Continental RFU Schools Vase
EnglandRugbyU18## U18 Schools Vase
The U18 Schools Vase is a national knockout competition within the RFU Schools Cup programme, providing schools from across England with the opportunity to compete for national honours.
The competition has a long history, first being introduced in the 1995-96 season under the name U18 Plate before becoming the U18 Vase in 1998-99. Originally, it primarily featured schools eliminated during the early stages of the main Schools Cup. The competition was restructured ahead of the 2016-17 season, when the Cup and Vase became separate entry competitions.
Under the current structure, schools are placed into either the Cup or Vase based broadly on previous competitive results, creating a national competition in which schools compete against opposition of a comparable level. The Vase operates as the third tier of the U18 Schools Cup structure, below the Cup and Plate, while teams defeated in the opening round of the Vase move into the Bowl.
The tournament begins through regional knockout sections before progressing to national Quarter-Finals and Semi-Finals, culminating in a prestigious national final. The Vase remains one of the major titles available in English schools rugby, with the RFU continuing to stage and recognise the competition as part of its Continental Tyres Schools Cup programme.
Since its introduction, the Vase has produced a wide range of national champions, including traditional rugby schools, grammar schools, colleges and state schools, making it one of the broadest and most competitive knockout competitions in the English schools game.
