It is a crucial week in the Premiership Rugby U18 Academy League this weekend as it is the penultimate round, and indeed for two teams the final round, ahead of Finals Day.

On finals day each side will face their counterpart from the other Pool, so top of the North Pool will play top in the South Pool in the Premiership Rugby U18 Academy League Final, second will play second for third place overall, and so on.

For Sale Sharks and London Irish this is the final game before finals day, they each have their byes in Round 7. For Sale Sharks in particular then, this round is absolutely crucial as they are at the top of the North Pool but only by two points.

Tables

North Pool

South Pool

Their game against Wasps this week will therefore be vital, especially with Northampton Saints having their by this week. In the South It is Bath with the week off this week, but all eyes are likely to quickly turn to Cobham RFC where Harlequins host Bristol Bears in a top of the table clash of the unbeaten teams. They are level on points and this is going to be potentially pool deciding – but look out for Saracens, away at Gloucester this week and then hosting Quins next, their chances of reaching the final are by no means dead I the water.

Images thanks to NickBImages (@nickbimages)

Round 6 Fixtures & Team News:

North (Northampton Saints Bye Week)

Newcastle Falcons v Yorkshire Academy – Saturday 5^th Feb, 2pm, Kingston Park

Newcastle Falcons could close right up towards the top of the table by the end of the weekend’s action, and after back to back wins over Worcester Warriors and Sale Sharks they must be absolutely bouncing with confidence. Their team selection would certainly suggest so, they have named an unchanged starting side from the team that beat Worcester last time out, and on the bench they see Will Gibbons and Sedbergh fly half Will Roue both return having been absent since Round 1, while Sedbergh star Nicolas Bozzo could be in line of a first appearance from the bench.

Yorkshire Academy are still searching for a first victory of the season, but they have been in touch throughout most games. They have reshuffled things a little for this one after their previous outing against Sale Sharks, a narrow 17-16 loss, skipper Harris moves from fly half to scrum half with Irvine coming in at 10 for his first appearance of the campaign. In the forward pack Burrow returns to the second row after missing that game against Sale, with Willard coming in for a first start at 8. On the bench Derbyshire, Raymont, and Yates all return after absences.

Newcastle Falcons

15 Ben Redshaw, 14 Nathan Greenwood, 13 Jez Civil, 12 Will Hindle, 11 Jake Metcalfe, 10 Harry Williams, 9 Ben Douglas, 1 Micky Rewcastle, 2 Charlie Smith, 3 Morgan Hall, 4 Luke Coulston (c), 5 Ayden Knott, 6 Braemar Murray, 7 Ewan Venerus, 8 Zach Oldham.

Replacements: 16 Ben Wright, 17 Isaac Keller, 18 Sam Birkbeck, 19 Finn Baker, 20 Will Gibbons, 21 Freddie Nickals, 22 Will Roue, 23 Nicolas Bozzo.

Yorkshire Academy

15 B Turpin, 14 G Worthington, 13 B Horberry, 12 J Howells, 11 N McCormack, 10 B Irvine, 9 J Harris (c), 1 A Medway, 2 L Inman, 3 P Parker, 4 T Burrow, 5 T Peach, 6 J Billington, 7 J Freeman, 8 H Willard.

Replacements: 16 J Briggs, 17 H Derbyshire, 18 T Raymont, 19 G Heptinstall, 20 E Smith, 21 B Parkin, 22 O Aston, 23 F Yates.

Sale Sharks v Wasps – Sunday 6^th Feb, time TBC, Manchester Met Uni

Sale have changed things up after that tight victory over Yorkshire as they look to finish the campaign on a real high. Charlie Wardle moves from full back to his more familiar fly half spot, with Leo Zheng coming back in at full back. Owain Williams moves from the right to the left wing, with Ben Verbickas returning on the right. Up front there is a first start for George Arnold at loosehead, with Oscar Walsh returning for a first start since Round 2. Ellis Causey also comes into the second row after being on the bench in the previous game, with skipper Huw Davies moving back to number 8 having been in the second row last time out. Yande Nkonge comes back in on the blindside flank, too. 

Wasps last week lost a thriller to Northampton Saints last week and will be looking to bounce back quickly as they chase a high finish. They are boosted by the return of Evans at outside centre, while up front Silman returns to the starting side at hooker and Newcombe comes in for a first start on the openside flank. On the bench BLunsom-Washbrook comes back in for a first appearance since Round 3, Casilio for a first since Round 2, and Barnett for a first since Round 1. Clifford is in line for a first appearance of the season.

Sale Sharks

15 Leo Zheng, 14 Ben Verbickas, 13 Al Whitfield, 12 Ben Motamed, 11 Owain Williams, 10 Charlie Wardle, 9 Will Wootton, 1 George Arnold, 2 Charlie Bancroft, 3 Patreece Bell, 4 Oscar Walsh, 5 Ellis Causey, 6 Yande Nkonge, 7 Tristan Woodman, 8 Huw Davies (c).

Replacements: 16 Rorio Zheng, 17 Jack Ellam, 18 Theo Bishop, 19 Will Riley, 20 Tom Campbell, 21 Niall Povall, 22 Finn Rogers, 23 Henry Harper.

Wasps

15 B Kucera, 14 E Rokodrava, 13 W Evans, 12 J Annand, 11 W Glister, 10 C Mason, 9 M Winterburn, 1 A O’Driscoll, 2 H Silman, 3 A Opoku-Fordjour, 4 C Bell, 5 B McDermott, 6 R Logan, 7 Z Newcombe, 8 B Pogson.

Replacements: 16 O Blunsom-Washbrook, 17 C Aitchison, 18 R Marsh, 19 L McGowan, 20 T Clifford, 21 L Casilio, 22 S Sinclair, 23 D Barnett.

Worcester Warriors v Leicester Tigers, Saturday 5^th Feb, 2pm, Sixways

Worcester have been going well in the league but lost out last time to Newcastle Falcons. They have made a few changes for this game against Leicester Tigers, Will Pugh moves from inside to outside centre, while Archie Jones comes in at inside centre after missing out in Round 5, forming an all-Stouport High centre partnership. Alex Wills of Hartpury College comes in on the left wing after missing the previous two rounds. Up front Ethan Allen and Loic Keasey continue their sharing of the hooker shirt, this week Allen gets the nod, while alongside him Aaron Hackett his Stourport High colleague gets a first start. Ellesmere College’s Will Owen comes into the starting XV after being on the bench last week, while on the bench, Finn Haynes, Woody Facey, and Jacob Clarke all return after varying absences, Matt Smith returns to the squad for the first time since starting in Round 1.

It has been a while since a Leicester Tigers teamsheet, they had a bye in Round 5 and did not publish one in Round 4, where they beat Yorkshire Academy. From the side that narrowly beat Newcastle Falcons in Round 3 though, there are some changes, with Joe Dickson back at full back and George Loose returning at outside centre, meanwhile Morgan Meredith is fit again and playing at fly half. Up front Jack Hurst starts at loosehead, with Max Nolan getting the nod at hooker, though Charlie Barraclough is on the bench. Nathan Hind is in at tighthead, while Charlie Richardson returns in the second row. There is also a first appearance on a published teamsheet for Ross Foxley, wearing number 18.

Worcester Warriors

15 Dan Chambers (Stourport High), 14 Oli Smith (Hartpury College), 13 Will Pugh (Stourport High), 12 Archie Jones (Stourport High), 11 Alex Wills (Hartpury College), 10 Jack Condliffe (Stourport High), 9 Alex Terry (King’s Worcester), 1 Lewys Walsh (Hartpury College), 2 Ethan Allen (Stourport High), 3 Aaron Hackett (Stourport High), 4 Will Chater (King’s Worcester), 5 Harvey Cuckson (Ellesmere College), 6 Will Owen (Ellesmere College), 7 Owen Boxall (Bishop Vesey’s Grammar), 8 Theo Mayell (Monmouth, captain).

Replacements: 16 Loic Keasey (RGS Worcester), 17 Ellis Locke (Stourport High), 18 Finn Haynes (Stourport High), 19 George Boyle (King’s Worcester), 20 Sam Hawes (King’s Worcester), 21 Woody Facey (Hartpury College), 22 Billy McDonough (Bromsgrove), 23 Matt Smith (Stourport High), 24 Jacob Clarke (Bishop Vesey’s Grammar).

Leicester Tigers

15 Joe Dickson, 14 Alexander Garrett, 13 George Loose, 12 Joseph Woodward (c), 11 Samuel Jacques, 10 Morgan Meredith, 9 Matt Durbridge, 1 Jack Hurst, 2 Max Nolan, 3 Nathan Hind, 4 Callum Richardson, 5 Finn Carnduff, 6 Chester Owen, 7 Joshua Manz, 8 Simon Koroiyadi.

Replacements: 16 Tom Wand, 17 Charlie Barraclough, 18 Ross Foxley, 19 Dan Ormerod, 20 Oliver Arnold, 21 Fergus Makepeace, 22 Oscar van Deventer, 23 Max Fairlie.

South (Bath Bye Week)

Harlequins v Bristol Bears – Saturday 5^th Feb, 2pm, Cobham RFC

Without a shadow of a doubt the game of the day. The winner of this one is going to be in pole position to top the South Pool, both arrive unbeaten, with 19 points from a possible total of 20. Quins have the home advantage, but looking further forward they have the tougher next fixture, travelling to rivals Saracens, while Bristol Bears host Exeter Chiefs, whose only victory so far was against Gloucester last week.

Harlequins’ team sees a few changes from the side that defeated Bath last time out. Conor Byrne of Trinity is promoted from the bench to start at full back, with his schoolmate Josh Bellamy going the other way. Hampton’s Ethan Knight moves from the left wing to the right, with Cranleigh’s Jake Golding returning on the left for a first appearance since Round 1. Elsewhere the backline is unchanged, Brighton College’s Charlie Clare and Whitgift’s Sean Kerr are at half back, with King’s Canterbury’s Ludo Kolade and John Fisher’s Ben Waghorn again the centre combination. Up front Wellington College’s Will Ayton comes in a hooker for a first start since Round 1, Worthing College’s Jack Doorey-Palmer is on the bench, with Ethan Clarke, also of Worthing, and Gordon’s Caleb Ahsworth the props. Seaford College’s Jonny Green remains at lock, with Brighton College’s Harry Browne moving from 6 to the second row, schoolmate Jonathan Smith moves from 8 to 6 as Dulwich College’s Zach Carr comes back in at 8, Tom Golder moves to the bench, while Whitgift’s Seb Driscoll is again at openside. Elsewhere on the bench, Jack Wadman and Jack Thomas return after missing round 5.

Bristol Bears make very few changes to the side that beat London Irish last time out. Isaac Campbell Wu of Clifton College comes in at outside centre in a swap from the bench with Henry Hawkins, while at scrum half it is a first start for Pete Carter, who is promoted from the bench, Rhys Price goes the other way. Elsewhere it’s a back three of Sami Hamid, Gabe Lacey, and Tom Ormsby, with Lucas Berti at inside centre and Clifton College star Sam Worsley at 10. Up front Charlie Cox returns at openside in a back row with Ed Harvey and skipper Aaron Tull. Ollie Thraves and Paddy Pearce are again the second row, with Louis Trevett, James Randall, and Jimmy Halliwell the front row. Pete Paramore returns on the bench after missing the previous round, while Tom Gardner could make a first appearance of the campaign.

Harlequins

15 Conor Byrne (Trinity), 14 Ethan Knight (Hampton), 13 Ben Waghorn (John Fisher), 12 Ludo Kolade (King’s Canterbury), 11 Jake Golding (Cranleigh), 10 Sean Kerr (Whitgift), 9 Charlie Clare (Brighton College), 1 Ethan Clarke (Worthing College), 2 Will Ayton (Wellington College), 3 Caleb Ashworth (Gordon’s), 4 Jonny Green (Seaford College), 5 Harry Browne (Brighton College), 6 Jonathan Smith (Brighton College), 7 Seb Driscoll (Harlequins), 8 Zach Carr (Dulwich College).

Replacements: 16 Jack Doorey-Palmer (Worthing College), 17 Claudius Wheeler (St Paul’s), 18 Jack Wadman (Seaford College), 19 Tom Golder (Gordon’s), 20 Murdoch Lock (Wellington College), 21 Jack Thomas (Churcher’s College), 22 Josh Bellamy (Trinity).

Bristol Bears

15 Sami Hamid, 14 Gabe Lacey, 13 Isaac Campbell Wu, 12 Lucas Berti, 11 Tom Ormsby, 10 Sam Worsley, 9 Pete Carter, 1 Louis Trevett, 2 James Randall, 3 Jimmy Halliwell, 4 Ollie Thraves, 5 Paddy Pearce, 6 Aaron Tull (c), 7 Charlie Cox, 8 Ed Harvey.

Replacements: 16 George Davey, 17 Billy Marsden, 18 Billy Moran, 19 Pete Paramore, 20 Tom Gardner, 21 Rhys Price, 22 Henry Hawkins, 23 Jake Smith.

Gloucester v Saracens – Saturday 5^th Feb, 2pm, Cheltenham Tigers

Gloucester are searching for a first victory of the campaign and with back to back home games against Saracens and Bath they will be hoping to do so. They have made a few changes from the side that lost to Exeter last time out, Cheltenham College’s Will Gilderson returns at full back after missing Round 5, meaning a move from full back to outside centre for Dean Close’s Ioan Jones, Cheltenham College’s Tom Riman therefore moves from 13 to 12. Dean Close’s Ben Peters meanwhile makes a first start of the campaign on the right wing. Skipper George Merritt of Dean Close returns at hooker after benching last week, also coming back in from the bench is John Kyrle’s Jack Hall at openside, while Hartpury College’s Sam Vince has a first start at number 8. On the bench Sam Loftus, Bez Williams, Heath Gwilliam, and Bailey Paetel could all make their first appearances.

Saracens, who need a win to stay in the hunt to challenge for top spot away at Quins next weekend, had a bye last round and make a few changes from the side that missed out against Bristol bears the week before. Tobias Elliott is sadly missing so Simon Langton’s Harry Legg moves from fly half to full back, with Finborough’s Louie Sinclair promoted from the bench to fly half. Sutton Valence’s Tyler Weeks returns at outside centre, which means a shift in one for schoolmate Jenson McInulty, while up front there is a first start for Gravesend Grammar second row Olamide Sodeke, Berkhamsted’s Luca Fahy returns at openside after being on the bench last time out. On the bench Ollie Webb returns for a first appearance since Round 2, while it could be first appearances of the competition so far for Henry Walker, Max Wheeler, James Boylan, and Ben Mills.

Gloucester

15 Will Gilderson (Cheltenham College), 14 Ben Peters (Dean Close), 13 Ioan Jones (Dean Close), 12 Tom Riman (Cheltenham College), 11 Ty Lewis (Hartpury College), 10 Keillen Cullen (Hartpury College), 9 Joe Adams (Hartpury College), 1 Tyler Harvey (Park House), 2 George Merritt (Dean Close, captain), 3 Henry Pearson (Hartpury College), 4 Rhys Ford (Hartpury College), 5 Mikey Nixon (Sir Thomas Rich’s), 6 Sam Anson (Cleeve), 7 Jack Hall (John Kyrle), 8 Sam Vince (Hartpury College).

Replacements: 16 Sam Loftus (Sir Thomas Rich’s), 17 Will Hurn (Sir Thomas Rich’s), 18 Bez Williams (Hartpury College), 19 Fin Jones (Hartpury College), 20 Heath Gwilliam (Cheltenham College), 21 Bailey Paetel (Hartpury College), 22 Max Knight (Hartpury College), 23 Nathan Thomson-Lee (Hartpury College).

Saracens

15 Harry Legg (Simon Langton), 14 Micaal McFarlane (Skinners’), 13 Tyler Weeks (Sutton Valence), 12 Jenson McInulty (Sutton Valence), 11 Charlie Reynolds-West (Oaklands College), 10 Louie Sinclair (Finborough), 9 Charlie Bracken (St Albans), 1 Ikhi Osebor (Haileybury), 2 James Isaacs (Berkhamsted), 3 Charlie Keith (Berkhamsted), 4 Olamide Sodeke (Gravesend Grammar), 5 Max Eke (St George’s, Harpenden), 6 Barnaby Merrett (Sutton Valence), 7 Luca Fahy (Berkhamsted), 8 Nathan Michelow (Sutton Valence).

Replacements: 16 Henry Walker (Hartpury College), 17 Freddie Chapman (Oaklands College), 18 Max Wheeler (Bethany), 19 James Boylan (Berkhamsted), 20 Ollie Webb (Berkhamsted) 21 Ben Mills (Brentwood), 22 Tom Barton (Sutton Valence), 23 Jack Cullen (St Albans).

London Irish v Exeter Chiefs – Saturday 5^th Feb, 1.30pm, Hazelwood

Following on from their first victory of the campaign last time out against Gloucester, Exeter Chiefs are late out with their teamsheet so there is none available at the time of writing. London Irish lost out to Bristol Bears last time, but though they are on a tough run of results, they have been incredibly competitive in those defeats. They do make a few changes from that Round 5 side though, Matt Salisbury of Bishop Wand returns to the starting side at full back, meaning a move for Henley College’s George Cubbit Makepeace from full back to outside centre. Wellington College’s Solomon Arbuthnot-Whittaker meanwhile is promoted to start on the left wing. Up front Tolii Reeves-Hall steps up from the bench to the loosehead. On the bench, Cranleigh’s Oban Baird returns for the first time since Round 2, so too Jack Lee of Millfield and Angelo Valentine of Henley College. Harrow’s George Hamblin also returns after missing that last game while Wellington College’s Ben Frampton could make a first appearance of the campaign.

London Irish

15 Matt Salisbury (Bishop Wand), 14 Sam Rockley (Bishop Wand), 13 George Cubitt Makepeace (Henley College), 12 Connor Cross (Hampton), 11 Solomon Arbuthnot-Whittaker (Wellington College), 10 Rory Taylor (Wellington College), 9 Ollie Allan (Bishop Wand), 1 Tolii Reeves-Hall (Bishop Wand), 2 Rhys Day (Epsom College), 3 Afolabi Fasogbon (Bishop Wand), 4 Connor O’Byrne (Wellington College), 5 Jarlath Gleeson (City of London Freemen’s), 6 Will Dempster (Claire’s Court), 7 Louie Kirkham (Bishop Wand, captain), 8 Oliver Stirling (Harrow).

Replacements: 16 Oban Baird (Cranleigh), 17 Kassim Dawud (Bishop Wand), 18 Jack Lee (Millfield), 19 George Hamblin (Harrow), 20 Oscar Grantham (Bishop Wand), 21 Alex Enright (Bishop Wand), 22 Angelo Valentine (Henley College), 23 Ben Frampton (Wellington College).

Salisbury promoted from bench to 15 (first start since R3), Cubitt Makepeace from 15 to 13, Enright to bench, Oscar Daniel out, Arbuthnot-Whittaker from bench to 11. Reeves-Hall promoted from bench to 1, Oran Murphy out. Bench: Baird returns, first game since R2, Lee returns, first game since R2, Hamblin returns, missed R5, Valentine returns, first game since starting R2, Frampton could make debut.

Exeter Chiefs – N/A

If you have any photos, video, reports, or any other content from the week’s U18 Academy League rugby then please do send it in via our social media channels or admin@nextgenxv.com and if you are interested in us live streaming one of your games or an event then please do get in touch!

Don’t forget our Talent Hub is now live! Whether you are looking for talent or are a talent looking to be noticed sign up by clicking here.

Round 5 Results

North

Newcastle Falcons 31-10 Worcester Warriors

Wasps 32-45 Northampton Saints

Yorkshire Academy 16-17 Sale Sharks

Leicester Tigers – Bye 

South

Exeter Chiefs 17-14 Gloucester

Harlequins 31-21 Bath

London Irish 14-27 Bristol Bears

Saracens – Bye 

Round 4 Results:

North

Leicester Tigers 37-14 Yorkshire Academy

Sale Sharks 12-26 Newcastle Falcons

Worcester Warriors 27-24 Northampton Saints

Wasps – Bye 

South

Bath 19-14 London Irish

Bristol Bears 36-31 Saracens

Exeter Chiefs 24-29 Harlequins

Gloucester – Bye 

Round 3 Results:

North

Newcastle Falcons 24-27 Leicester Tigers

Sale Sharks 45-19 Northampton Saints

Wasps 14-24 Worcester Warriors

Yorkshire Academy – Bye

South

Bath 26-12 Exeter Chiefs

Gloucester 12-47 Harlequins

Saracens 17-14 London Irish

Bristol Bears – Bye

Round 2 Results:

North

Leicester Tigers 15-33 Sale Sharks

Northampton Saints 36-19 Yorkshire Academy

Wasps 20-14 Newcastle Falcons

Worcester Warriors – Bye

South

Bristol Bears 25-3 Gloucester

Harlequins 21-17 London Irish

Saracens 39-12 Bath

Exeter Chiefs – Bye

Round 1 Results:

North

Northampton Saints 36-22 Leicester Tigers 

Worcester Warriors 13-40 Sale Sharks

Yorkshire Academy 0-36 Wasps

Newcastle Falcons – Bye

South

Bath 12-27 Bristol Bears

Exeter Chiefs 12-46 Saracens

London Irish 41-17 Gloucester

Harlequins – Bye

Future Fixtures:

Round 7

North

Leicester Tigers v Wasps – Saturday 12^th Feb 5pm, Welford Road

Northampton Saints v Newcastle Falcons – Saturday 12^th Feb, 2pm, Franklin’s Gardens

Yorkshire Academy v Worcester Warriors – Saturday 12^th Feb, 2pm, Doncaster Knights

Sale Sharks – Bye

South

Bristol Bears v Exeter Chiefs – Saturday 12^th Feb, 1pm, Dings Crusaders

Gloucester v Bath – Saturday 12^th Feb, 2pm, Kingsholm

Saracens v Harlequins – Saturday 12^th Feb, 1pm, StoneX

London Irish – Bye

Finals Day: Saturday/Sunday 19^th/20^th February – Venue TBC (7 games)