MAGIC FRIDAY JUST CHAMPION FOR SCHOOLS FINALS

Newcastle Thunder ready to host schools rugby jamboree with Kingston Park the venue for this year's Champion Schools finals

Newcastle Thunder will play host to seven junior finals ahead of Magic Friday visit of Bradford Bulls this summer, with Kingston Park the main venue for this season’s RFL Champion Schools Finals Festival, which returns following a two-year absence. 

Seven boys and girls finals, from Year Seven to 10, will be played at the home of Newcastle Thunder, on Friday July 8 before the Year Seven Boys Final - the Steven Mullaney Memorial Match, which will be played at St James’s Park to kick off the first day of the Magic Weekend itself.

All participants at the Champion Schools festival will be invited to join the hosting club for the evening, with all players receiving a complimentary ticket to the Betfred Championship clash on Friday evening.

The 2022 Champion Schools Finals Festival in Newcastle will continue a tradition stretching back to 1975 when a schoolboys’ curtain-raiser was first played before the Challenge Cup Final at Wembley.

The competition was reshaped with the English Schools Rugby League in 2002, and is thought to be the biggest knockout competition in Rugby League - and returned this term for the first time since the 2020 competitions were curtailed at the regional stage by the Covid pandemic.

The Year Nine girls of Ysgol Glantaf will make history at Thunder’s home ground as the first Welsh girls’ team to play in a Champion Schools final, having earned their place with a 10-0 win against Dewsbury’s Manor Croft Academy.

Well over 7,000 players have taken part in almost 500 teams from 125 schools, with the full list of finals as follows.

Y7 Girls – St Peter’s RC High School vs Malet Lambert

Y8 Girls - Malet Lambert vs Castleford Academy.

Y9 Girls – Ysgol Glantaf vs Archbishop Sentamu Academy

Y9 Boys – Archbishop Sentamu Academy vs Castleford Academy

Y8 Boys - Ryburn Valley vs Standish High School.

Y10 Girls - Castleford Academy vs St John Fisher.

Y10 Boys - Spen Valley High School vs Great Sankey High School.

Following the Friday jamboree of schools rugby league, the Year Seven boys final between Castleford Academy and Bridgewater High School will take place at St James’ Park ahead of the first day of the 2022 Magic Weekend.

Tickets for the Magic Friday fixture between Thunder and Bradford Bulls are on sale HERE, whilst tickets for the Magic Weekend at St James’ Park are on sale HERE