The Saints’ Under-16s have headed to Wellington College this week to take part in the first RFU Academies Under-16 festival.
In previous years this week in Somerset has seen the best players from across the country battle it out in regional teams. But this season sees the 14 RFU Academies - the 12 Aviva Premiership clubs plus Bristol and Yorkshire Carnegie - don their club colours instead.
The Saints have been grouped with Bath, Gloucester, Harlequins, London Irish, Sale, Wasps and Worcester, with Bristol, Exeter, Leicester, Newcastle, Saracens and Yorkshire Carnegie making up the other pool.
Matches will be played today (Monday) and Friday, with the remainder of the week made up of coaching and development sessions.
“The next few days will be good for the players and for us as coaches,” says Academy coach Paul Diggin. “The lads will get the chance to test themselves against the other clubs while we’ll get the opportunity to see how far they’ve come over the past few months.
“It is the first time that we’ve had a festival like this and it will be exciting and interesting to be a part of.”
Name | Region | School | Club |
Adam Williamson | East Midlands | Stowe School | Towcester |
Eastern Counties | Liam St John | Shelford | |
Ben Bouckley | Eastern Counties | Colchester Royal Grammar | Colchester |
Ben Petrisor | East Midlands | Harlington Upper School | Dunstablians |
Brandon Calderbank | East Midlands | St John Fisher | Peterborough RFC |
Connor Finch | East Midlands | Bedford School |
|
Connor Tupai | East Midlands | Northampton School for Boys | N’ton Old Scouts |
David Braga | Eastern Counties | Thomas Deacon Academy | Peterborough RFC |
David Jimhoe-Ibrahim | Eastern Counties | Framlingham College |
|
Ed Amoako | East Midlands | Northampton School for Boys | Old Scouts |
Felix Kibble | Eastern Counties | Woodbridge School | Woodbridge RFC |
Fraser Thompson | Eastern Counties | Finborough | Bury St Edmunds |
George Seward | East Midlands | Bedford School | Welwyn RFC |
George Speakman | East Midlands | Bloxham School | Towcester |
Jake Johnson | East Midlands | Northampton School for Boys | Old Northamptonians |
Joe Wallace | East Midlands | Stratton Upper | Welwyn RFC |
Marshall Sykes | Eastern Counties | Farlingaye High | Woodbridge RFC |
Ollie Hills | Eastern Counties | Felsted | Colchester |
Ollie Dickie | Eastern Counties | Colchester High | Colchester |
East Midlands | Northampton School for Boys | N’ton Old Scouts | |
Ryan Hussey | Eastern Counties | Sweyne Park | Brentwood |
Sam Cappaert | Eastern Counties | Billericay | Brentwood |
Sam Hurd | East Midlands | Uppingham School |
|
Samson Ma'asi | East Midlands | Wooton Upper | Ampthill & District |
Ro Kevueli Tavainavesi | Eastern Counties | Colne Community |
|
Fred Betteridge | East Midlands | Bloxham School | Olney |
