Academy intake

[Epaminondas Pules]

It is that time of year where (some) clubs announce who will be joining their senior academies after graduating from schoolboy rugby this summer.

Saracens:

Alan Poku

Poku already has international experience under his belt, the loosehead represented England in the U18 Six Nations Festival last month. Hailing from Bishop Wand, Poku will add a dynamic and powerful option to Mark McCall’s front row.

Alex Mason

With the ability to play across the backline, more specifically outside centre and fullback, Mason joins Saracens from Berkhamsted School following in the footsteps of Tobias Elliott.

Asa Stewart-Harris

Stewart-Harris has represented England at both U18 and U19 level in the last 12 months, captaining his club and country on occasions. A born leader, the St Albans School boy will hone his scrum half skills off experienced operators Gareth Simpson and Ivan Van Zyl in the senior side.

Ben Morrow

The full-back caught eyes at the recent London City Sevens event having spent his schooling years at Millfield School. Son of Phil Morrow, Ben has grown up at Saracens and will be given the chance to pull on the senior shirt in competitive action in the coming months.

Finn Keylock

Keylock joins from Bishop Wand having previously been a part of the London South Central academy. The fly-half has also been handed international honours touring to South Africa at the start of this season with the England U18 side.

Fraser Rawlins

Despite being waylaid with injury throughout most of this campaign, Rawlins more than proved his worth during the England U18 tour to South Africa last season bagging an impressive brace against Georgia. The centre played his school rugby for Haileybury having been a part of the Saracens set-up for his teenage years.

Gabriel Registe

Registe made an instant impact at the start of the U18 Premiership Rugby campaign picking up a try in the opening fixture against Bristol Bears. Since then, Registe has gone on to play for England at tight head whilst also graduating through Campion school.

Jack Murphy

Murphy has had difficulty with injury over the past few months but in a similar vein to Rawlins impressed heavily over the last year. Standing at 6”6 the second rower travelled on the tour to South Africa at the start of the season whilst also representing Colfe’s at schoolboy level.

Jack Marshall

Having captained the Saracens academy team through a successful U18 Premiership season, the back rower made his England U18 debut last August against Ireland. Studying at Campion, Marshall follows the likes of Maro Itoje having captained age-grade Saracens sides.

Mathis Dehauteur

Another rangy lock forward, Dehauteur had an eye catching U18 Academy rugby season. Having scored against Exeter in the first home fixture of the campaign.

Matthew Branch-Holland

A recent feature of the England U18s Six Nations Squad, Branch-Holland has been an integral cog in the success of the Saracens academy side of the last 12 months. With the ability to play across the back row, Branch-Holland will hope to continue his good form into his time with Saracens having completed his studies at Ravens Wood.

Noah Caluori

The winger joins from Mill Hill having impressed at School, Club and Country level during his time in the age-grade system. Saracens top try scorer for the U18 Premiership League, Caluori brings an exciting energy to the senior side.

Owen Gillett

Another player who can play across the front row, Felsted school boy Owen Gillett will sign for the Senior Academy after featuring across the U18 Premiership campaign.

Patrick Keaveney

Having been awarded player of the match in the Continental Tyres Schools Cup Final, Keaveney has impressed in a Harrow shirt as well as for Saracens in both half-back roles. Primarily a fly-half, Keaveney joins the squad fresh off a wonder score at Allianz Stadium in Harrow’s Schools Cup victory.

Ryan Jones

A fellow Mill Hill student, Jones has the ability to play multiple positions in the backline. Having found a place in the centres, Jones vice-captained the Saracens U18 squad that placed 3rd in this year’s Academy League.

Seva Kava

Seva Kava joins from Millfield School having represented Saracens and England age-grade sides over the last two years. Kava joins as an explosive winger with creative flair and an eye for the line.

Zac Finch

Finch joined the academy late on in his rugby career but has since shone out wide for Sarries. Having impressed in the Academy league, Finch has earnt caps in the U18 Six Nations festival scoring on his England U18 debut.

One hell on an intake from Sarries this year. Lots of age grade internationals. Particular shouts to Poku who looks like a very good loosehead, and backs Keylock, Morrow, Asa-Harris, Finch. Keva and Calouri. Special mention to Fraser Rawlins who has had a terrible season with injury, but is one of the most talented lads coming out of schools rugby this year.

Also side note to Keaveney who has been superb for Harrow but not had the chance at international level, in what is one of the most competitive positions in the England squad.

[Puja]

Gods bless your little cotton socks for doing this. A++++ content, very much appreciated.

Puja

[Epaminondas Pules]

Harlequins:
PLAYERS:
SAM BLAND

Position: Tighthead

Club: Wharfdale RFC

School: Bishop Burton College

Honours: England Under-18s

Sam Bland joins the Senior Academy from the Yorkshire Rugby Academy Under-18s programme.

FELIX CHAMPAIN *

Position: Fly-half

Club: East Grinstead RFC

School: Worth School

Honours: England Under-18s

FINLAY CUNNISON

Position: Centre

Club: Chobham RFC

School: Bishop Wand School

JEROLD GORLEKU

Position: Hooker

Club: Twickenham RFC

School: Bishop Wand School

Honours: England Under-18s

ASHTON GRAHAM

Position: Hooker

Club: London Irish

School: Gordon’s School

MATH JONES*

Position: Fly-half

Club: Penybanc RFC

School: Gordon’s School

Honours: Wales Under-19

NICK LYNAGH*

Position: Wing

Club: Richmond Rugby

School: Hampton School

THEO POVEY*

Position: Wing

Club: Rosslyn Park

School: Gordon’s School

SEAN SHARP

Position: Full-back

Club: Old Alleynians

School: Seaford College

Honours: England Under-19s

ELLIOT WILLIAMS

Position: Back Row

School: Gordon’s School

Honours: England Under 18s & Under-19s

TATE WILLIAMS

Position: Back Row

Club: East Grinstead RFC

School: Worth School

Honours: England Under-18s

*Denotes players who have currently been awarded a short-term contract and will be on trial until the end of pre-season (Sept 2025)

A decent intake from Quins with a few lads on trial. Looks like a straight shootout between Math Jones and Felix Champain for the fly half berth. Champain, like Rawlins for Sarries, has had an awful injury plagued season, but has been a standout previously at international level as well as schools and club U18 rugby. Can play 10 outwards, and often pushed out to 12 with England.

Gorleku is a recent convert to hooker from prop and making great strides!

Sean Sharp looks a bit special. One of a few fullbacks graduating out of schools rugby that looks, at this early stage, like they have the talent to go the whole way.

All the headlines will be Lynagh. He's got a trial, but isn't by any stretch a standout. He's decent, don't get me wrong, but not the level of say Sharp as an example.

[Epaminondas Pules]

Gods bless your little cotton socks for doing this. A++++ content, very much appreciated.

Puja

To be fair, the mains bits are a copy and paste from the clubs websites. Clubs like Sarries are really good at talking about the next generation.

I just add a little personal perspective

[Danno]

Cheers EP

Where's the rest?

[Stom]

Great to see Gorleku from my old club. I'll be honest that I don't follow them, and we were utterly terrible when I played

[Banquo]

Great to see Gorleku from my old club. I'll be honest that I don't follow them, and we were utterly terrible when I played

not magic then?

[Tigersman]

Will be interesting which players are considering surprising to have missed out

[Stom]

Great to see Gorleku from my old club. I'll be honest that I don't follow them, and we were utterly terrible when I played

not magic then?

Club, not school :p Yeah, my school were almost as bad as Twickenham, but we at least had 2 Richmond players, who were actually good.

[Banquo]

Great to see Gorleku from my old club. I'll be honest that I don't follow them, and we were utterly terrible when I played

not magic then?

Club, not school :p Yeah, my school were almost as bad as Twickenham, but we at least had 2 Richmond players, who were actually good.

doh!! wharfedale used to be a pretty decent 1st team at NL1 level?


eta NL2 now

[Which Tyler]

https://www.bathrugby.com/content/class ... bath-rugby



ALEX RIDGWAY

The former Glan-y-Mor comprehensive school pupil who later joined the Upper Sixth at Beechen Cliff School in Bath, first started playing tag rugby after joining the U8s side at Burry Port RFC and that’s where he “fell in love with the sport”.

When asked what it meant to him to be signing for Bath, Ridgway paid huge tribute to his father, a tighthead prop who used to play for Llanelli RFC for “teaching him everything I know.”

“To be honest, it doesn’t feel real to be signing a Senior Academy contract with Bath Rugby,” said the Wales U18s back rower. “When I first found out about it, I spoke to my dad, and I think he was more excited than me! I’ve always looked up to him since I was a boy and for him to find out that his son has signed with one of the biggest rugby teams in Europe, it just feels unreal. I can’t wait to see where this club will take me.”



JACK HARRISON

The young centre first started playing rugby at the age of 11 after joining a session at his local club. From that first introduction, and playing for Cambrian RFC, things started to click, and the Beechen Cliff School pupil hasn’t looked back since.

“It’s a dream come true, coming here aged 16, as soon as I stepped through the door here at Farleigh it’s always been a goal of mine to sign. Every time I go to watch a Bath game, that feeling of running out at The Rec is something I want to experience and work towards. I want to become a better rugby player and see where that can take me.”



JAMES LINEGAR

The young fly-half’s first rugby club was Bradford on Avon RFC until U15s before joining Chippenham RFC. The Kingswood School pupil, formerly at Springmead Junior School, has also gone on to make his England debut with the U18s where he’s already impressed on the international stage. Linegar was also a key member of the Bath side that were crowned Premiership U18 League champions last season, before reaching the final again earlier this year.

On signing his Senior Academy contract at Bath, Linegar said: “Now it’s about taking that next step into the senior environment and this year I really want to push on with that. I have always dreamed of playing for Bath. I will strive now to make my Premiership debut for Bath whenever that may be. This club is, at the moment, one of the best clubs in the world and I believe it’s going to continue like that for many years to come. Being here and being a part of that I hope for many more years to come is special.”

Harrison, who has represented Wales U18s, was a member of the Bath Rugby U18s squad that reached back-to-back finals at that age-group level and spoke about the benefits of rubbing shoulders with senior centres such as Max Ojomoh, Cam Redpath, and Will Butt on the training pitch.

“Watching what they do, rubbing shoulders with them, that makes me even more excited to get started,” he said.



SAM WINTERS

Named captain of Harrow School 1st XV this year, Winters’ season has unfortunately been affected by injury however a return to full fitness was rewarded with a call-up to England U19s for their recent fixture against Scotland.

The full-back started playing rugby as a six-year-old for Henley Hawks thanks to his dad taking him down to the club, and via Moulsford Preparatory school he later excelled at Harrow, following in the footsteps of fellow Bath Rugby Academy players Kepu Tuipulotu and Charlie Griffin.

“It’s been awesome and all very exciting since last year,” said Sam. “What a great place and what an amazing club. If you’d have said 18-months ago that I’d be signing for Bath, I would have said ‘wow’! Seeing Kepu and Charlie doing really well, even though they are only a year above, they are role models and seeing them take that path makes everything more realistic.”



OSCAR THOMAS

The Wellington College pupil, formerly at Moulsford Prep School, first started playing football in Devizes but after moving to Reading he joined Henley Hawks Rugby Club.

The hooker linked up with Bath Rugby U18s last season from London Irish and has also been capped by England at U18 level.

On signing his Senior Academy contract, Thomas said: “It’s pretty amazing. You grow up dreaming about this and then for the hard work to pay off is pretty cool. I am just looking forward now to getting into pre-season and mixing with all the lads who have already been really welcoming.”

“Just to get a tiny bit of information in training (off the club’s senior hookers) is an absolute gem, the likes of Tom Dunn, it will be great to be around players like him.”

[Which Tyler]

If they don't get distracted / injured, then Linegar and Winters are set for big things.
Could have sworn that Linegar was amongst last year's additions though

ETA: Must have been thinking of this one: https://www.bathrugby.com/content/fly-h ... bath-rugby

[Epaminondas Pules]

Think they signed him last year to avoid anyone nabbing him once he got to this stage.

And yes Linegar and Winters are proper, proper exciting talents!

[Epaminondas Pules]

Should have said on the Quins one that Sam Bland signed from Yorkshire academy. Longstaff did the same last season when he signed for Sale.