams entering the Cup, and weaker teams entering the Vase. Round 1 losers of the Cup and Vase drop down to the Plate and Bowl respectivley. After the 8 regional teams are decided, a set of national Quarter-Finals, Semi-Finals and Finals follow, with the Final being a Southern (Southwest and London & South east) region and Northern (North and Midlands) region team.
U18 competitions complete Rounds 1 to 5 and the national Quarter Final before Christmas, with the Semi-Final and Final rounds following in March. At U15 level, Rounds 1 to 4 are completed before Christmas, with Round 5 in January, Quarter-Finals in February, and Semi-Final and Final in March.
Cup Competition past winners[]
U18 Champions Trophy[]
Recent winners of the U18 Champions Trophy include:
| Year | Winner | Runner-up |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Millfield School | Grammar School at Leeds |
| 2015 | Bedford School | Epsom College |
| 2016 | Tonbridge School | Bedford School |
| 2017 | Dulwich College | Blundell's School |
| 2018 | Wellington College | Epsom College |
| 2019 | Wellington College | Rugby School |
U18 Cup[]
Recent winners of the U18 Cup include:
U15 Cup[]
Recent winners of the U15 Cup include:
Vase Competition past winners[]
U18 Vase[]
Recent winners of the U18 Vase include:
- 98/99 Bablake School
| Year | Winner | Runner-up |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | Wallington County Grammar School | Lymm High School |
| 2001 | King Henry VIII School, Coventry | Stowe School |
| 2002 | The Sixth Form School, Solihull | St Bartholomew's School |
| 2003 | Hall Cross Academy | |
| 2004 | Prince Henry's Grammar School | St Columba's College |
| 2005 | Crossley Heath School | |
| 2006 | Lymm High School | |
| 2007 | Ermysted's Grammar School | Wilmslow High School |
| 2008 | Sussex Downs College | |
| 2009 | John Cleveland College | Hampton School |
| 2010 | Sandbach School | Norwich School |
| 2011 | Solihull School | St George's College, Weybridge |
| 2012 | The Leys School | Ravens Wood School |
| 2013 | Yarm School | Felsted School |
| 2014 | Trent College | Exeter College |
| 2015 | Churcher's College | SEEVIC College |
| 2016 | Northampton School for Boys | St Ambrose College |
| 2017 | Trent College | The Royal Latin School |
| 2018 | Langley School | Wirral Grammar School for Boys |
| 2019 | Samuel Whitbread Academy | Dauntsey's School |
| 2020 | Newcastle School for Boys & Sutton Valence School | Final cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom |
U15 Vase[]
Recent winners of the U15 Vase include:
| Year | Winner | Runner-up |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | St Benedict's RC High School | Lawrence Sheriff School |
| 2005 | Maidstone Grammar School | Oakham School |
| 2006 | Langley Park School for Boys | John Cleveland College |
| 2007 | Woodhouse Grove School | Solihull School |
| 2008 | Langley Park School for Boys | Calday Grange Grammar School |
| 2009 | The Leys School | The King's School, Macclesfield |
| 2010 | Lymm High School | Brighton College |
| 2011 | Saffron Walden County High School | Harrogate Grammar School |
| 2012 | Dauntsey's School | Sir Thomas Rich's School |
| 2013 | Royal Latin School | Felsted School |
| 2014 | Altrincham Grammar School for Boys | Graveney School |
| 2015 | Sherborne School | Oakham School |
| 2016 | Dr Challoner's Grammar School | Sir Thomas Rich's School |
| 2017 | The Thomas Hardye School | Dr Challoners Grammar School |
| 2018 | Beechen Cliff School | Kenilworth School |
| 2019 | Samuel Whitbread Academy | Dartford Grammar School |
| 2020 | Northampton School for Boys & St John's School, Leatherhead | Final cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom |
Plate Competition past winners[]
U18 Plate[]
Recent winners of the U18 Plate include:
| Year | Winner | Runner-up |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Reigate Grammar School | Solihull School |
| 2018 | Woodhouse Grove School | Trinity College[disambiguation needed] |
| 2019 | Bloxham School | Sherborne School |
| 2020 | Dean Close School & Bloxham School | Final cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom |
U15 Plate[]
Recent winners of the U15 Plate include:
| Year | Winner | Runner-up |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Sir Thomas Rich's School | St Pauls School, Barnes |
| 2018 | Dr Challoner's Grammar School | Brighton College |
| 2019 | Trinity School[disambiguation needed] | Hymers College |
| 2020 | Marlborough College & Rugby School | Final cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom |
Bowl Competition past winners[]
U18 Bowl[]
Recent Winners of the U18 Bowl include:
| Year | Winner | Runner-up |
|---|
U15 Bowl[]
Recent Winners of the U15 Bowl include:
| Year | Winner | Runner-up |
|---|
References[]
- ^ "The Daily Mail Trophy Merit Table". The Schools' Rugby Website. miSOCS. Retrieved July 25, 2019.
- ^ "Competition Microsite: National Schools Rugby Competitions". Schools' Rugby. Schools' Sports. Retrieved July 25, 2019.
External links[]
- Rugby union cup competitions in England
- School sport in the United Kingdom
- Youth sport in England
- NatWest Group