Barnard Castle, the County Durham school which put the Underwood brothers on the road to fame, are back in the SOCS Daily Mail Schools Trophy limelight on Saturday.

Barney host St Peter’s York in the first match to be screened by the competition organisers following the half-term break.

'It’s going to be a cracking match – we can’t wait,' is how director of rugby Joe Cain welcomes the initiative.

It is an effort to showcase the rising talent of a school who have put a host of players onto the international stage led by those famous brothers of some 40 years ago.

'It’s a good way to show what we have on offer,' added Cain, who took over the role following the return of former England scrum-half Lee Dickson to his old club Newcastle Red Bulls.

Barney have so far accounted for northern rivals Woodhouse Grove, Scarborough College and Lancaster RGS and a continuation of that form could bring them a top-ten place by the time the competition finishes before Christmas.

The most notable effort came at the annual Merchiston Castle tournament when they beat Dulwich, Mill Hill and last year’s Trophy champions in Northampton School for Boys before losing the final to their Scottish hosts.

Captained by flanker Harry Cass, Barney’s pack includes England Under-17s in prop Sonny Hopper and Josh Dickson, following in his dad’s footsteps, at scrum-half.

Two further matches are to be screened next week are Wednesday’s clash between Denstone and Gresham’s to be followed on Saturday (November 14) by Blundell’s taking on Clifton.

Then, on November 27, Ipswich School v Berkhamsted will also be screened, completing a four-strong fixture list for Schools Sports TV in November. 

Clifton, the 2024 Trophy winners, look set to push for a second title following a good start to this campaign highlighted by beating previous champions in Harrow and Sedbergh.

They could account for another former winner in Wellington if they win Saturday’s clash at Clifton.

Leaders Haberdashers’ Monmouth host Solihull this Saturday followed by unbeaten Cheltenham College who won the annual St Joseph’s competition before half-term.

Monmouth expect Elliot Young to be back on duty after appearing for Ireland Clubs under-18s last weekend alongside two other players from Trophy teams in Brighton College hooker Isaac Finn and flanker Sean Smyth from Dulwich.

Richie Rees, Monmouth’s director of sport, reckons November will show him how good his improving squad are. 'It’s a tough schedule but you need to be continually challenged to improve,' he said.

Third-placed Radley travel to Abingdon while fourth-placed RGS Guildford, the only team to post six wins so far, host Reed’s.

RGS have a busy schedule which will see them play another five Trophy games before the competition ends next month.

Another unbeaten team are ninth-placed Marlborough College whose rugby programme extends to 17 teams across the year groups and a growing girls’ section.

Led by Bath academy hooker Doug Lemon, the Wiltshire school has so far toppled Sherborne, Churcher’s and Dean Close.

The Trophy is played over the autumn term on a merit table basis and some 150 teams have entered.

The Daily Mail Schools Trophy is run in partnership with SOCS.