Beechen Cliff Crowned ACE Champions as RFU Confirms 2026/27 Stage 1 Pools
The RFU has confirmed the Stage 1 pools for the 2026/27 RFU ACE Boys League following Beechen Cliff’s historic title win earlier this month.
Led by Director of Rugby Andy Hall, the Somerset school claimed their first ACE Boys League crown after a dominant 54–14 victory over Loughborough College in the final. The win capped a five-game unbeaten run in Stage 2 of the competition and marked another milestone season for the rapidly evolving schools league.
Beechen Cliff’s success continues the league’s recent trend of new champions, with three different winners in as many seasons. Hartpury College, champions in 2023, finished runners-up this year, highlighting the growing competitiveness across the competition.
The 2025/26 season was the first to feature a restructured format, introduced by the RFU to increase competitiveness and opportunity across the state-school system. The remodel included in-season promotion and relegation between tiers, with 22 institutions involved nationwide. The changes were designed to provide more meaningful game time and a broader, more inclusive pathway for aspiring elite players.
That pathway was further underlined by strong representation from the ACE Boys League at England U18 Men’s recent camp at Pennyhill Park. Players involved included Georgia Faosiliva (Hartpury College), Euan Oakes (Gosforth Academy), Exeter College trio Archie Guyver, Mawgan Talling and Charlie Bosanko, Beechen Cliff’s Max Hooper and Declan Treacey, City of Oxford’s Ollie Myall and Cardinal Newman’s Jack Tyler. Loughborough College were also represented through their partnership with Brooksby College, with Seva Batikora and Kajetan Lewandowski involved.
Looking ahead to the 2026/27 campaign, there will be notable movement across the tiers. Three teams will begin next season in Tier 1 after competing in Tier 2 this year: Moulton in the North Pool, and Exeter and SGS in the South Pool. Meanwhile, Myerscough, Bishop Wand and Cardinal Newman will all start the new season in Tier 2 after previously featuring in Tier 1.
The league is also set to expand further, with two new school teams—one aligned with Northampton Saints and another with Saracens—expected to be invited to join the competition. Final arrangements between the Club Academies and their partner institutions are currently being agreed ahead of formal confirmation.
Further details around the 2026/27 season, including the competition calendar and fixture announcements, will be confirmed in the new year. Stage 1 is scheduled to get underway in September.
Matt Williams, RFU Programme Lead for Academies, praised the progress made during the first season of the restructured league.
“The first season of the restructured ACE Boys League has been a fantastic success, with a wider geographical spread across the country seeing more players involved in the game,” he said. “We want to continue to create meaningful game time for budding professional rugby players in seasons to come, and the increase in teams, fixtures and promotion and relegation ensures that.
“Congratulations must go to Beechen Cliff on their first league win, and a massive thank you to PREM Rugby and all competing schools for their collaboration in delivering a successful season.”
A full replay of Beechen Cliff’s title-winning victory over Loughborough College is available to view online.
