Under 15s play for Duncombe Cup

The exploits of a gifted RGS High Wycombe scrum half in the Daily Mail Cups are etched in the memory and, as a tribute, the Under 15 trophy will become the Nick Duncombe Cup from this season.

Duncombe, who died so tragically earlier this year at 21, just as his Harlequins and England career was blossoming, played in four finals for the Buckinghamshire school, captaining an Under 15 side to victory and scoring one of the most memorable tries at Twickenham.

'I was lucky to have some great players in my time at RGS,' said Colin Tattersall, who has just retired after 19 years as coach. 'But Nick and Matt Dawson were the outstanding individuals.

'Nick was a wonderful footballer, worked hard and was an inspiration to team-mates. But he was so modest and this would have been a complete embarrassment to him. To everyone else, though, it is the perfect tribute.' RGS, plus champions Whitgift, Millfield, Epsom College, Nottingham High School, Bradford Grammar and QEGS Wakefield are seeded to the third round of a competition which has attracted another record entry of 453 schools and climaxes at Schools Day on Saturday, April 3.

This season, the English Schools Union's centenary, sees the start of a fourth competition. The Daily Mail Under 15 Vase will be open to first-round losers in the Cup, allowing more players to live the dream of playing at Twickenham.