Middlesex Rugby
Daily Mail Schools Rugby News: Issue One
Welcome to Daily Mail Schools Rugby News, the regular information service from the Rugby Football Union about the biggest schools knock-out cup competition in the world.
This season a record entry sees more than a thousand school teams taking part in the Under-18 and Under-15 Cup competitions and dreaming of the chance to play in the finals day at Twickenham on April 2, 2008. For more information contact: Simon Mills on 07702 661214 or email simonmills@rfu.com
KCS COACH PREDICTING ANOTHER VINTAGE YEAR
KCS Wimbledon were the surprise package of last season’s Daily Mail Schools Under-18 Cup with a breathtaking run to the quarter-finals.
They beat four big-name rugby schools – RGS Guildford, John Fisher, Skinners and Whitgift – in a row before being edged out 13-3 at Wellington College in a game they might have won.
KCS launch their next campaign at home to Richmond-upon-Thames College on September 19, and despite only four survivors from last season’s squad, coach Marcus Buckland is confident.
“We’ve lost 13 players from last year but while we might lack stars we could be as strong this time,” said Buckland.
“It’s a big call to say that but they are a very adventurous group and very coachable, so they should do alright.
“The Daily Mail competition has risen in profile greatly at the school and everyone wants us to do well in it again.
“We lost our first game of the season against St Benedict’s (26-10) who are probably the favourites to win it after reaching the final last time with a young team.
“They showed us what we have to aspire to but on another day it would have been a much closer game.
“We’re expecting Richmond to be a tough side, though, and to give us a really physical and abrasive test in our first game.”
The winners travel to Trinity School, Croydon or Wallington County in the second round.
One of the competition’s traditionally strong sides is under new management this season.
Chris Wilkins is the new director of rugby at Whitgift and will run the first team in conjunction with England Under-18 coach Chris Kibble.
Wilkins is a former Wasps, Blackheath and Esher number eight who appeared for England A a dozen years ago in a squad that included Lawrence Dallaglio, Tony Diprose and Richard Hill.
Since then he’s worked for the Rugby Football Union and Saracens with a reputation for accelerating the development of young players.
Whitgift have reached the last eight of the Under-18 Cup and have two Under-15 titles to their credit, the last when London Wasps starlet Danny Cipriani ran the game from fly-half.
“We don’t have a lot of stars or international players although we do have a good contingent involved in county and divisional sides,” said Wilkins.
“Our strength will be our teamwork – they’re a team of scrappers and they work hard.
“I don’t like to make predictions and we won’t underestimate anyone. What we want to do is for them all to develop as players and long-term to build on a dozen years of good work here.”
Among the talented teenagers at Wilkins’ disposal are fly-half Mike Canty – brother of England Under-18 wing Nick – and flanker Luke Dickerson, who are both on the books of London Irish.
Centres Matt Gunasekara and Ollie Newman are involved with Harlequins and lock Billy Cheeseman is another one to watch.
They get their campaign under way at Richard Challoner School on Monday, September 17, with the winners hosting Claremont Fan Court or St George’s College, Addleston.
In the Under-15 competition, St Paul’s Barnes will be hoping it’s third time lucky this season.
The beaten finalists in 2005 and 2007 – by a margin of just five points each time – begin at Latymer School in Edmonton.
There’s a big local derby in West London, with St Benedict’s from Ealing taking on Hammersmith-based Latymer Upper, who’ve produced the likes of World Cup winner Dan Luger and current Wasps centre Dominic Waldouck in recent years.
