The Carnegie Champion Schools Rugby League Competition has reached the final stages of the boys competition in the Midlands as ten school teams vie for the right to be crowned as Champions.

The Finals Day takes place at The Crofts - home of Leamington Royals - Berrycote Lane, Leamington on Thursday 10 February.

Having played a number of knockout fixture at district, county and regional level, just two schools remain in each age group with both the Midlands title and a place in the national rounds of the competition at stake.

Coventry's Bishop Ullathorne School dominate the field, with their teams having won through to Y7, Y8, Y9 and Y10 after meeting strong opposition elsewhere in the West Midlands.

The school tasted success last year when its Y9 team disposed of St Edmund Arrowsmith School of Rugby League Heartland Wigan, becoming the first side from the region to reach the quarter-finals.

This year they will be aiming to go one better and with four age groups represented, they are in pole position to do just that.

"Last year's result against St Edmund Arrowsmith created a real stir in the PE World in Coventry" explains Debbie Drake, Community Rugby League Coach for the area.

"Everyone knows that beating a side from Wigan is a massive plus and its spurred the players on to do even better this year. The whole school has bought into the game and it has paid off with them reaching the final at four age groups."

At Year 11 the City of Coventry is also represented as Stoke Park have won through to the Y11 final. The school, which dipped its toe in the Rugby League waters for the first time last year is delighted with reaching the final for the second time running at Y11.

Providing the opposition at Y7 and Y9 is Frederick Gent School from Derbyshire. No strangers to Rugby League, the school has embraced Rugby League over a number of years and now runs a full programme, aided by Community Rugby League Coach Kane Chambers and championed by former Carnegie Rugby League Teacher Of The Year, Nick Lomas.

"The players have been working really hard and are looking forward to their day out" says Kane.

"They have played plenty of games to get here and are not short of Rugby League knowledge, so I am very keen to see how they go."

At Y8 and Y10 another Derbyshire school has won through in the shape of Dronfield. The school has entered Champion Schools for the first time this year and is delighted with its showing, with both sides being strong, powerful teams.

Finally, at Y11, Great Barr - a Birmingham school which has championed Rugby League under the guidance of Russell Parker, the Community Rugby League Coach in the city, will test Stoke Park for the right for the title.

"Great Barr have really taken to Rugby League and run an intra-mural competition because the school is so big" explains Russell.

"I am really looking forward to seeing how they go with their extra match practice."

The day begins at 10.30am with spectators welcome.


Full Fixture Details:

10.30am
Year 7
Frederick Gent (Derbyshire) V Bishop Ullathorne (Coventry)

11.30pm
Year 8
Dronfield (Derbyshire) V Bishop Ullathorne(Coventry)

12.30pm
Year 9
Frederick Gent (Derbyshire) V Bishop Ullathorne (Coventry)

1.30pm
Year 10
Dronfield (Derbyshire) V Bishop Ullathorne (Coventry)

2.45pm
Year 11
Great Barr (Birmingham) V Stoke Park (Coventry)