RFL Champion Schools Finals dominated by Castleford Academy

Castleford Academy dominate the finals of the 2014 Champion Schools competition, with no less than six of its representative teams participating in one of the eight finals, to be played on August 22 and 23 at Richmond Athletic Association (11.00am) and Wembley Stadium (1.05pm) respectively.

As is now tradition, the final of the Year 7 Boys final will again take place at Wembley Stadium as a curtain-raiser to one of Rugby League’s oldest and most prestigious matches: the Tetley’s Challenge Cup final.

It is the highlight of a tournament spanning four school age groups, with boys’ and girls’ competitions taking place across the country for players from academic years seven, eight, nine and ten.

Castleford Academy (Wakefield) will go head-to-head with Brooksbank High School (Calderdale) on the Wembley turf in what is a repeat of this year’s Yorkshire Schools final – which Brooksbank won – after the main finals day, for the rest of the age groups, at Richmond Athletic Association the day before.

Chairman of English Schools Rugby League and RFL Director of Participation and Strategic Partnerships David Gent said: “The Champions Schools tournament is a fantastic concept and it is fitting that the competition, which is the largest of its kind on the globe, sees one of its finals played at such a historic and world-renowned venue in Wembley Stadium.

“We are delighted to see growth in the competition each year, and this year we have seen a 64 percent increase in participation from boys’ teams across Cumbria, which is very pleasing.

“The aim was to get schools more involved in Rugby League, and judging by the rise in the number of participants since we reintroduced the tournament back in 2002, we have certainly achieved that.

“Schools have really bought into the idea and there is no doubt that this tournament is going from strength-to-strength.”

Friday August 22 – at Richmond Athletic Association (from 11.00am)
Year 7 Girls
Wade Deacon High School (Halton) v Castleford Academy (Wakefield)
Year 8 Boys
Castleford Academy (Wakefield) v St Wilfrid’s Catholic High School (Wakefield)
Year 8 Girls
Sirius Academy (Hull) v St Peters (Manchester)
Year 9 Boys
South Holderness College (Hull) v Great Sankey High School (Warrington)
Year 9 Girls
Ossett Academy (Wakefield) v Castleford Academy (Wakefield)
Year 10 Boys
Castleford Academy (Wakefield) v Sts Peter and Paul’s High School (Halton)
Year 10 Girls
Castleford Academy (Wakefield) v Leigh Academy
Saturday August 23 – at Wembley Stadium (1.05pm)
Year 7 Boys
Castleford Academy (Wakefield) v Brooksbank High School (Calderdale)

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