The 2017–18 RFU Junior Vase is the 28th version of the RFU Junior Vase national cup competition (9th using the name RFU Junior Vase) for clubs at level 9 and below of the English rugby union system. The competition consists of 134 clubs divided into four regions. The winners of each region then advance to the national semi-finals with the final being held at Twickenham Stadium in London at the end of the season, along with the RFU Intermediate Cup and RFU Senior Vase finals.
The 2017–18 champions were Yorkshire club, Old Otliensians, who defeated the Devon side, South Molton, 31–21 in the final. Old Otliensians were worthy winners of the competition, scoring over 260 points on route to the final, whilst conceding only 15, a run which included a club record 126–0 over Wallsend in the early stages. Old Otliensians victory was the 11th by a Yorkshire club since the competition began in 1990.
London & South East Junior Vase
The London & South East Junior Vase involves a knock-out competition with 1st round, 2nd round, 3rd round, 4th round, semi-finals and final. The winners of the London & South East Junior Vase then go on to the national Junior Vase semi-finals where they face the winners of the South West Junior Vase. There are 55 teams involved in the London & South East Junior Vase, all of which are 1st XV sides, coming from the following unions and leagues.
Union(s)League(s) / LevelParticipants Eastern Counties Eastern Counties 1 (9) 2 Essex Essex 1 (9) 4 Hampshire Hampshire 1 (9) 5 Hampshire 2 (10) 2 Hertfordshire Herts/Middlesex 1 (9) 2 Herts/Middlesex 2 (10) 1 Kent Kent 1 (9) 6 Kent 2 (10) 5 No league 1 Middlesex Herts/Middlesex 1 (9) 2 Herts/Middlesex 2 (10) 2 Surrey Surrey 1 (9) 6 Surrey 2 (10) 4 Surrey 3 (11) 3 Surrey 4 (12) 3 Sussex Sussex 1 (9) 4
Round 1
Byes: Ashford (K1), Bognor (H1), Burgess Hill (SX1), Cranbrook (K1), Gillingham Anchorians (K1), Millbrook (H1), Royston (HM1), Sandown & Shanklin (H1), Uckfield (SX1)
Date Home Score Away 14 October 2017 Bank of England (HM1) 45–53 Old Whitgiftian (SY1) Bec Old Boys (SY2) 26–24 Old Gravesendians (K1) Brockleians (K2) HWO Old Suttonians Chipstead (SY1) HWO Askeans (K2) Cranleigh (SY2) HWO Aldershot & Fleet (H2) Dagenham (E1) HWO Old Millhillians (HM2) Egham Hollowegians (SY4) 10–33 Alton (H2) Fareham Heathens (H1) HWO Worth Old Boys (SY3) Farnborough (H2) HWO Kingston (SY2) Harwich & Dovercourt (E1) HWO Beccles (EC1) Hellingly (SX1) 10–26 Old Mid-Whitgiftian (SY1) Ipswich Y.M. (EC1) HWO Stanford Le Hope (E1) Old Walcountians (SY1) AWO Seaford (SX1) Old Wimbledonians (SY1) HWO Southwark Lancers (K1) Purley John Fisher (SY3) 59–7 Greenwich (K2) Reigate (SY4) HWO Dartford Valley (K2) Sittingbourne (K1) HWO Old Blues (SY1) Southampton (H2) 26–81 Reeds Weybridge (SY2) Thamesians (HM2) 42–7 Barnet Elizabethans (HM1) Wasps FC (HM1) HWO Cuffley (HM2) Whitstable (K2) 38–17 Croydon (SY3) Woking (SY4) 80–5 Ventnor (H1) Writtle Wanderers (E1) 51–15 Thurston (EC1)
Round 2
Date Home Score Away 14 October 2017 Bec Old Boys (SY2) HWO Brockleians (K2) Bognor (H1) HWO Farnborough (H2) Cranbrook (K1) HWO Thamesians (HM2) Cranleigh (SY2) 20–11 Burgess Hill (SX1) Fareham Heathens (H1) 33–37 Chipstead (SY1) Harwich & Dovercourt (E1) HWO Dagenham (E1) Old Mid-Whitgiftian (SY1) 19–21 Ashford (K1) Old Whitgiftian (SY1) 30–8 Gillingham Anchorians (K1) Old Wimbledonians (SY1) 76–0 Sittingbourne (K1) Purley John Fisher (SY3 16–10 Uckfield (SX1) Reigate (SY4) 0–41 Millbrook (H1) Royston (HM1) 22–14 Ipswich Y.M. (EC1) Sandown & Shanklin (H1) HWO Woking (SY4) Seaford (SX1) 27–10 Alton (H2) Wasps FC (HM1) 12–18 Writtle Wanderers (E1) Whitstable (K2) AWO Reeds Weybridge (SY2)
Round 3
Date Home Score Away 2 December 2017 Bec Old Boys (SY2) 8–22 Ashford (K1) Bognor (H1) 31–27 Cranleigh (SY2) Chipstead (SY1) 29–5 Seaford (SX1) Harwich & Dovercourt (E1) 7–54 Royston (HM1) Millbrook (H1) 25–22 Purley John Fisher (SY3) Reeds Weybridge (SY2) 48–23 Cranbrook (K1) Sandown & Shanklin (H1) 12–34 Old Wimbledonians (SY1) 20 January 2018 Writtle Wanderers (E1) 10–26 Gillingham Anchorians (K1)
Round 4
Date Home Score Away 20 January 2018 Ashford (K1) 20–5 Royston (HM1) Chipstead (SY1) 18–10 Bognor (H1) Millbrook (H1) 15–17 Old Wimbledonians (SY1) 10 February 2018 Gillingham Anchorians (K1) 17–15 Reeds Weybridge (SY2)
Semi-finals
Date Home Score Away 24 February 2018 Ashford (K1) 3–15 Chipstead (SY1) Old Wimbledonians (SY1) 29–17 Gillingham Anchorians (K1)
Final
The winners of the London & South East Junior Vase final would advance to the national semi-finals.
Date Home Score Away 17 March 2018 Old Wimbledonians (SY1)) 0–27 Chipstead (SY1)
Midlands Junior Vase
The Midlands Junior Vase is a direct knockout cup with a 1st round, 2nd round, 3rd round, quarter-finals, semi-finals and final The winner of the final goes forward to the National Vase semi-finals where they face the winners of the Northern section. The competition involves 50 clubs from the following unions and level 9-10 leagues:
Union(s)League(s) / LevelParticipants East Midlands Midlands 4 East (South) (9) 5 Leicestershire Midlands 4 West (South) (9) 1 North Midlands Midlands 4 West (North) (9) 4 Midlands 4 West (South) (9) 3 Midlands 5 West (North) (10) 5 Midlands 5 West (South) (10) 1 No league 1 Notts, Lincs & Derbyshire Midlands 4 East (North) (9) 9 Midlands 4 East (South) (9) 2 Midlands 5 East (North) (10) 6 Staffordshire Midlands 4 West (North) (9) 4 Midlands 5 West (North) (10) 3 Warwickshire Midlands 4 West (South) (9) 3 Midlands 5 West (South) (10) 3
Round 1
Byes: Amber Valley (M5EN), Ashfield (M4EN), Aston Old Edwardians (M4WN), Bedford Swifts (M4ES), Bloxwich (M4WN), Brackley (M4ES), Burbage (M4WS), Harbury (M4WS), Keresley (M5WS), Mansfield Woodhouse (M5EN), Mellish (M4EN), St Leonards (M5WN), St Neots (M4ES), Tupton (M4EN)
Date Home Score Away 16 September 2017 Atherstone (M5WS) 81–0 Gnosall (M5WN) Bourne (M4ES) 28–0 Skegness (M4EN) Chaddesley Corbett (M5WN) 22–21 Aldridge (M5WS) Church Stretton (M4WN) HWO Stourport (M5WN) Claverdon (M4WS) 7–16 Yardley & District (M4WN) Deepings (M4ES) HWO Bingham (M5EN) East Retford (M4EN) 55–8 Stamford College Old Boys (M4ES) Five Ways Old Edwardians 0–39 Stoke Old Boys (M4WS) Linley & Kidsgrove (M5WN) 11–12 Eccleshall (M4WN) Market Drayton (M4WN) HWO Bishop's Castle & Onny Valley (M5WN) Nottinghamians (M5EN) 17–22 Chesterfield Panthers (M4EN) Ollerton (M4EN) AWO Gainsborough (M5ENN) Pershore (M4WS) 84–19 Greyhound (M5WN) Redditch (M4WS) 0–19 Wednesbury (M4WN) Rugeley (M4WN) HWO Birmingham Civil Service (M4WS) Thorney (M4ES) 31–24 Boston (M4EN) Trinity Guild (M5WS) HWO Warley (M5WN) Worksop (M4EN) 12–36 North Hykeham (M5EN)
Round 2
Date Home Score Away 7 October 2017 Amber Valley (M5EN) 15–36 East Retford (M4EN) Brackley (M4ES) HWO Aston Old Edwardians (M4WN) Burbage (M4WS) 10–65 Ashfield (M4EN) Chesterfield Panthers (M4EN) HWO Mansfield Woodhouse (M5EN) Church Stretton (M4WN) HWO Chaddesley Corbett (M5WN) Eccleshall (M4WN) HWO Atherstone (M5WS) Gainsborough (M5ENN) 10–30 Bourne (M4ES) Keresley (M5WS) 17–35 Bedford Swifts (M4ES) Mellish (M4EN) 24–19 Deepings (M4ES) North Hykeham (M5EN) 22–10 Thorney (M4ES) St Leonards (M5WN) 15–8 Market Drayton (M4WN) St Neots (M4ES) 16–18 Harbury (M4WS) Stoke Old Boys (M4WS) 66–26 Rugeley (M4WN) Trinity Guild (M5WS) 22–66 Bloxwich (M4WN) Wednesbury (M4WN) 22–17 Pershore (M4WS) Yardley & District (M4WN) HWO Tupton (M4EN)
Round 3
Date Home Score Away 28 October 2017 Ashfield (M4EN) 11–6 Wednesbury (M4WN) Bedford Swifts (M4ES) 8–12 Harbury (M4WS) Bloxwich (M4WN) 22–5 East Retford (M4EN) Bourne (M4ES) 38–12 Chesterfield Panthers (M4EN) Church Stretton (M4WN) HWO St Leonards (M5WN) Eccleshall (M4WN) 19–17 Stoke Old Boys (M4WS) North Hykeham (M5EN) 40–14 Mellish (M4EN) Yardley & District (M4WN) 29–27 Brackley (M4ES)
Quarter-finals
Date Home Score Away 18 November 2017 Ashfield (M4EN) 27–36 Eccleshall (M4WN) Bloxwich (M4WN) 34–41 Bourne (M4ES) Harbury (M4WS) 15–12 Church Stretton (M4WN) Yardley & District (M4WN) 12–35 North Hykeham (M5EN)
Semi-finals
Date Home Score Away 20 January 2018 Eccleshall (M4WN) HWO Harbury (M4WS) North Hykeham (M5EN) 15–18 Bourne (M4ES)
Final
The winners of the Midlands Junior Vase would advance to the National Junior Vase semi-finals.
Date Home Score Away 17 March 2018 Bourne (M4ES) 13–27 Eccleshall (M4WN)
Northern Junior Vase
Unlike the other regional competitions, the Northern Junior Vase starts with a mini-league stage, in which the eligible clubs are placed in 2 regional pools of 3 teams each. The winners of each pool then face each other in the Northern Vase final, with the winner advancing to the National Junior Vase semi-finals, where they will face the winners of the Midlands section. There are 6 teams (1st XV only) involved in the Northern Junior Vase representing the following unions and leagues:
Union(s)League(s) / LevelParticipants Durham County Durham/Northumberland 3 (9) 1 Cheshire Lancs/Cheshire Division 3 (9) 2 Cumbria No league 1 Northumberland Durham/Northumberland 3 (9) 1 Yorkshire Yorkshire 3 (9) 1
Pool 1 (West)
Pool 1ClubPlayedWonDrawnLostPoints ForPoints AgainstPoints DifferencePoints 1 Ramsey (LC3) 2 2 0 0 83 8 75 4 2 Creighton 2 1 0 1 37 81 -44 2 3 Liverpool University (LC3) 2 0 0 2 20 51 -31 0 2 points for a win, 1 point for a draw.
Date Home Score Away 14 October 2017 Liverpool University (LC3) 15–34 Creighton 18 November 2017 Ramsey (LC3) 17–5 Liverpool University (LC3) 10 February 2018 Creighton (LC3) 3–66 Ramsey (LC3)
Pool 2 (East)
Pool 2ClubPlayedWonDrawnLostPoints ForPoints AgainstPoints DifferencePoints 1 Old Otliensians (Y3) 2 2 0 0 198 0 198 4 2 Wallsend (DN3) 2 1 0 1 49 147 -98 2 3 West Hartlepool T.D.S.O.B. (DN3) 2 0 0 2 21 121 -100 0 2 points for a win, 1 point for a draw.
Date Home Score Away 14 October 2017 Old Otliensians (Y3) 126–0 Wallsend (DN3) 18 November 2017 Wallsend (DN3) 49–21 West Hartlepool T.D.S.O.B. (DN3) 10 February 2018 West Hartlepool T.D.S.O.B. (DN3) 0–72 Old Otliensians (Y3)
Final
The winners of the Pool 1 (West) and Pool 2 (East) would meet in the Northern Junior Vase final. The winners of this final would then advanced to the National Junior Vase semi-finals.
Date Home Score Away 17 March 2018 Old Otliensians (Y3) 37–3 Ramsey (IoM) (LC3)
South West Junior Vase
The South West Junior Vase consist of three stages, with representatives from the different unions joining at different points. The Dorset & Wilts and Gloucestershire clubs first play in county based knock-out tournaments, with the winners advancing to either the Southern Counties or South West Counties area semi-finals, where they join the other south-west representatives. The winners of each area final then meet in the South West Junior Vase final to determine who goes through to the national semi-finals, where they face the winners of the London and South East section.
The South West Junior Vase involves 23 clubs (1st XV only) from the following unions and leagues:
Union(s)League(s) / LevelParticipants Berkshire Berks/Bucks & Oxon Championship (9) 1 Buckinghamshire Berks/Bucks & Oxon Championship (9) 1 Devon Devon League 1 (10) 1 Dorset & Wilts Dorset & Wilts 2 South (9) 4 Dorset & Wilts 2 North (9) 4 Dorset & Wilts 3 South (10) 1 No league 1 Gloucestershire Gloucester 1 (9) 8 Oxfordshire Berks/Bucks & Oxon Championship (9) 1 Somerset Somerset 1 (9) 1
Stage 1 (Dorset & Wilts)
10 teams were involved in the Dorset & Wilts RFU Junior Vase qualification. The winners would advanced to the Southern Counties semi-finals.