RBAI v Methodist College, Tue 1st March, 2:30, Kingspan Stadium
Having won the Danske Bank Schools’ Cup 32 times, RBAI are the second most successful school to have ever taken part in the competition.
Their last victory came in 2017, as they beat rivals Methodist College 12-8 to secure a hat-trick of successive titles.
This season, their Cup run began with a 38-15 win over Omagh Academy in the 4th Round.
Jack Parkinson opened the scoring with an early try, with Andrew Hamil and Conor McGrath touching down before the break.
Josh Eagleson and Jamie Beattie rounded off the scoring in the second half, with Eagleson accurate with all 5 conversions and a penalty.
The quarter final saw RBAI travel to Sullivan, where they recorded a 38-13 win.
Tries by Bryn Ward, Jamie Beattie and Jacob Boyd put them ahead at half-time, with Myles Lowe, Rory Stewart and Oliver Clark crossing in the second half to secure an impressive victory.
Eagleson enjoyed another good game off the tee, kicking four conversions in difficult weather conditions.
Ahead of RBAI's upcoming semi-final clash with Methody, we spoke to Director of Rugby, Jamie Kirk.
Prior to the Schools’ Cup, how had your season been going?
We have a relatively young squad, therefore we really feel there has been a big difference in the squad from the beginning of the season. In terms of results, we have had a good level of success against schools in Ulster, however not as much success against teams from Leinster. We do feel these fixtures were extremely important in terms of our learning and the boys have taken a huge amount from these experiences.
How do you feel your team has performed so far during the Schools’ Cup?
We feel as a squad we are getting better each week and growing in confidence with each round. We feel we have turned a corner since Christmas and the boys have been excellent in terms of implementing the learning from throughout the season.
Have there been any of your players that have stood out and made a significant impact so far this season?
One area we’ve been really pleased with is the sense of unity within the squad. Particularly after missing much of this last season, we have placed an emphasis on getting that side of our game right. Captain Conor McGrath has provided excellent leadership alongside Myles Lowe and Chris Beaumont. Jacob Boyd, Bryn Ward and Jamie Beattie have enjoyed the experience of Cup rugby so far with some excellent performances.
What’s been your impression of Methody this season, and what kind of game are you expecting at Kingspan?
They are well-drilled and effective in how they play. We’re definitely expecting a physical battle and know we’re going to have to be at our best which is an exciting challenge.