Northampton Saints and London Irish will compete in the 2023 Premiership Rugby U18 Academy League Final this Sunday after finishing top of the respective conferences after the final round of league action last weekend.
Northampton Saints sealed their position on Saturday, their only threat to top spot were Leicester Tigers, whose game at Midlands Central was postponed until yesterday but it turned out not to be relevant in the context of the final table as Saints sealed a bonus point victory at Newcastle Falcons, 31-10, on Saturday to make their position at the top of the table insurmountable.
London Irish meanwhile had to sweat for a day longer. They had a bye week and could be overhauled by Saracens, so they needed Harlequins to do them a favour at Cobham RFC against Saracens on Sunday and their closest neighbours did them a favour with an outstanding 36-17 victory over Saracens that secured top spot for the Exiles.
Premiership Rugby U18 Academy League Round 7 Results:
North
Midlands Central 25-31 Leicester Tigers
Midlands West 35-22 Yorkshire Academy
Newcastle Falcons 10-31 Northampton Saints
South
Bath 27-12 Gloucester
Exeter Chiefs 10-35 Bristol Bears
Harlequins 36-17 Saracens
All fourteen Premiership Rugby U18 Academy League teams will now head to Saracens’ StoneX Stadium on Sunday for Finals Day, which will culminate in the grand final between Northampton Saints and London Irish at 7pm.
The day will run from 9.30am to the conclusion of that Grand Final, and at the end of the day every side will have a final position from 1-14.
Finals Day – Sunday 19th February (at StoneX Stadium)
Saracens v Midlands Central – 9.30am, 5th Place Play Off
Sale Sharks v Gloucester – 11.05am, 11th Place Play Off
Harlequins v Yorkshire Academy – 12.40pm, 7th Place Play Off
Bath v Newcastle Falcons – 2.15pm, 9th Place Play Off
Midlands West v Exeter Chiefs – 3.50pm, 13th Place Play Off
Leicester Tigers v Bristol Bears – 5.25pm, 3rd Place Play Off
Northampton Saints v London Irish – 7pm, Final
Saracens’ defeat to Harlequins sees Bristol Bears, who beat Exeter Chiefs 35-10, finish second in the south. The reigning champions will face the 2018, 2019, and shared 2020 champions Leicester Tigers in the third place play off at 5.25pm.
Despite the turmoil off the field with Wasps’ demise, Midlands Central did fantastically well to finish third in the North and to run Tigers so close on Monday night, and their RFU Midlands Academy partners Midlands West, formed from the old Worcester Warriors Academy, had a first victory to celebrate on Saturday as they beat Yorkshire Academy 35-22.
In the South sadly for Exeter Chiefs that defeat to Bristol meant they went through the season without a victory, expect them to be particularly fired up therefore for that 3.50pm 13th place play off against Midlands West on Sunday.
Bath sealed a fourth victory of the campaign on Saturday, beating Gloucester 27-12, but in a sign of just how tight the Southern Conference was, it still left them in fifth place. Only four points separated first from fifth in the south, with third, fourth, and fifth separated by just a point. Surely the toughest return for 4 wins there has been in the Academy League. They will be keen to demonstrate their quality in the 9th place play off against Newcastle Falcons on Sunday at 2.15pm, while Gloucester will face Sale Sharks, who had a bye this week, at 11.05am in the 11th place play off.
Final League Standings
North
| Pos | Team | P | W | D | L | BPs | Points |
| 1 | Northampton Saints | 6 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 27 |
| 2 | Leicester Tigers | 6 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 26 |
| 3 | Midlands Central | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 8 | 18 |
| 4 | Yorkshire Academy | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 14 |
| 5 | Newcastle Falcons | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 13 |
| 6 | Sale Sharks | 6 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 5 | 13 |
| 7 | Midlands West | 6 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 9 |
South
| Pos | Team | P | W | D | L | BPs | Points |
| 1 | London Irish | 6 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 23 |
| 2 | Bristol Bears | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 22 |
| 3 | Saracens | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 20 |
| 4 | Harlequins | 6 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 8 | 20 |
| 5 | Bath | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 19 |
| 6 | Gloucester | 6 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 3 | 7 |
| 7 | Exeter Chiefs | 6 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 |
Round 7 Team Sheets
North
Midlands Central
15 Dan Barnett (Berkhamsted), 14 Will Glister (City of Oxford College), 13 Ryan Sweeting (Rugby, captain), 12 Charlie Myall (City of Oxford College), 11 Sam Sinclair (RGS High Wycombe), 10 Charlie Mason (St Edward’s, Oxford), 9 Max Blinkhorn (Warwick), 1 Cameron Aitchison (City of Oxford College), 2 Ben Pogson (City of Oxford College), 3 Sam Scott (City of Oxford College), 4 Tom Clifford (City of Oxford College), 5 Charlie Moss (Shiplake College), 6 Reueben Logan (Berkhamsted), 7 Charlie Bell (Bablake & King Henry VIII), 8 Felix Hunt (Bloxham).
Replacements: 16 Beau Delaney (City of Oxford College), 17 Jack Tchape (Sir Henry Floyd’s Grammar), 18 Lasha Asatiani- Kalandadze (Biship Vesey’s Grammar), 19 Harry English (City of Oxford College), 20 Nikita Tutus (Radley College), 21 Reuben Elias (City of Oxford College), 22 Thomas Cunningham (Magdalen College), 23 George Pearson (City of Oxford College).
Leicester Tigers: Not Published, Again
Midlands West
15 George Tomlinson (King’s Worcester), 14 George Bennett (Stourport High), 13 Matty Walker (Bromsgrove), 12 Frankie Jefferies (Malvern College), 11 Jack Kinder (Solihull), 10 Jack Condliffe (Stourport High), 9 Charlie Bemand (Bromsgrove), 1 Jacob Tomkinson (Old Swinford Hospital), 2 Loic Keasey (RGS Worcester, captain), 3 Emmanuel Olaleye (Old Swinford Hospital), 4 Tom Hilton (Malvern College), 5 Luka Jansen Van Vuuren (Malvern College), 6 Zach Armstrong (Bromsgrove), 7 Sam Hawes (King’s Worcester), 8 Will Owen (Ellesmere College).
Replacements: 16 George Knowles (Hereford Cathedral), 17 Jeremy Akena (Stourport High), 18 Lewys Perkins (Stourport High), 19 Warwick Archer (Hereford 6th form College), 20 Fintan Dowling (KES Birmingham), 21 Billy McDonough (Bromsgrove), 22 Charlie Whorrod (Warwick), 23 Cameron Smith (Malvern College).
Yorkshire Academy
15 Ned McCormack, 14 Louis Worrall, 13 Lloyd McEwan-Peters, 12 Toby Baker, 11 Thomas Rowe, 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 Jonny Freeman, 8 Henry Du Boulay.
Replacements: 16 Corey McCormack, 17 Oliver Fretwell, 18 David Mpofu, 19 Oliver Barker, 20 Archie Hurford, 21 Charlie Borchard, 22 Charlie Metcalf, 23 Matthew Saxby.
Newcastle Falcons
15 Ben Redshaw (Sedbergh), 14 Oscar Doran (Keswick), 13 Callum Brown (Durham), 12 Harry Rickard (Barnard Castle), 11 Lucas Rowell (Gosforth Academy), 10 Dan Woodwock (Cockermouth), 9 Joe Davis (Barnard Castle), 1 Isaac Keller (Gosforth Academy), 2 Jacob Oliver (Barnard Castle), 3 Sam Graham (Durham), 4 Connor Bowran (Gosforth Academy), 5 Finn Baker (Sedbergh), 6 Tom Cressey (RGS Newcastle), 7 Archie Fletcher (Newcastle School for Boys), 8 Kane James (Sedbergh).
Replacements: 16 Ryan Shaw (Gosforth Academy), 17 Chris Johnstone (KES Morpeth), 18 Sam Kirkman (Penrith), 19 Charlie Turnbull (Sedbergh), 20 Jacob Butterill (Sedbergh), 21 Reuben Dyer (Gosforth Academy), 22 Junior Newton (Sedbergh), 23 Tom Burton (Sedbergh).
Northampton Saints
15 Ewan Baker (Stowe), 14 Ben Radnor (Samuel Whitbread), 13 Harry Simpson (Ipswich), 12 Ollie Saddleton (Ipswich), 11 Toby Couins (Oakham), 10 Rory Hollis (Ipswich), 9 Archie McParland (Stowe), 1 Lucas Nisbett-Hadaway (Ipswich), 2 Sol Moody (Finborough), 3 William Lamprell (Ipswich), 4 Aiden Kabi (Oundle), 5 Ashton Webb (Wisbech Grammar), 6 Henri Burditt (Stowe), 7 Henry Pollock (Stowe, captain), 8 Ollie Holliday (Northampton School for Boys).
Replacements: 16 Robert Gaffan (Rugby), 17 Oliver Scola (Northampton School for Boys), 18 Tom Dye (Ipswich), 19 Kieran Perkins (Bedford Modern), 20 Alfie Hoyles (Oakham), 21 Billy Pasco (Oundle), 22 Ben Agebnu (Bedford), 23 Logan McCabe (Moulton College).
South
Bath
15 James Linegar (Kingswood), 14 Luke Graham (Paul Roos Gymnasium), 13 James Short (Beechen Cliff), 12 Rory Crum (Beechen Cliff), 11 George Cottrell (Millfield), 10 Raff Weston (Beechen Cliff), 9 Ieuan Davies (Millfield), 1 Ioan Emanuel (Millfield), 2 Henry Bonetti (Millfield), 3 Billy Sela (Beechen Cliff), 4 Rory Cameron (Beechen Cliff), 5 Jack Bennett (Monkton Combe), 6 Jack Haythornthwaite (Beechen Cliff), 7 George Timmins (Millfield), 8 Connor Treacey (Beechen Cliff, captain).
Replacements: 16 Max Dorrington (Beechen Cliff), 17 Ed Wrench (Marlborough College), 18 Leo Palmer (Kingswood), 19 Charlie Ward (Kingswood), 20 James Maloney (Marlborough College), 21 Ollie Byrne (Beechen Cliff), 22 Henry Bartlett (Beechen Cliff), 23 Charlie Brook (Marlborough College).
Gloucester
15 Ioan Jones (Dean Close, captain), 14 Jack Cotgreave (Hartpury College), 13 Ollie Rendell (Sir Thomas Rich’s), 12 Max Knight (Hartpury College), 11 Steff Gibson (Hartpury College), 10 Billy Benson (Dean Close), 9 Charlie Rainbird (Hartpury College), 1 Harrison Bellamy (Hartpury College), 2 Jamie Fallon (Hartpury College), 3 Berian Watkins (Hartpury College), 4 Bart Godsell (Marling), 5 Ollie Workman (The Crypt), 6 Solomon Shand (Hartpury College), 7 Tom Anson (Hartpury College), 8 TJ Fanolua (Cheltenham College).
Replacements: 16 Sam Loftus (Sir Thomas Rich’s), 17 Ed Wallin (Apprentice), 18 Rio Halavatau (St Peter’s, Gloucester), 19 Caio James (Hartpury College), 20 Olly Allport (Dean Close), 21 Rhys Price (Hartpury College), 22 Woody Walker (Radley College), 23 Louis Callow (Hartpury College).
Exeter Chiefs
15 Josh Golden Clarke (Truro College), 14 Bobby Wiggington (Exeter College), 13 Louie Drennan (Exeter College), 12 Jeremy Tuima (Exeter College), 11 Rhys Williams (Truro College), 10 Jed Findley (Exeter College), 9 Will Tanswell (Truro College), 1 Callum Arnold (Exeter College), 2 George Edson (Truro College), 3 Ben Ellis Jeavons (Exeter College), 4 Charlie Everard (Truro College), 5 Oscar Beckerleg (Truro College), 6 Pip Berton-Race (Kingsbridge RFC), 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 Dom Ellery (Truro College), 20 Sam James (Truro College), 21 Max Ferguson (Exeter College), 22 Benjamin Coen (Blundell’s), 23 Nick Lilley (Exeter College).
Bristol Bears
15 Jake Smith (Collegiate), 14 Louis Nancekivell (Bristol Grammar), 13 Jamie Howick (Wellington School), 12 Jacob Mitchell (Clifton College), 11 Aidan Boshoff (Clifton College), 10 Fin Fielder (Clifton College), 9 Ted Phillips (Clifton College), 1 Louie Trevett (Clifton College), 2 Oscar Simms-Preston (SGS Filton College), 3 Louis White (Collegiate), 4 Ollie Thraves (QEH), 5 Joachim Hullah (SGS Filton College), 6 Joe Wooler (Clifton College, captain), 7 Sonny Davis (SGS Filton College), 8 Tom Gardner (Clifton College).
Replacements: 16 Arthur Davis (SGS Filton College), 17 George Payne (Clifton College), 18 Kenzie Jenkins (Coleg y Cymoedd), 19 Archie Prewett (SGS Filton College), 20 Joe Webb (Hartpury College), 21 Will Knight (Prior Park College), 22 Eamonn Rogers (Clifton College).
Harlequins
15 Jack Anstey (Cranleigh), 14 Tom Humphreys (RGS Guildford), 13 Frank McMillan (Bhavsic), 12 Sean Kerr (Whitgift), 11 Ethan Dando (Brighton College), 10 Josh Bellamy (Trinity), 9 Lucas Friday (Trinity), 1 Richard Twitchen (Seaford College), 2 Jimmy Staples (Seaford College), 3 Kane Fleary (Trinity), 4 Seth Eley (KCS Wimbledon) 5 Hal Kennedy (Emanuel), 6 Ronan Daniell (Hurstpierpoint College), 7 Roma Matebalavu (Trinity), 8 Lucas Schmid (Epsom College).
Replacements: 16 Enock Addai (Gordon’s), 17 Jamie Miller (Whitgift), 18 Bryan Karimanzira (Richard Collyer), 19 N/A (N/A), 20 Will Peart-Smith (Trinity), 21 Matt Wickham (Reigate Grammar), 22 Ethan Fitzgerald (Whitgift), 23 Jack Thomas (Churcher’s College).
Saracens
15 Jack Bracken (St Albans), 14 Toby Clinch (Finborough), 13 Lance Kruger (Finborough), 12 Oscar Wilson (Oaklands College), 11 Angus Hall (The Judd), 10 Benjy Mills (Brentwood), 9 Ewan Entswistle (Hayes), 1 Ikhi Osebor (Haileybury), 2 Lucas Eule (King’s Canterbury), 3 Max Wheeler (North Kent College), 4 Junior Kpoku (Finborough),5 Jake Bausor (Westcliff High), 6 James Boylan (Berkhamsted), 7 Charlie West (St Albans), 8 Barney Merrett (Sutton Valence).
Replacements: 16 Henry Walker (Hartpury College), 17 Alex O’Driscoll (Berkhamsted), 18 Charlie Nunn (Haileybury), 19 Dayo Oyerinde (Sutton Valence), 20 Pierre Garino (Felsted), 21 Declan Murphy (Saracens Academy), 22 Louie Sinclair (Finborough), 23 Joe Robinson (Haileybury).
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
Round 3
North
Leicester Tigers 22-29 Newcastle Falcons
Midlands West (Worcester) 26-29 Midlands Central (Wasps)
Northampton Saints 36-14 Sale Sharks
South
Exeter Chiefs 19-36 Bath
Harlequins 41-14 Gloucester
London Irish 21-17 Saracens
Round 4
North
Newcastle Falcons 17-10 Sale Sharks
Northampton Saints 44-0 Midlands West
Yorkshire Academy 15-24 Leicester Tigers
Harlequins 31-7 Exeter Chiefs
London Irish 12-15 Bath
Saracens 10-7 Bristol Bears
Round 5
North
Midlands West 14-14 Newcastle Falcons
Northampton Saints 31-29 Midlands Central
Sale Sharks 38-43 Yorkshire Academy
South
Bath 24-20 Harlequins
Bristol Bears 12-17 London Irish
Gloucester 48-19 Exeter Chiefs
Round 6
North
Leicester Tigers 31-19 Midlands West
Midlands Central 24-57 Sale Sharks
Yorkshire Academy 29-26 Newcastle Falcons
South
Bristol Bears 24-22 Harlequins
Exeter Chiefs 10-28 London Irish
Saracens 34-28 Gloucester
