The Premiership Rugby U18 Academy League begins on Friday night with two opening round games followed by a further four games on Saturday.
The fourteen sides are split into two conferences of seven, North and South, with one team in each having a bye each round, Newcastle Falcons and Harlequins have the byes this week.
North Pool
The North Pool kicks off on Friday night at 7pm at Bedford Athletic with the East Midlands derby, Northampton Saints v Leicester Tigers, Tigers have won or shared the last three editions of the competition, sharing with London Irish in 2019/20, and winning outright in 2018/19 and 2017/18, the 2020/21 season was cancelled due to Covid. Both sides have some hugely exciting players in their ranks, look out for Frankie Slieghtholme on the left wing for Saints especially, while Leicester Tigers skipper Joseph Woodward at inside centre is among a number of Tigers players that could well lead a similar charge to some of their elder counterparts.
Up next in the North is a 2pm kick of on Saturday between Yorkshire Academy and Wasps at Bishop Burton College. The Yorkshire Academy has been born from the ashes of the old Leeds Carnegie academy and is fast becoming one of the most forward thinking in the country, who take real pride in making these games special for their players and promoting their achievement. They are led by Harris at scrum half and take on a talented Wasps side that is led by Hornby in the second row, look out for Logan in the back row too, often found on the wing for his school, Berkhamsted.
Finally in the North is the 2.30pm kick off at RGS Worcester between Worcester Warriors and Sale Sharks. Theo Mayall leads Worcester from number 8 and it’s a big head to head for him against Sale Sharks skipper Huw Davies, and with the likes of Aaron Pope in the side too, it looks a strong Sale unit.
South Pool
To the South, where the action kicks off at 7.30pm on Friday night as Bath and Bristol Bears go head to head at Chippenham RFC. The two sides look incredibly strong, and the Bath side is going to feel very comfortable around one another as they come from just four schools, they are led by Sherborne’s Arthur Green, who along with the outstanding Will Parry is one of two Sherborne players in the side, and if you need any reminders of Parry’s class check him out in the highlights of Sherborne’s win over Harrow above. The rest of the team consists of 5 Beechen Cliff players, Marlborough College’s Byron Lloyd-Gilmour, and 7 Millfield players including their captain Eric Nixon-Castillo and Bath vice captain, Sam Harris, who helped guide Millfield to victory over Clifton College, highlights of which you can see below. Clifton College contribute a number of players to the Bristol Bears side, not least captain Aaron Tull, who starts on the blindside flank. It should be an epic contest.
The next game in the South is an 11.30am kick off between Exeter Chiefs and Saracens at Truro College on Saturday and, unusually, Exeter Chiefs have named their team! They are led by second row Joe Bailey and also include the likes of Jeremy Tuima and Charlie Groves among their impressive looking side. At the time of writing, Saracens are yet to name their side but are usually reliable for doing so, so await news on that front.
The South action wraps up still relatively early on Friday with a 12pm kick off at Hazelwood between London Irish and Gloucester. London Irish are led by Bishop Wand skipper Kirkham and include the likes of Epsom College’s Bird and Harrow’s Stirling in a seriously strong pack, with a backline that includes Wellington College’s Taylor that looks very exciting too. Gloucester meanwhile are led by hooker George Merritt and include some exciting players, among the Mikey Nixon and Will Gilderson for what should be a fantastic midday kick off.
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Premiership Rugby U18 Academy League Fixtures:
Round 1
North
Northampton Saints v Leicester Tigers – Friday 17th Dec, 7pm, Bedford Athletic
Worcester Warriors v Sale Sharks – Saturday 18th Dec, 2.30pm, RGS Worcester
Yorkshire Academy v Wasps – Saturday 18th Dec, 2pm, Bishop Burton College
Newcastle Falcons – Bye
South
Bath v Bristol Bears – Friday 17th Dec, 7.30pm, Chippenham RFC
Exeter Chiefs v Saracens – Saturday 18th Dec, 11.30am, Truro College
London Irish v Gloucester – Saturday 18th Dec, 12pm, Hazelwood
Harlequins – Bye
Team News:
North
Northampton Saints
15 Jody Devine (Samuel Whitbread Academy), 14 Ethan Thorne (St Joseph’s College), 13 Toby Cousins (Oakham), 12 Archie Kean (Royal Hospital School), 11 Frankie Sleightholme (Northampton School for Boys), 10 Ewan Baker (Stowe), 9 Archie McParland (Stowe), 1 Sam Ferrari (Samuel Whitbread Academy), 2 Craig Wright (Felsted), 3 Nicholas Tarr (Mark Rutherford School), 4 James Bennett (Bedford), 5 Carn Richards-Farr (Birchwood High), 6 George Lavendar (Colchester RGS), 7 Ted Reid (Colchester RGS), 8 George Patten (Northampton School for Boys).
Replacements: 16 Yuijan Zou (The Perse), 17 Callum Smyth (Bedford), 18 Dave Bennett (Rugby), 19 Aiden Kabi (Oundle), 20 Levi Wilson (St Joseph’s College), 21 Harry Hall (Ipswich), 22 Toby Thame (Wesley College), 23 Sonny Rodella (Northampton School for Boys).
Leicester Tigers
15 Max Fairlie (King’s Grantham), 14 Ben Moore (Brooksby Melton College), 13 George Loose (Gresham’s), 12 Joseph Woodward (Brooksby Melton College, captain), 11 Samuel Jacques (Brooksby Melton College), 10 Morgan Meredith (Brooksby Melton College), 9 Fergus Makepeace (Uppingham), 1 Jack Hurst (Brooksby Melton College), 2 Charlie Barraclough (Denstone College), 3 Nathan Hind (Brooksby Melton College), 4 Callum Richardson (Gresham’s), 5 Finn Carnduff (Leicester Grammar), 6 Joshua Manz (Northampton School for Boys), 7 Oliver Arnold (Uppingham), 8 Simon Koroiyadi (Trent College).
Replacements: 16 Max Nolan (Brooksby Melton College), 17 Tom Wand (Brooksby Melton College), 18 Oliver Crane (Oakham), 19 Dan Ormerod (Oakham), 20 Chester Owen (Brooksby Melton College), 21 Oscar McCarthy (Leicester Grammar), 22 Ben Taylor (Oakham), 23 Oscar van Deventer (Denstone College).
Worcester Warriors
15 Matt Smith, 14 Ollie Smith, 13 Will Pugh, 12 Archie Jones, 11 Alex Wills, 10 Dan Chambers, 9 Alex Terry, 1 Lewys Walsh, 2 Ethan Allen, 3 Will Couch, 4 George Boyle, 5 Harvey Cuckson, 6 Will Owen, 7 Woody Facey, 8 Theo Mayell (c).
Replacements: 16 Loic Keasey, 17 Allis Locke, 18 Arron Hackett, 19 Sam Hawes, 20 Owen Boxall, 21 Billy McDonough, 22 Jack Condliffe, 23 Jacob Clark.
Sale Sharks
15 Leo Zheng, 14 Ben Verbickas, 13 Aaron Pope, 12 Ben Motamed, 11 Owain Williams, 10 Charlie Wardle, 9 Will Wootton, 1 Jack Ellam, 2 Harry Thompson, 3 Theo Bishop, 4 Oscar Walsh, 5 Ellis Causey, 6 Yande Nkonge, 7 Tristan Woodman, 8 Huw Davies (c).
Replacements: 16 Charlie Bancroft, 17 Gareth Parry, 18 Petreece Bell, 19 Frank Chatterton, 20 Patrick Jones, 22 Fin Rogers, 23 Alex Whitfield.
Yorkshire Academy
15 F Yates, 14 G Worthington, 13 B Horberry, 12 D Talakai, 11 O Aston, 10 B Turpin, 9 J Harris (c), 1 P Parker, 2 L Inman, 3 H Derbyshire, 4 T Burrow, 5 H Mathew, 6 H du Boulay, 7 J Briggs, 8 G Heptinstall.
Replacements: 16 H Hussain, 17 T Raymont, 18 T Peach, 19 J Billington, 20 J Freeman, 21 B Parkin, 22 G Chaffer.
Wasps
15 B Kucera, 14 E Rokodrava, 13 S Sinclair, 12 W Evans, 11 W Glister, 10 J Annand, 9 M Winterburn, 1 C Aitchison, 2 K Jones, 3 A Opoku-Fordjour, 4 M Hornby (c), 5 C Bell, 6 R Logan, 7 G Ward, 8 B Pogson.
Replacements: 16 E Adablah, 17 A O’Driscoll, 18 J Farmer, 19 W Blakesley-Grimes, 20 B McDermott, 21 L Casilio, 22 C Myall, 23 D Barnett.
South
Bath
15 Byron Lloyd-Gilmour (Marlborough College), 14 Mckenzi Rawlings (Beechen Cliff), 13 Will Parry (Sherborne), 12 Sam Harris (Millfield, vc), 11 Max Ashton (Beechen Cliff), 10 Raff Weston (Beechen Cliff), 9 Ieuan Davies (Millfield), 1 Eric Nixon-Castillo (Millfield), 2 Max Pearce (Millfield), 3 Billy Sela (Beechen Cliff), 4 Eddie Erskine (Millfield), 5 Will Jeanes (Beechen Cliff), 6 Max Jenkins (Millfield), 7 Archie McKibbin (Millfield), 8 Arthur Green (Sherborne, captain).
Replacements: 16 Tommy McLean (Beechen Cliff), 17 Tom Hill (Wells Cathedral), 18 Ellis Baker Millfield), 19 George Timmins (Millfield), 20 Kacey Pike (Beechen Cliff), 21 Sam Curwen (Millfield), 22 Harry Carson (Millfield), 23 Rory Crum (Beechen Cliff).
Bristol Bears
15 Sami Hamid, 14 Gabe Lacey, 13 Tom Stolliday, 12 Lucas Berti, 11 Jamie Wood, 10 Henry Hawkins, 9 Rhus Price, 1 Louis Trevett, 2 James Randall, 3 Billy Moran, 4 Ollie Thraves, 5 Paddy Pearce, 6 Aaron Tull (c), 7 Charlie Cox, 8 Ed Harvey.
Replacements: 16 George Davey, 17 Louis White, 18 Jimmy Halliwell, 19 Ted Harrison, 20 Archie Prewett, 21 Pete Carter, 22 Tom Ormsby, 23 Isaac Cambell-Wu.
Exeter Chiefs
15 Charlie Groves, 14 Jayden Pitcher-Oakes, 13 Jack Statton, 12 Jeremy Tuima, 11 Dan Hamilton-Strong, 10 Matt Smale, 9 Joe Walker, 1 Joe Thomson, 2 Pete Harris, 3 Tom Gulley, 4 Joe Clarke, 5 Joe Bailey (c), 6 Ed Spurway, 7 Seth Findley, 8 Jago Sheppard.
Replacements: 16 Jack Ballett, 17 Rowan Lawrence, 18 Archie Rolls, 19 Barnaby Elderkin, 20 Ben Hobbs, 21 Max Fergusson, 22 George Edson, 23 Louie Drennan.
Saracens
TBC
London Irish
15 Cubbit-Makepeace (Henley College), 14 Williamson (Bishop Wand), 13 Daniel (Mill Hill), 12 Enright (Bishop Wand), 11 Rockley (Bishop Wand), 10 Taylor (Wellington College), 9 Allan (Bishop Wand), 1 Murphy (Hinchley Wood), 2 Day (Epsom College), 3 Fasogbon (Bishop Wand), 4 Stirling (Harrow), 5 Worley-Brady (Bishop Wand), 6 Allan (Bishop Wand), 7 Kikrham (Bishop Wand, captain), 8 Bird (Epsom College).
Replacements: 16 Baird (Cranleigh), 17 Akpos (Henley College), 18 Reeves-Hall (Bishop Wand), 19 Lee (Millfield), 20 Grantham (Bishop Wand), 21 Salisbury (Bishop Wand), 22 Valentine (Henley College).
Gloucester
15 Will Gilderson, 14 Nathan Thomson-Lee, 13 Ty Lewis, 12 Tom Samak, 11 Archie Hossack, 10 Keillen Cullen, 9 Joe Adams, 1 Will Hurn, 2 George Merritt (c), 3 Henry Pearson, 4 Rhys Ford, 5 Mikey Nixon, 6 Freddie Stevens, 7 Casey Williams, 8 Tom Worts.
Replacements: 16 Tom Cabot, 17 Fred Ma’a, 18 Sam Anson, 19 Jack Hall, 20 Stan Folks-Underhill, 21 Ben Peters.
Round 2
North
Leicester Tigers v Sale Sharks – Thursday 23rd Dec, 2pm, Oval Park
Northampton Saints v Yorkshire Academy – Thursday 23rd Dec, 2pm, Bedford Athletic
Wasps v Newcastle Falcons – Thursday 23rd Dec, 3pm, Broadstreet RFC
Worcester Warriors – Bye
South
Bristol Bears v Gloucester – Thursday 23rd Dec, 2.30pm, Dings Crusaders
Harlequins v London Irish – Thursday 23rd Dec, 12pm, Cobham RFC
Saracens v Bath – Thursday 23rd Dec, 1.30pm, Harpenden RFC
Exeter Chiefs – Bye
Round 3
North
Newcastle Falcons v Leicester Tigers – Saturday 8th Jan, 5.15pm, Kingston Park
Sale Sharks v Northampton Saints – Sunday 9th Jan, 2pm, Heywood Road
Wasps v Worcester Warriors – Saturday 8th Jan, 2pm, Aylesbury RFC
Yorkshire Academy – Bye
South
Bath v Exeter Chiefs – Saturday 8th Jan, 1pm, Marlborough College
Gloucester v Harlequins – Saturday 8th Jan, 12pm, Kingsholm
Saracens v London Irish – Saturday 8th Jan, 12pm, Harpenden RFC
Bristol Bears – Bye
Round 4
North
Leicester Tigers v Yorkshire Academy – Saturday 15th Jan, 5pm, Loughborough Uni
Sale Sharks v Newcastle Falcons – Sunday 16th Jan, 2pm, Heywood Road
Worcester Warriors v Northampton Saints – Sunday 16th Jan, time TBC, Sixways
Wasps – Bye
South
Bath v London Irish – Saturday 15th Jan, 12.15pm Chippenham RFC
Bristol Bears v Saracens – Saturday 15th Jan, 1.30pm, Dings Crusaders
Exeter Chiefs v Harlequins – Saturday 15th Jan, 12pm, Truro College
Gloucester – Bye
Round 5
North
Newcastle Falcons v Worcester Warriors – Saturday 22nd Jan, 2pm, Kingston Park
Wasps v Northampton Saints – Saturday 22nd Jan, 2pm, Aylesbury RFC
Yorkshire Academy v Sale Sharks – Sunday 23rd Jan, 3pm, Keighly RUFC
Leicester Tigers – Bye
South
Exeter Chiefs v Gloucester – Saturday 22nd Jan, 2pm, Truro College
Harlequins v Bath – Saturday 22nd Jan, 2pm, Venue TBC
London Irish v Bristol Bears – Saturday 22nd Jan, 1pm, Hazelwood
Saracens – Bye
Round 6
North
Newcastle Falcons v Yorkshire Academy – Saturday 5th Feb, 2pm, Kingston Park
Sale Sharks v Wasps – Sunday 6th Feb, time TBC, Manchester Met Uni
Worcester Warriors v Leicester Tigers, Saturday 5th Feb, 2pm, Sixways
Northampton Saints – Bye
South
Harlequins v Bristol Bears – Saturday 5th Feb, 2pm, Cobham RFC
Gloucester v Saracens – Saturday 5th Feb, 2pm, Cheltenham Tigers
London Irish v Exeter Chiefs – Saturday 5th Feb, 1.30pm, Hazelwood
Bath – Bye
Round 7
North
Leicester Tigers v Wasps – Saturday 12th Feb 5pm, Welford Road
Northampton Saints v Newcastle Falcons – Saturday 12th Feb, 2pm, Franklin’s Gardens
Yorkshire Academy v Worcester Warriors – Saturday 12th Feb, 2pm, Doncaster Knights
Sale Sharks – Bye
South
Bristol Bears v Exeter Chiefs – Saturday 12th Feb, Dings Crusaders
Gloucester v Bath – Saturday 12th Feb, 2pm, Kingsholm
Saracens v Harlequins – Saturday 12th Feb, 1pm, StoneX
London Irish – Bye
Finals Day: Saturday/Sunday 19th/20th February – Venue TBC (7 games)
