The Premiership Rugby U18 Academy League kicked off this weekend as Leicester Tigers and London Irish looked to defend the title that they shared back in the 2019/20 season.
London Irish got off to a stunning start on Saturday lunchtime, a 41-17 victory over Gloucester, but for Leicester Tigers it was a tricky start on Friday night at Bedford Athletic in the big East Midlands derby with Northampton Saints, their great rivals winning a thriller 36-22.
North Pool
That Northampton Saints victory on Friday night kicked the North Pool off, and in stunning fashion, proving to be one of the most competitive games of the whole weekend.
On Saturday the other two games in the North Pool roved into view, Sale Sharks were utterly brilliant at RGS Worcester on Saturday afternoon as they took on Worcester Warriors, securing a 40-13 victory and a wonderful start as they seek their first ever Academy League triumph.
Wasps are also seeking their first title and they got off to the best possible start with a 36-0 victory at Bishop Burton College against the Yorkshire Academy. It was a tough one for the Yorkshire Academy, who performed well but lost some players to injury early and Wasps showed a real ruthlessness to capitalise.
South Pool
The South Pool also began on Friday night as Bath and Bristol Bears met for their derby at Chippenham RFC. Both squads looked incredibly strong and if they perform to their best all season they are going to be tough to beat, but on Friday it was Bristol Bears that had the strongest start to the season, securing an excellent 27-12 victory.
On Saturday things got underway with an 11.30am kick off in Truro as Exeter Chiefs hosted Saracens. Saracens had to stay over on the Friday night to make kick off and that extra time together perhaps paid off as they put in an outstanding performance for a 46-12 victory as they look to add a second title to their 2015 triumph.
The action in the South was all wrapped up fairly early, with London Irish’s excellent 41-17 victory over Gloucester at the Hazelwood training base, a brilliant start for the shared reigning champions.
Coming Up
Round 2 all takes place on Thursday, and Newcastle Falcons and Harlequins enter the fray for the first time after byes this week. Newcastle are heading to Broadstreet to take on Wasps, while Harlequins are at home at Cobham RFC, welcoming London Irish.
Elsewhere, Leicester Tigers host Sale Sharks at Oval Park, with Yorkshire Academy travelling to Bedford Athletic to take on Northampton Saints.
Over in the South Pool Bristol Bears host Gloucester at Dings Crusaders, while Bath head to Harpenden RFC to take on Saracens. Worcester Warriors and Exeter Chiefs have Christmas byes.
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Premiership Rugby U18 Academy League Fixtures:
Round 1
North
Northampton Saints 36-22 Leicester Tigers – Friday, Bedford Athletic
Worcester Warriors 13-40 Sale Sharks – Saturday, RGS Worcester
Yorkshire Academy 0-36 Wasps – Saturday, Bishop Burton College
Newcastle Falcons – Bye
South
Bath 12-27 Bristol Bears – Friday, Chippenham RFC
Exeter Chiefs 12-46 Saracens – Saturday, Truro College
London Irish 41-17 Gloucester – Saturday, 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 (Stourport), 14 Ollie Smith (Hartpury College), 13 Will Pugh (Stourport), 12 Archie Jones (Stourport), 11 Alex Wills (Hartpury College), 10 Dan Chambers (Stourport), 9 Alex Terry (King’s Worcester), 1 Lewys Walsh (Hartpury College), 2 Ethan Allen (Stourport), 3 Will Couch (Hartpury College), 4 George Boyle (King’s Worcester), 5 Harvey Cuckson (Ellesmere College), 6 Will Owen (Ellesmere College), 7 Woody Facey (Hartpury College), 8 Theo Mayell (Monmouth, captain).
Replacements: 16 Loic Keasey (RGS Worcester), 17 Allis Locke (Stourport), 18 Arron Hackett (Stourport), 19 Sam Hawes (King’s Worcester), 20 Owen Boxall (Bishop Vesey’s Grammar), 21 Billy McDonough (Bromsgrove), 22 Jack Condliffe (Stourport), 23 Jacob Clark (Bishop Vesey’s Grammar).
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, 21 Niall Povall, 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 Rhys 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
15 Jack Cullen (St Albans), 14 Micaal McFarlane (Skinners’), 13 Tyler Weeks (Sutton Valence), 12 Tobias Elliott (Berkhamsted), 11 Charlie Reynolds West (Oaklands College), 10 Harry Legg (Simon Langton Grammar), 9 Charlie Bracken (St Albans), 1 Freddie Chapman (Oaklands College), 2 Alex Witchell (Langley Park), 3 Tony Ermwah (St Olave’s Grammar), 4 Anthony Mark (Ashford), 5 Max Eke (St George’s, Harpenden), 6 Jacob Ray (Sutton Valence), 7 Barnaby Merrett (Sutton Valence), 8 Nathan Michelow (Sutton Valence).
Replacements: 16 James Issacs (Berkhamsted), 17 Ikhi Osebor (Haileybury), 18 Charlie Keith (Berkhamsted), 19 Casper Jack (Berkhamsted), 20 Luca Fahy (Berkhamsted), 21 Ben Westcott (Berkhamsted), 22 Max Butler (King’s Rochester), 23 Toby Clinch (Finborough).
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 Kirkham (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)
