The Premiership Rugby U18 Academy League returns this weekend for Round 3 after a 5 month hiatus.

In a new format, the first two rounds of the competition took place in the summer with the remaining five, plus finals day, taking place through January and February.

Much has changed since those opening two rounds though, where Leicester Tigers, Saracens, Bristol Bears, and London Irish each won two from two. The big change comes in the northern conference, where of course Wasps and Worcester Warriors are no longer, replaced by the Midlands Regional Academy, with Midlands Central replacing Wasps and Midlands West replacing Worcester Warriors.

With the players remaining largely the same, the two new entities pick up the old entities results, leaving Midlands Central second in the conference after a win and a draw and Midlands West in 6^th after a defeat in their sole outing to date.

Round 3 Fixtures (Saturday 7^th January)

North

Leicester Tigers v Newcastle Falcons (2pm, Loughborough University)

Midlands West (Worcester) v Midlands Central (Wasps) (2pm, Warwick School)

Northampton Saints v Sale Sharks (Sunday, 1pm, Franklin’s Gardens)

South

Exeter Chiefs v Bath (12pm, Truro College)

Harlequins v Gloucester (1pm, Cobham RFC)

London Irish v Saracens (12pm, Hazelwood)

Standings

North

South

North Preview & Teams

Leicester Tigers v Newcastle Falcons

Leicester Tigers look to stretch their victorious start to three from three when they take on 7^th placed Newcastle Falcons. Tigers draw their side by and large from their ACE side Brooksby Melton College, plus successful school sides Denstone College, Oakham, and Stamford, among others. Oakham’s fly half Ben Taylor will skipper them. They face a Newcastle Falcons side that sees their England stars return, England players were unavailable in the opening two rounds, among the Sedbergh skipper Ben Redshaw and his schoolmate Finn Baker. Barnard Castle’s Jacob Oliver captains the side from hooker for this 2pm kick off at Loughborough Uni on Saturday,

Leicester Tigers

15 Harry Simpson (Brooksby Melton College, vc), 14 Malelili Satala (Brooksby Melton College), 13 Charlie Davies (Mount St Mary’s College), 12 Jack Teague (Old Swinford Hospital), 11 Alex Garrett (Denstone College), 10 Ben Taylor (Oakham, captain), 9 Nicolas Gali (Denstone College), 1 Tom Wand (Brooksby Melton College), 2 Harry Clarke (Denstone College), 3 Oliver Avison (Brooksby Melton College), 4 Felix Starkey (Oakham), 5 Osian Thomas (Stamford), 6 Phelton Tandoh (Stamford), 7 George Perkins (Denstone College, vc), 8 Sam Williams (Stamford).

Replacements: 16 Finlay Hayward (Old Swinford Hospital), 17 Bronson Mellowes (Brooksby Melton College), 18 Tom Hinchliffe (Trent College), 19 Tyler Russell (East Coast College), 20 Lawrence Adediran (Brooksby Melton College), 21 Jack Dickens (Trent College), 22 Tom Threlfall (Nottingham High), 23 Elliot Smith (Denstone College).

Newcastle Falcons

15 Ben Redshaw (Sedbergh), 14 Oscar Doran (Keswick), 13 Dan Stephenson (RGS Newcastle), 12 Harry Rickard (Barnard Castle), 11 Lucas Rowell (Gosforth Academy), 10 Dan Woodcock (Cockermouth), 9 Joe Davis (Barnard Castle), 1 Isaac Keller (Gosforth Academy), 2 Jacob Oliver (Barnard Castle, captain), 3 Sam Kirkman (Gosforth Academy), 4 Connor Bowran (Gosforth Academy), 5 Finn Baker (Sedbergh), 6 Kane James (Sedbergh), 7 Archie Fletcher (Newcastle School for Boys), 8 Lewis Richardson (Gosforth Academy).

Replacements: 16 Ryan Shaw (Gosforth Academy), 17 Chris Johnstone (KES Morpeth), 18 Sam Graham (Durham), 19 Tom Cressey (RGS Newcastle), 20 Reuben Parsons (Gosforth Academy), 21 Nicko Sykes (Newcastle School for Boys), 22 Junior Newton (Sedbergh), 23 Tom Burton (Sedbergh).

Midlands West v Midlands Central

The two new entities go head to head at Warwick School in another 2pm kick off on Saturday. Midlands West, formerly Worcester Warriors, see the likes of RGS Worcester hooker Loic Keasey in their lineup, along with the likes of Jack Condliffe and Max Truby. Midlands Central, formley Wasps, are unbeaten so far and have a strong side, including England wing Will Glister of City of Oxford College, plus Berkhamsted Reuben Logan, and star centres Charlie Myall and Sam Sinclair, among others.

Midlands West

15 Charlie Whorrod, 14 Cam Smith, 13 George Bennett, 12 Matty Walker, 11 Jack Kinder, 10 Jack Condliffe, 9 Billy McDonough, 1 Will Conduit, 2 Loic Keasey, 3 Emmanuel Olaleye, 4 Tom Hilton, 5 Warwick Archer, 6 Luca Van Vuuren, 7 Sam Hawes, 8 Max Truby.

Replacements: 16 George Knowles, 17 Jacob Tomkinson, 18 Ollie McGinnity, 19 Zach Armstrong, 20 Charlie Bemand, 21 George Tomlinson, 22 Ellis Deans-Smith.

Midlands Central

15 Dan Barnett, 14 Emosi Nabakeke, 13 Sam Sinclair, 12 Charlie Myall, 11 Will Glister, 10 Charlie Mason, 9 Max Blinkhorn, 1 Jacob Yates, 2 Ben Pogson, 3 Sam Scott, 4 Charlie Bell, 5 Charlie Moss, 6 Reuben Logan, 7 John Baldwin, 8 Felix Hunt.

Replacements: 16 Beau Delaney, 17 Cameron Aitchison, 18 Lasha Asatiani-Kalandadze, 19 Ethan Surrey, 20 Harry English 21 Reuben Elias, 22 Thomas Cunningham, 23 Ryan Sweeting.

Northampton Saints v Sale Sharks

The only Sunday game of the weekend, Saints have won one and lost one, but with skipper Henry Pollock back in the side after his England absence, alongside Stowe teammate Archie McParland, they look even stronger now. Ipswich, Stowe, and Samuel Whitbread Academy are the heaviest influences on the starting fifteen, but there is plenty of representation for other schools too. Sale Sharks have the same record as Saints, but are yet to name their side.

Northampton Saints

15 Ewan Baker (Stowe), 14 Ben Radnor (Samuel Whitbread Academy), 13 Harry Simpson (Ipswich), 12 Ollie Saddleton (Ipswich), 11 Jacob Willmott (Samuel Whitbread Academy), 10 Max Allman-Ward (Bedford), 9 Archie McParland (Stowe), 1 Lucas Nisbett-Hadaway (Ipswich), 2 Sol Moody (Finborough), 3 Will Lamprell (Ipswich), 4 Ashton Webb (Wisbech Grammar), 5 Henri Burditt (Stowe), 6 Aiden Kabi (Oundle), 7 Henry Pollock (Stowe, captain), 8 Ollie Holliday (Northampton School for Boys).

Replacements: 16 Yujian Zou (The Perse), 17 Oliver Scola (Northampton School for Boys), 18 Dave Bennett (Rugby), 19 Aiden Ainsworth-Cave (Bedford), 20 Mart Van Der Veen (Ipswich), 21 Rory Hollis (Ipswich), 22 Billy Pasco (Oundle), 23 Logan McCabe (Moulton College).

Sale Sharks – TBC

South Preview & Teams

Exeter Chiefs v Bath

A midday kick off at Truro College, with both sides looking for a first victory of the campaign. 7 Truro College players start for Exeter, with 8 Exeter College players, indeed the only non Exeter Chiefs ACE players in the 23 are Blundell’s Will Saltmarsh and Benjamin Coen on the bench. Barnaby Elderkin is among those starting to look out for. Bath make a few changes, and have the coup of having lured Millfield loosehead Ioan Emanuel to Bath colours, he is one of four Millfield players in the starting side alongside nine Beechen Cliff players, including skipper Connor Treacey, plus players from Marlborough College, and Monkton Combe.

Exeter Chiefs

15 Louie Drennan (Exeter College), 14 Josh Golden Clarke (Truro College), 13 George Edson (Truro College), 12 Sam James (Truro College), 11 Nick Lilley (Exeter College), 10 Jed Findlay (Exeter College), 9 Max Ferguson (Exeter College), 1 Callum Arnold (Exeter College), 2 Lucas Gulley (Exeter College), 3 Ollie Critchley (Truro College), 4 Charlie Everard (Truro College), 5 Oscar Beckerleg (Truro College), 6 Pip Berton-Race (Exeter College), 7 Bobby Pond (Exeter College), 8 Barnaby Elderkin (Truro College).

Replacements: 16 Ted Hocking (Truro College), 17 Josh Mann (Truro College), 18 Harry Rodwell (Exeter College), 19 Ben Hobbs (Exeter College), 20 Will Saltmarsh (Blundell’s), 21 Benjamin Coen (Blundell’s), 22 Bobby Wiggington (Exeter College), 23 Owen Wildgoose (Truro College).

Bath

15 Charlie Brook (Marlborough College), 14 Will Dudman (Beechen Cliff), 13 James Short (Beechen Cliff), 12 Rory Crum (Beechen Cliff), 11 Henry Bartlett (Beechen Cliff), 10 Raff Weston (Beechen Cliff), 9 Ieuan Davies (Millfield), 1 Ioan Emanuel (Millfield), 2 Kacey Pike (Beechen Cliff), 3 Billy Sela (Beechen Cliff), 4 Rory Cameron (Beechen Cliff), 5 Alex Deering (Millfield), 6 Jack Bennett (Monkton Combe), 7 George Timmins (Millfield), 8 Connor Treacey (Beechen Cliff, captain).

Replacements: 16 Leo Palmer (Kingswood), 17 Henry Bonetti (Millfield), 18 Harry Love (Beechen Cliff), 19 Arthur Moore (Clayesmore), 20 Charlie Ward (Kingswood), 21 Ollie Byrne (Beechen Cliff), 22 James Linegar (Kingswood), 23 Will Howells (Prior Park College).

Harlequins v Gloucester

Cobham RFC hosts this 1pm kick off on Saturday, and they will be hosting an exciting looking Harlequins side that are searching for a first victory. Included in their side are four NextGenXV Schools Rugby League Table winners from Trinity, Conor Byrne, Josh Bellamy, Lucas Friday, and Will Peart-Smith, with a further two Trinity players on the bench. Meanwhile England’s Sean Kerr from Whitgift is back alongside players from the likes of RFS Guildford, Brighton College, Churcher’s College, ACE side Gordon’s, Emanuel, KCS Wimbledon, Epsom College, and two Seaford College stars in the front row, Richard Twitchen and Jimmy Staples. Gloucester are also searching for a first victory, but are yet to name their side.

Harlequins

15 Conor Byrne (Trinity), 14 Tom Humphreys (RGS Guildford) 13 Ethan Dando (Brighton College), 12 Sean Kerr (Whitgift), 11 Jack Thomas (Churcher’s College), 10 Josh Bellamy (Trinity), 9 Lucas Friday (Trinity), 1 Richard Twitchen (Seaford College), 2 Jimmy Staples (Seaford College), 3 Jamie Miller (Whitgift) 4 Theo Currie (Gordon’s), 5 Hal Kennedy (Emanuel), 6 Seth Eley (KCS Wimbledon), 7 Will Peart-Smith (Trinity), 8 Lucas Schmid (Epsom College).

Replacements: 16 Enock Addai (Gordon’s), 17 Zak Stephenson (Gordon’s), 18 Kane Fleary (Trinity), 19 Alfie Ambrose (Cardinal Newman), 20 Roma Matebalavu (Trinity), 21 Matt Wickham (Reigate Grammar), 22 Kit Temperley (Epsom College), 23 Jack Anstey (Cranleigh).

Gloucester – TBC

London Irish v Saracens

There is an all-unbeaten head to head in the South as Hazelwood plays host to a 12pm kick off on Saturday between Saracens and hosts London Irish. London Irish are led by Bishop Wand openside Finn Worley brady, with some tremendously exciting players around him, not least hooker Kepu Tuipulotu of Harrow, one of the most impressive players in schools rugby this year. Saracens have impressive players of their own though, not least second row Junior Kpoku, one of the key cogs in this incredible Finborough School side of 2022/23. It is going to be a spectacular head to head to kick off the new year.

London Irish

15 Ben Frampton, 14 Theo Williamson, 13 Ollie Miall, 12 Harrison Hall, 11 Sam Rockley, 10 Louie Heard, 9 Noah Cowan, 1 Ralph McEachran, 2 Kepueli Tuipulotu, 3 Brandon Vince, 4 Tayo Adegbemile, 5 Will Saunders, 6 Reggie Hammick, 7 Finn Worley-Brady (c), 8 Jack Lee.

Replacements: 16 Nodari Gorgidze, 17 Jasper Cockburn_Miller, 18 Philip Truscott, 19 Louis Brickley, 20 Ciaran Brickley, 21 Michael Morgan, 22 Charlie Griffin, 23 Finlay Wiseman.

Saracens

15 Declan Murphy, 14 Toby Clinch, 13 Lance Kruger, 12 Louis Sinclair, 11 Finn Newton, 10 Benjy Mills, 9 Ewan Entwistle, 1 Alex O’Driscoll, 2 Henry Walker, 3 Max Wheeler, 4 Junior Kpoku, 5 Dylan Enskat, 6 James Boylan, 7 Charlie West, 8 Barney Merrett.

Replacements: 16 Lucas Eule, 17 Ikhi Osebor, 18 Charlie Nunn, 19 Dayo Oyerinde, 20 Joe Robinson, 21 Freddie Simcott, 22 Josh Heesom.

Friendly:

Yorkshire Academy (Friendly v Bristol Bears)

15 Ned McCormack, 14 George Burton, 13 Louis Worrall, 12 Lloyd McEwan-Peters, 11 Matthew Saxby, 10 Louie Platt, 9 Toby Morley (vc), 1 Leon Mudd, 2 Alfie Longstaff, 3 Tye Raymont, 4 Tom Burrow (c), 5 Anthony McCormack, 6 Matthew Leatham, 7 Archie Hurford, 8 Oliver Barker.

Replacements: 16 Seb Easterby-Gray, 17 David Mpofu, 18 Ashley Lockwood, 19 Jamie Parsons, 20 Will Wood, 21 Elias Smith, 22 Charlie Borchard, 23 Charlie Metcalf, 24 Liam Wood.

Bristol Bears (Friendly v Yorkshire Academy)

Previous Results:

Round 1

North

Leicester Tigers 27-24 Northampton Saints

Midlands Central (Wasps) 26-26 Yorkshire Academy

Sale Sharks 27-17 Midlands West (Worcester)

South

Bristol Bears 26-14 Bath

Gloucester 17-29 London Irish

Saracens 59-17 Exeter Chiefs

Round 2

North

Newcastle Falcons 21-32 Midlands Central (Wasps)

Sale Sharks 12-61 Leicester Tigers

Yorkshire Academy 14-52 Northampton Saints

South

Gloucester 15-25 Bristol Bears

London Irish 22-19 Harlequins

Saracens 52-21 Bath

Further Fixtures:

Round 4 (Saturday 14^th January)

North

Newcastle Falcons v Sale Sharks (2pm, Kingston Park)

Northampton Saints v Midlands West (1pm, Franklin’s Gardens)

Yorkshire Academy v Leicester Tigers (2.30pm, Keighley RFC)

South

Harlequins v Exeter Chiefs (1.30pm, Syon Lane)

London Irish v Bath (1pm, Hazelwood)

Saracens v Bristol Bears (Sunday, 2pm, StoneX)

Round 5 (Saturday 21^st January)

North

Midlands West v Newcastle Falcons (2pm, College Road)

Northampton Saints v Midlands Central (3.30pm, Franklin’s Gardens)

Sale Sharks v Yorkshire Academy (Sunday, 1pm, Manchester Met Uni)

South

Bath v Harlequins (2pm, The Rec)

Bristol Bears v London Irish (7.30pm, Dings Crusaders)

Gloucester v Exeter Chiefs (2pm, Kingsholm)

Round 6 (Saturday 4^th February)

North

Leicester Tigers v Midlands West (TBC)

Midlands Central v Sale Sharks (2pm, Warwick School)

Yorkshire Academy v Newcastle Falcons (2pm, Yarnbury RFC)

South

Bristol Bears v Harlequins (7.30pm, Dings Crusaders)

Exeter Chiefs v London Irish (12.30pm, Truro College)

Saracens v Gloucester (1pm, StoneX)

Round 7 (Saturday 11^th February)

North

Midlands Central v Leicester Tigers (2pm, Warwick School)

Midlands West v Yorkshire Academy (2pm, Sixways)

Newcastle Falcons v Northampton Saints (2pm, Kingston Park)

South

Bath v Gloucester (12.15pm, Allington Fields)

Exeter Chiefs v Bristol Bears (2.30pm, Truro College)

Harlequins v Saracens (Sunday, 1.30pm, Cobham RFC)

Finals Day – TBC, 18^th/19^th February