Now bring on the champions! Super Seaford set early pace at the top ahead of Northampton showdown: DAILY MAIL SCHOOLS RUGBY TROPHY
The 2026 SOCS Daily Mail Schools Trophy is up and running having attracted more than 150 teams for this annual competition over the autumn term.
And the early leaders are Seaford College, the Sussex school who have never led the Trophy before in the competition’s 13-year history.
Based in picturesque Petworth, Seaford are unbeaten in three matches having beaten RGS High Wycombe 28-24, Hurstpierpoint 41-10, and St Joseph’s from Ipswich 24-12.
However, next up is a trip to champions Northampton School for Boys who pipped Seaford in a dramatic encounter last year in their run to the title.
Seaford’s Christian Head, director of sport, reckons the match against NSFB will be a good ‘measuring stick’ for the campaign ahead.
‘Our motto is one school – one team,’ he says. ‘We’ve developed some strength in depth and work hard to get the results.’
Seaford College on the attack in their 41-10 win over Hurstpierpoint
… and the teams scrum down during their Schools Rugby clash
Led by back-rower Tom Read, Seaford have players in the Harlequins and Bath academies.
Seaford took the match against St Joseph’s to the artificial surface at Ealing Trailfinders where former head of rugby Sean Thomson is now working for the club’s academy.
NSFB are regrouping after the highs of last year when they won nine from 12 matches to become the first state school to win this national title.
North Londoners Mill Hill produced the outstanding result so far by outpacing NSFB in a 51-35 victory.
Staged on Aylesbury Rugby Club’s artificial pitch, wing Malakai Morgan led the way by scoring three tries backed up by two from captain Olly Barribell at No8.
Mill Hill have followed up that opening win by also beating Lord’s Wandsworth College 54-5, and a much tighter affair against Uppingham which they won 12-7.
Like Seaford, they are linked to a Premiership club in Saracens and have helped put England flyer Noah Caluori on the way to a professional career in recent seasons.
Mill Hill on the attack during the 12-7 win over Uppingham
A number of the NSFB squad from last season are also making their way in the Northampton Saints system led by title-winning captain Hugh Shields who was included in the match squad for last week’s friendly against Black Lion, the Georgian team.
Another tight affair earned Brighton College a 20-19 win over Cranleigh in the annual match staged in memory of a former teacher, Peter Bellinger, who died from MND in 2022.
Since then this contest has been a fund-raiser for MNDA research and raised some £17,000 last week.
On the pitch, Cranleigh led 12-10 at half-time but were overhauled by a try from Brighton hooker Isaac Finn and, finally, a penalty near the end by Max Taberner.
Brighton College in action during their win over Cranleigh
One player to watch out for is Brighton centre Rio Bennett, a member of England’s under-18s squad.
Whitgift are being well led by lock Marcus Grisdale and have posted two wins from three, including a 27-26 win over Wellington College.
For the Croydon-based school, it was their first win in the Trophy over the former champions for ten years. Besides Grisdale, who is in the Harlequins academy, they were well served by halfbacks Monty Al Qassab and Kai Gee Kee.
Sir Thomas Rich’s (STR), the Gloucester academy who led the Trophy for part of last season, are continuing to punch their weight.
Two tries from full-back Dan Scott steered STR to an 18-17 win over King’s Worcester to make up for losing out in another close call to Bromsgrove.
The current top 10 in the Daily Mail Schools Trophy. Click HERE for the full table
