Monmouth Haberdashers are the latest leaders in the opening weeks of the 2026 SOCS Daily Mail Schools Trophy.
The unbeaten Welsh school – coached by ex-international Richie Rees – have posted four wins including tight affairs over Bromsgrove, 27-22, and 38-25 against Sir Thomas Rich’s, the Gloucester academy who enjoyed a spell at the top of the Trophy last season.
Now Monmouth have the opportunity to make it five from five when they go before the SOCS cameras against RGS Worcester which is scheduled to be screened this Saturday.
‘We like to give it a go’, is the mantra of Rees, who joined the school as director of sport in 2024 having forged a successful coaching career following his playing days which earned him nine caps for Wales.
Brighton on the attack in a fine start to the season which has seen them win four from four
Monmouth have left last season’s form of only one win well behind through an experienced pack and some talented players from the lower sixth in the backs.
Rees hopes this good blend will continue to produce the attacking rugby which is the hallmark of schools rugby.
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Don’t miss live coverage from the Daily Mail Schools Trophy this Saturday at 1.30pm, with Monmouth v RGS Worcester. Live streamed on Schools Sports TV.
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Led by lock Olly Beynon, who is in the Dragons academy, they are also guided by the talented Elliot Young, who is on the Irish Exiles’ books, at fly half.
Against Sir Thomas Rich’s last Saturday, Young was on Exile duties so centre Jack Lawrence took his chance at No10.
After Saturday’s match, Monmouth have a half-term trip to South Africa at the end of October.
The Trophy has had almost a month of action and teams are still jockeying for position. Monmouth took the leadership from Seaford College and are fending off a number of challengers.
Second-placed Radley look to have put together a strong squad having already accounted for former Trophy champions Cranleigh in four wins. Their most impressive was a 60-0 demolition of Epsom College.
Clifton College, champions in 2024, are looking to mount another challenge by winning four games already, including wins over fellow former champions in Harrow and Sedbergh.
Brighton College have also won four helped by the try scoring of captain Hugo Bressard who has grabbed four in four from full-back.
Brighton needed two second-half tries to overturn an early deficit in their latest win over Tonbridge.
The biggest celebrations so far came at John Fisher School in Croydon who posted their first win in 17 years over local rivals Whitgift. ‘A long time to wait but certainly worth it when it came,’ was the view of John Fisher’s James Gillespie.
John Fisher’s squad celebrate after beating local rivals Whitgift 23-14
Seaford College, the early Trophy leaders, are back to winning ways by beating Epsom College, 31-14, following the defeat at champions Northampton School for Boys (NSFB).
Full-back Harrison Lane scored three tries to help Seaford record a rare win over Epsom.
NSFB, having lost to Mill Hill and Ipswich early on, are now on a roll again, having beaten former Trophy winners Berkhamsted last Saturday, 43-33.
Another noteworthy achievement goes to Guildford RGS, who are the first team to record five wins.
The unbeaten Surrey school have accounted for The Judd 33-0, Wimbledon College, 66-0, King’s Wimbledon, 35-7, Hurstpierpoint, 29-17, and St Paul’s, 24-10.
The Daily Mail Schools Trophy is run in partnership with SOCS. Click HERE to find out more
