After hundreds of matches involving over 1,000 students from across the region, Northampton Saints Community team have crowned the winners of this year’s annual Northampton Saints 7s Series – with Bedford Modern School just pipping Northampton School for Boys to take home silverware from the Under-13s Finals Day.
Created back in 2012, Saints’ hugely popular age-group 7s series sees schools across Northamptonshire and beyond go head to head in the shorter form of the game throughout the spring tournament.
Over 1200 students from 100 schools took part in 2023 across eight venues – with the boys Under-13s and Under-18s regional festivals coupled with two girls-only tournaments for Under-15s and Under-18s.
Aiming to make rugby more accessible to all across the region, this year’s Northampton Saints 7s Series was open to any school across the country to enter and saw matches played across Northamptonshire, Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Suffolk.
The Series culminated with the winners and runners-up from each county festival competing for the Trophy, Bowl and Plate at Finals Day. After a series of hotly-contested matches, it was Bedford Modern – one of Saints’ partner schools — who became the first-ever Series Winner from Bedfordshire, while Robert Clack School and Bishop’s Stortford High School who eventually lifted the other respective Under-13s trophies at cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens.
“Through the continued success of the Series we are able to make rugby more accessible to young people across the country, and more specifically within these six counties,” said Stephen Woodhead, Community Rugby Coordinator at Northampton Saints.
“Year-on-year we are seeing an increase in schools signing up to take part, and this year was one of our biggest yet.”
Stephen Woodhead, Community Rugby Coordinator
“Congratulations go to Bedford Modern and NSB for reaching the final, as well as Robert Clack and Bishop’s Stortford for taking home the other Under-13s prizes, but I must also say a huge thank you to the schools, students, teachers and parents across all our age-groups who continue to help us make this Series a success every year.
“We can’t wait to welcome everyone back next year and see who takes home the trophies in 2024!”
The Northampton Saints 7s Series is open to any school across the country. For more information on the Northampton Saints 7s Series or for schools looking to sign up to the 2023/24 regional festivals, please email [email protected].
Northampton Saints 7s Series Winners 2023
Cup Winners: Bedford Modern School
Cup Runners Up: Northampton School for Boys
Plate Winners: Robert Clack School
Plate Runners Up: King’s School, Grantham
Bowl Winners: The Bishop’s Stortford High School
Bowl Runners Up: The Cotswold’s School
Winners of the Northampton Saints 7s Series Trophy
2022/23: Bedford Modern School
2021/22: Caldicott Preparatory School
*Two-year break during Covid-19
2018/19: Wellingborough School
2017/18: Finborough School
2016/17: The Perse & Cheltenham College
2015/16: The Perse & KES Stratford
2014/15: The Perse
2013/14: Northampton School for Boys
2012/13: Northampton School for Boys
