THEY are already one of the top eight rugby union schools in the country – now a York school are aiming to prove they are Britain’s best.

St Peter’s School’s Under-18s side lines up on Wednesday against Ealing’s St Benedict’s School in the quarter-finals of the 2008/9 Daily Mail U18 Cup.

They have already won five tough matches to reach the latter stages of the country’s most prestigious youth rugby tournament, organised in conjunction with the England Rugby Football Schools’ Union, and now they stand only two games away from Twickenham.

But the trip down south looks to be a very tricky encounter, with St Benedict’s having played imperiously in the competition so far.

They crushed St Ignatius College 59-7 in round one before seeing off Latymer Upper School 14-9, London Oratory 33-15, Tiffin School 23-18, Campion School Hornchurch 11-8 and Croydon’s Whitgift School 20-16 to book their last eight spot.

Led by captain Tom Dewers and coaches Richard Finch and Nick Guise, St Benedict’s will be formidable opponents at their Perivale Lane ground.

They are also occasionally coached by former New Zealand international prop Craig Dowd and have links to Guinness Premiership giants London Wasps.

St Peter’s have progressed thanks to victories over Hull Collegiate (50-0), Hymers College (32-5), Prince Henry’s Grammar School (13-6), Calday Grange Grammar School (10-3) before they booked a quarter-final berth with a 16-12 win over Royal Grammar School, Newcastle.

And they might feel destiny is on their side after they scored a last-gasp try from the half-way line against RGS – with their opponents three times unable to win the game by clearing for touch.

The last eight is the first national round of the competition and, if St Peter’s are to reach the last four, much will depend on the form of key players like Chris McTurk, Robbie Cuthbertson and Robert Downey.

Starring in previous rounds, their performances have already been recognised – along with that of Luke Bowler – with selection to the Yorkshire U18 side.

Steve Williams, St Peter’s director of sport, said: “It’s a huge game and we are really looking forward to it. I think we played them three years ago in the U15s and lost in a very tight game.

“We have got an outstanding back line and that will be the key to the game, if the forwards can get some parity. These lads never give in and we are hopeful.”