This week, Victoria Pleasure Ground in Goole played host to the 2026 return of the Year 11 Boys\u2019 and Girls\u2019 Champion Schools Finals on Wednesday 22 April. The finals marked the culmination of weeks of dedication,\u00a0effort\u00a0and Rugby League action, with young players from across the country proudly\u00a0representing\u00a0their schools. Bathed in sunshine, it proved to be a perfect day for Rugby League!<\/p>\n
The Year 11 girls\u2019 competition began back in November with the National Girls Festivals, where teams competed within their regional areas. The top two teams from each festival earned their place in this year\u2019s final.\u00a0<\/p>\n
St Peter\u2019s Catholic High School,\u00a0representing\u00a0the\u00a0North West, arrived eager and ready, awaiting their opponents St John Fisher (CVA) from Yorkshire. Both teams brought enthusiasm and determination, reflecting the growing strength and passion within girls\u2019\u00a0Rugby\u00a0League.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Kicking off at 4:15pm, the match quickly developed into\u00a0a closely contested\u00a0encounter, with both sides\u00a0showcasing\u00a0impressive skill and resilience. Early momentum swung in favour of St John Fisher, although they were denied two early tries thanks to outstanding defensive efforts from St Peter\u2019s.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The deadlock was eventually broken by St John Fisher, who went into half-time leading 4\u20130.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The second half began in similar fashion, with St John Fisher starting strongly once again. However, St Peter\u2019s responded well and managed to get themselves on the scoreboard. The game featured dynamic attacking play and determined defence from both teams, keeping spectators fully engaged throughout.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Despite the close contest, St John Fisher\u00a0ultimately emerged\u00a0victorious, securing an 18\u20134 win.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Next came the Year 11 boys\u2019 final, which saw a repeat of the 2025\u00a0Year 10\u00a0fixture as Castleford Academy faced Sirius Academy once again. With\u00a0Sirius Academy\u00a0seeking redemption and\u00a0Castleford Academy\u00a0aiming to\u00a0maintain\u00a0their winning record in this rivalry, the stage was set for another thrilling encounter.\u00a0<\/p>\n
From the first whistle, the match was played at a fierce intensity, with players from both sides putting their bodies on the line to gain the advantage. Play moved end-to-end, with both teams battling hard to get points on the board.\u00a0<\/p>\n
It was Sirius Academy who took control in the first half, building a commanding lead and heading into the break 18\u20130.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The second half saw an even higher level of intensity, as Castleford Academy pushed hard to respond, while Sirius Academy remained resolute in defence. Castleford were eventually rewarded for their efforts with a well-worked try and successful conversion midway through the half.\u00a0<\/p>\n
However, Sirius Academy\u00a0maintained\u00a0their dominance to secure a 24\u20136 victory at the final whistle.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Andrea Murray, the RFL\u2019s National Education Manager, said:\u00a0
\u201cAs always, it was great to welcome the competing schools to the Champion Schools Finals. Every year, the standard continues to\u00a0rise and\u00a0today was no exception. The commitment, skill and sportsmanship shown by all players was outstanding, and they should be incredibly proud of their achievements.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThese events are a fantastic celebration of school Rugby League, bringing together young people from across the country and showcasing the strength of the game at grassroots level. We would like to thank all the schools, teachers, coaches and volunteers who make these opportunities possible.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
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