TWENTY two local boys will play for the opportunity to write their names into RGS High Wycombe folklore this weekend.

They will line up against Whitgift tomorrow in the semi-finals of the U18s Daily Mail RBS Schools Cup, knowing a victory will take them to Twickenham and within touching distance of becoming the first squad to win the prestigious trophy for their school.

Director of Sport at RGS Wycombe Liam Doubler said: “We’ve been in the final a few times but we’ve never won it so it would be a massive, massive achievement.

“All the younger boys look up to the first team, they are like their idols, but this would just be amazing for the school.

“Rugby has always been strong here anyway, but this would be such a boost.”

The RGS U15s are multiple winners of the competition but they bowed out in the quarter-finals – the hopes of the entire school, then, rest squarely on the shoulders of their first team.

So far they have not let them down, and they booked their place in the semi-finals with a comeback victory over northern giants QUEGS.

Trailing 10-6 at half-time, they fought back to win 16-10 thanks to an Elliot Moss try and 11 points from the boot of Tom Allan.

But they know tomorrow’s opponents will be a step up.

Whitgift are star-studded with schoolboy internationals and booked their place in the semi-finals with a five-try, 59-8 romp over Bishops Stortford.

Doubler said: “They won their quarter-final by a huge margin so will be favourites, but we are happy being underdogs.

“RGS boys punch well above their weight and we believe we have a good chance of doing this. We know Whitgift are a strong team, but we played them in a pre-season tournament and although it was only ten minutes each way it was a draw. We won’t have any inferiority complex.”

With good reason.

RGS Wycombe have decent rugby pedigree themselves and former pupils include World Cup winner Matt Dawson and current Wasps club captain Tom Rees.

Christian Wade and Jack Wallace also add to the school’s rich rugby tradition, stepping out of the RGS classrooms and into the Wasps academy and England U20 set-up.

Both have been regular spectators at RGS games this season and Wallack in particular will be keen to get to Coventry tomorrow – his younger brother Tom is expected to line up in the RGS midfield.

One player who won’t be there though, is captain Alex Palmer.

He ruptured his spleen just before the final whistle of their quarter-final victory and will have to sit out the rest of the season.

Master in Charge of Rugby at RGS Jon Scourfield said: “Losing Alex put things into perspective and it would be fantastic to go out and beat Whitgift for him.”