The National Schools Cup (currently known as the Continental Tyres Schools Cup for sponsorship reasons) are a set of annual English schools' rugby union cup competitions, with the U18 Cup being the main competition. 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, usually of a Premiership Club. Cup and Vase Semi-finals are also held at a neutral venues. 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.
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 respectively. After the 8 regional teams are decided, a set of national Quarter-Finals, Semi-Finals and Finals follow, with the Final being between 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.
The U18 Cup commenced in the 1990-91 season, and has been the 1st tier tournament throughout, except for between 2014 and 2020, whereby it was the 2nd tier tournament.
| School | Winners | Runners-up | Years Won | Years Runners-up | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | 0 | 1994-95, 1995–96, 1996–97, 1997–98, 1998–99, 1999-2000, 2003-04 | |||
| 4 | 2 | 2006-07, 2016–17, 2017–18, 2019-20 (shared) | 2013-14, 2018–19 | ||
| 4 | 0 | 2009-10, 2010–11, 2018–19, 2019-20 (shared) | |||
| 3 | 1 | 2001-02, 2002-03, 2022-23 | 2010-11 | ||
| 3 | 1 | 2011-12, 2012–13, 2013-14 | 2014-15 | ||
| 2 | 0 | 2014-15, 2015-16 | |||
| 2 | 0 | 1991-92, 1992-93 | |||
| 1 | 1 | 2021-22 | 2022-23 | ||
| 1 | 1 | 2000-01 | 2001-02 | ||
| 1 | 1 | 1993-94 | 1991-92 | ||
| 1 | 1 | 2005-06 | 2008-09 | ||
| 1 | 0 | 2023-24 | |||
| 1 | 0 | 2008-09 | |||
| 1 | 0 | 2007-08 | |||
| 1 | 0 | 2004-05 | |||
| 1 | 0 | 1990-91 | |||
| 0 | 5 | 1994-95, 1995–96, 1999-2000, 2015–16, 2017–18 | |||
| 0 | 3 | 2002-03, 2004–05, 2006–07 | |||
| 0 | 3 | 1996-97, 2021–22, 2023-24 | |||
| 0 | 2 | 1990-91, 2016–17 | |||
| 0 | 2 | 2000-01, 2005–06 | |||
| 0 | 2 | 1993-94, 2009–10 | |||
| 0 | 2 | 1997-98, 1998–99 | |||
| 0 | 1 | 2012-13 | |||
| 0 | 1 | 2011-12 | |||
| 0 | 1 | 2007-08 | |||
| 0 | 1 | 2004-05 | |||
| 0 | 1 | 1992-93 |
This competition was introduced in the 2014-15 season. This became the 1st tier tournament for the U18 section until its abolishment after the 2019-20 season final.
| Year | Winner | Score | Runner-up | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 31-24 | Grammar School at Leeds | ||
| 2015 | 28-21 | Epsom College | ||
| 2016 | 17-10 | Bedford School | ||
| 2017 | 39-24 | Blundell's School | ||
| 2018 | 24-16 | Epsom College | ||
| 2019 | 41-19 | Rugby School |
The competition was abolished after the 2019-20 season final.
The U18 Plate was introduced in the 2016-17 season, and is for teams that lose in the 1st round of the Cup. It is currently the 2nd tier tournament.
| Year | Winner | Score | Runner-up | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 20-16 | Solihull School | ||
| 2018 | 36-14 | Trinity School | ||
| 2019 | 28-21 | Sherborne School | ||
| 2020 | Final cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom | |||
| 2021 | Competition cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom | |||
| 2022 | 36-22 | King's College School, Wimbledon | ||
| 2023 | 27-24 | Barnard Castle School | ||
The U18 Vase was introduced in the 1995/96 season, originally as the U18 Plate, before becoming the U18 vase in the 1998/99 season. It was originally meant for teams exiting the first few rounds of the Cup, but since 2016-17, the vase has been for weaker teams, with 1st round losers going into the U18 Bowl. It is currently the 3rd tier tournament.
| Year | Winner | Score | Runner-up | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | 8-5 | Langley Park School for Boys | ||
| 1997 | 36-12 | Dauntsey's School | ||
| 1998 | 25-16 | Merchant Taylors' School, Crosby | ||
| 1999 | 24-14 | Bournemouth School | ||
| 2000 | 16-9 | Lymm High School | ||
| 2001 | 14-5 | Stowe School | ||
| 2002 | 15-13 | St Bartholomew's School | ||
| 2003 | 21-12 | Coopers' Company and Coborn School | ||
| 2004 | 18-11 | St Columba's College | ||
| 2005 | 10-3 | St Joseph's College, Stoke-on-Trent | ||
| 2006 | 27-8 | London Leisure College | ||
| 2007 | 3-0 | Wilmslow High School | ||
| 2008 | 14-13 | Queen Elizabeth Grammar School, Penrith | ||
| 2009 | 23-15 | Hampton School | ||
| 2010 | 14-3 | Norwich School | ||
| 2011 | 28-21 | St George's College, Weybridge | ||
| 2012 | 16-8 | Ravens Wood School | ||
| 2013 | 17-15 | Felsted School | ||
| 2014 | 17-16 | Exeter College | ||
| 2015 | 13-5 | SEEVIC College | ||
| 2016 | 17-12 | |||
| 2017 | 43-7 | The Royal Latin School | ||
| 2018 | 48-22 | |||
| 2019 | 43-25 | Dauntsey's School | ||
| 2020 | Final cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom | |||
| 2021 | Competition cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom | |||
| 2022 | 3-0 | Sutton Valence School | ||
| 2023 | 33-33 | Samuel Whitbread Academy | ||
The U18 Bowl was introduced in the 2016-17 season, and is for teams that lose in the 1st round of the Vase. It is currently the 4th tier tournament.
| Year | Winner | Score | Runner-up | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 25-13 | St Olave's Grammar School | ||
| 2018 | 36-10 | Samuel Whitbread Academy | ||
| 2019 | 34-10 | Glyn School | ||
| 2020 | Final cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom | |||
| 2021 | Competition cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom | |||
| 2022 | 29-16 | Eastbourne College | ||
| 2023 | 31-20 | St Peter's High School, Gloucester | ||
The U15 Cup was introduced in the 1987-88 season, and was the 1st competition out of the current set competitions.
The U15 Plate was introduced in the 2016-17 season, and is for teams that lose in the 1st round of the Cup. It is currently the 2nd tier tournament.
| Year | Winner | Score | Runner-up | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 6-3 | St Pauls School, Barnes | ||
| 2018 | 31-7 | Brighton College | ||
| 2019 | 45-5 | Hymers College | ||
| 2020 | Final cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom | |||
| 2021 | Competition cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom | |||
| 2022 | 26-24 | The Oratory School | ||
| 2023 | 36-12 | Abingdon School | ||
The U15 Vase was introduced in the 2003/04 season. It was originally meant for teams exiting the first few rounds of the Cup, but since 2016-17, the Vase has been for weaker teams, with 1st round losers going into the U15 Bowl. It is currently the 3rd tier tournament.
| Year | Winner | Score | Runner-up | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 24-15 | Lawrence Sheriff School | ||
| 2005 | 33-7 | Oakham School | ||
| 2006 | 27-12 | John Cleveland College | ||
| 2007 | 27-3 | Solihull School | ||
| 2008 | 8-7 | Calday Grange Grammar School | ||
| 2009 | 25-3 | The King's School, Macclesfield | ||
| 2010 | 24-10 | Brighton College | ||
| 2011 | 32-14 | Harrogate Grammar School | ||
| 2012 | 17-5 | Sir Thomas Rich's School | ||
| 2013 | 19-13 | Felsted School | ||
| 2014 | 12-10 | Graveney School | ||
| 2015 | 34-24 | Oakham School | ||
| 2016 | 19-10 | Sir Thomas Rich's School | ||
| 2017 | 62-10 | Dr Challoners Grammar School | ||
| 2018 | 36-14 | Kenilworth School | ||
| 2019 | 22-7 | Dartford Grammar School | ||
| 2020 | Final cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom | |||
| 2021 | Competition cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom | |||
| 2022 | 11-0 | Torquay Boys Grammar School | ||
| 2023 | 40-21 | Chislehurst and Sidcup Grammar School | ||
The U15 Plate was introduced in the 2016-17 season, and is for teams that lose in the 1st round of the Vase. It is currently the 4th tier tournament.
| Year | Winner | Score | Runner-up |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 37-27 | Pocklington School | |
| 2018 | 19-10 | Worth School | |
| 2019 | 27-10 | Hutton Grammar School | |
| 2020 | Final cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom | ||
| 2021 | Competition cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom | ||
| 2022 | 19-17 | Poole Grammar School | |
| 2023 | 45-14 | St Peter's High School, Gloucester | |