inspiresport Champion Schools | It’s Hull versus Leigh at Wembley Stadium

Rugby League’s Year 7 Boys Champion Schools Final returns to Wembley Stadium in August, when Archbishop Sentamu Academy of Hull take on Leigh’s Bedford High School in the Steven Mullaney Memorial Game.  

And, with Men’s and Women’s teams from both Hull FC, Hull KR and Leigh Leopards in Challenge Cup quarter-final action this weekend, there’s every chance that some of the schoolboys could also be watching their own heroes in action at Wembley on Saturday 12 August.   

Supported by inspiresport, Champion Schools is the RFL’s flagship schools' competition for girls and boys at years 7 to 11. The Year 7 Boys Final is named after Steven Mullaney, the schoolboy who in 1986 thrilled spectators and television viewers alike by scoring a superb solo try as Wakefield schools defeated St Helens at Wembley in the Challenge Cup Final curtain-raiser, but who died in tragic circumstances the following year.   

Having progressed through the regional stage, Bedford’s road to Wembley began with a long trip to Cardiff to face Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Glantaf – a journey rewarded with a hard-fought 10-6 win. Their reward? Another road trip, this time to play a Yorkshire school with one of the best finals records in Champion Schools history – Castleford Academy. The Leigh side took this game in their stride, winning 20-4 to book themselves a semi-final spot against St Peter’s Catholic High School. An outstanding performance saw them defeat the Wigan side 28-18 to clinch a final spot.  

In reaching the final Archbishop Sentamu, like their opponents, had to do it the hard way. A narrow, 16-10 home victory against Cowley International College from St Helens was followed by a visit to Pontypridd in the Welsh valleys to face Garth Olwg school where they triumphed 30-14 to book their semi-final place. The semi-final against Outwood Academy Haydock couldn’t have been any tighter, with tries from Oscar Fatah and Layton Pearce-Johnson earning Archbishop Sentamu an 8-7 win and a place in the final.  

RFL National Education Manager, Andrea Murray, says: “Congratulations to both schools on making it to the biggest stage of all – Wembley Stadium. The boys have done incredibly well to make the final and are a real credit to their coaches – Pete Grayburn and James Abbott at Archbishop Sentamu, and Rob Drinnan at Bedford. The boys will be following in the footsteps of some famous Rugby League names who have played in the Steven Mullaney Memorial Game – among them Kevin Sinfield, Denis Betts, Bobbie Goulding and Phil Clarke.  

“With more than 20,000 children and young people taking part, Champion Schools has once again been a tremendous success this year. We already have winners at Girls Years 10 and 11, with The Brooksbank School from Elland defeating Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Glantaf from Cardiff at Magic Weekend, and Dewsbury’s St John Fisher beating Brooksbank at Featherstone in April. The Millennium Stadium also hosted the Year 11 Boys Final, won by Great Sankey of Warrington.  

“Next stop for us in Kingston Park, Newcastle, on Friday 7 July for another exciting finals day and a festival of schools Rugby League.”  

The Year 7 Boys Champion Schools Final takes place at Wembley Stadium on Saturday 12 August, alongside the finals of both the Men’s and Women’s Challenge Cup and the AB Sundecks 1895 Cup Final. Tickets for Finals Day are on sale now via the RFL website. Fans can take advantage of an Early Bird offer of 25% OFF all tickets, with prices starting from only £15 Adults and £7.50 for Under 16s.    

The following Champion Schools Finals will be held at Kingston Park, home of Newcastle Thunder, on Friday 7 July.  

• Year 7 Girls: Malet Lambert (Hull) v Archbishop Sentamu Academy (Hull) 
• Year 8 Girls: St Peter’s RC High School (Manchester) v Trinity Academy Leeds (Leeds) 
• Year 8 Boys: Bridgewater High School (Warrington) v Castleford Academy (Wakefield) 
• Year 9 Girls: Castleford Academy (Wakefield) v Malet Lambert (Hull) 
• Year 9 Boys: Standish Community High (Wigan) v Bridgewater High School (Warrington) 
• Year 10 Boys: Castleford Academy (Wakefield) v St Peter's Catholic High School (Wigan)