Reed expects clash of styles as Saints bid for Academy League final glory

Northampton Saints Under-18s coach Charlie Reed is eagerly anticipating a clash of styles in this weekend’s Premiership Rugby Academy League final against Bath.

The young Saints stormed into Sunday evening’s showpiece game at Kingsholm Stadium (kick-off: 7.15pm) with four bonus-point victories over Newcastle Falcons (12-40), Sale Sharks (26-36), Leicester Tigers (62-17) and Yorkshire Academy (53-26).

There they will meet the side that pipped them to the 2023/24 title, Bath, after they defeated Exeter Chiefs (0-33), Bristol (49-14), Saracens (35-14) and Gloucester (14-46) as well losing 35-27 to Harlequins in the Pool stage.

“Excitement is the main emotion that that comes to mind,” said Reed. “One thing we have noticed between ourselves and Bath is that we play two different styles of rugby. 

“Bath seem to have a lot more of a territory plan in place with the way that they play, and we go after the best space on offer to us and try and move the ball as well as we can.

“The boys also really enjoy playing teams that they don’t play very often – we know that in our Northern league we will play Leicester, Newcastle and Sale so it’s a good opportunity to have a run-out against a different opposition.”

A year ago, Saints were denied glory at a third successive Academy League final, when their Somerset opponents scored a last-minute try to win 34-33.

“The only conversations we have had about last year is what we can take from it and what we can learn from it,” added Reed. “There’s three or four players that are playing on Sunday that were involved in the final last year, so I think it’s just good learnings we have taken out of that.

“We have spoken about how we can prep better, how we could start quicker, they’re the only conversations that we’ve really come into place when reflecting on last year’s final.”

Reed was also keen to share praise with the many coaches who have contributed to delivering sustained success for Saints Academy as the Under-18s prepare for a fourth successive final.

“We’re the last cog within the machine within our Academy,” he explained. “A lot of these boys have been in and around the Club since they were 14 or 15 years old, coming all the way through.

“They wouldn’t be as well developed and they wouldn’t be in the position where they can go and compete in a final without the help of those foundation and development phase coaches.

“The journey that I have with them is the last piece of that puzzle. I just wanted to say a big thanks to all of those coaches as well so they’re aware that this isn’t about me in the slightest, it’s about everyone pitching in and getting the lads to where we want them to go.”