Northampton Saints and London Irish will compete in the 2023 Premiership Rugby U18 Academy League Final this Sunday as Saracens’ StoneX Stadium hosts 2023 Academy League Finals Day.

All fourteen academy sides will be playing over Sunday, each side facing their counterpart finisher from the other conference (North or South) in a play-off game, culminating at 7pm with the Grand Final between the Northern Conference top finishers, Northampton Saints, and the Southern Conference’s top side, London Irish.

That game will be preceded by the 3^rd place play off, contested by the two second placed teams from the league conferences, 2018, 2019, and 2020 champions Leicester Tigers against last year’s champions Bristol Bears. The 5^th place play off between host club Saracens and Midlands Central, the former Wasps Academy will kick the day off at 9.30am, due to ease of travel, followed by Sale Sharks v Gloucester in the 11^th place play off at 11.05am, Harlequins v Yorkshire at 12.40pm for fourth, and Bath v Newcastle Falcons for 9^th place at 2.15pm, with Midlands West v Exeter Chiefs kicking off at 3.50pm in the thirteen place play off.

The main event though will be that Premiership Rugby U18 Academy League final at 7pm, with Northampton Saints looking to avenge last year’s 13-5 defeat in the final to Bristol Bears and to add to the two titles that they won back to back in 2013 and 2014, a golden period for the Saints Academy that also saw them reach the 2015 final.

London Irish have a strong history in this competition too though, winning the title in 2016 with a 35-11 victory over Gloucester and then earning a share of the title in 2020 after a stunning 22-22 draw with Leicester Tigers, Tigers’ toughest game in the competition for three years.

It is sure to be a brilliant day of rugby, and an absolutely fantastic final between two outstanding teams of young players.

Premiership Rugby U18 Academy League Roll of Honour

2022 Bristol Bears

2021 N/A

2020 Leicester Tigers/London Irish

2019 Leicester Tigers

2018 Leicester Tigers

2017 Harlequins

2016 London Irish

2015 Saracens

2014 Northampton Saints

2013 Northampton Saints

Premiership Rugby U18 Academy League Finals Day Fixtures & Team News – Sunday 19^th February (at StoneX Stadium)

Northampton Saints v London Irish – 7pm, Final

Both sides head into this final with identical records, having won five and lost one of their six games. Saints have the slightly higher points total owing to more bonus points. Such was the tight nature of the Southern Conference that bonus points were harder to come by for Irish, first and fifth were separated by just 4 league points.

Saints sealed their place in the final with an excellent 31-10 victory at Newcastle Falcons last week but they have been forced into a few adjustments. Stowe’s Ewan Baker is unfortunately out, which means a shift from the wing to full back for Oakham’s Toby Cousins, who represented England U20 in the opening round of the Six Nations this year. That move means a space on the wing opens up for Samuel Whitbread’s Jacob Wilmott, who missed out last week. Otherwise in the backline it’s as you were, with Wilmott’s wing partner at Samuel Whitbread on the left wing and an all Ipswich midfield with Rory Hollis at 10 and Ollie Saddleton and Harry Simpson in the centres, Stowe’s England U18 star Archie McParland is at scrum half.

There is a change in the pack too, with Ipswich’s Mart van der Veen back in action again on the blindside. That move sees Stowe’s Henry Burditt move to the second row, where he is alongside Oundle’s Aiden Kabi. Joining van der Veen in the back row is Northampton School for Boys number 8 Ollie Holliday, and the Saints skipper, Stowe and England U18 captain, Henry Pollock. In the front row Finborough’s Sol Moody is again propped by Ipswich pair Lucas Nisbett-Hadaway and Will Lamprell.

On the bench Rugby’s Robert Gaffan, NSB’s Oliver Scola, and Ipswich’s Tom Dye again cover the front row, Wisbech Grammar’s Ashton Webb and Oakham’s Alfie Hoyles cover the rest of the back, while Oundle’s Billy Pasco covers scrum half. Bedford’s Ben Agebnu is joined by schoolmate Max Allman-Ward after a long absence.

London Irish meanwhile had their bye week last week so had to sit and wait on the rest of the league after their victory against Exeter Chiefs in their final game. That extra week’s rest has brought with it good news, a return to the starting fifteen for skipper Finn Worley-Brady of Bishop Wand on the openside after injury, and a long awaited return to starting fitness for vice captain Cameron Ellis from Harrow, who starts at 12 for the Exiles for the first time since August. Berkhamsted’s Connor Peter also returns to the starting line up at scrum half, with London Oratory’s Ciaran Brickley in at lock. There is also a first appearance of the season after international duty and injury for Wellington College and England U18 fly half Rory Taylor, who will start on the bench.

Alongside Worley-Brady in the back row are St Albans’ Tayo Adegbemile at 6 and Millfield’s Jack Lee at 8, with Mario Ikumola-Andre of Bishop Wand alongside Brickley in the second row. Two of his Bishop Wand teammates, Ralph McEachran and Brandon Vince are propping, with Harrow star Kepu Tuipulotu at hooker.

Joining Peters and Ellis in the backs are three Bishop Wand players, Louie Heard at 10 with Sam Rockley and Theo Williamson on the wings, and two Wellington College players, George Staveley alongside Ellis in the centres and Ben Frampton at full back.

The bench sees Bishop Wand’s George Goodridge, Wellington College’s Ralph Hawker, and Harrow’s Philip Truscott covering the front row, with Bishop Wand’s Ed Bachelor and RGS High Wycombe’s Sam Lee covering the rest of the back. Alongside Taylor in covering the backline are Stowe scrum half Noah Cowan and Harrow centre Charlie Griffin.

Northampton Saints

15 Toby Cousins (Oakham), 14 Jacob Wilmott (Samuel Whitbread), 13 Harry Simpson (Ipswich), 12 Ollie Saddleton (Ipswich), 11 Ben Radnor (Samuel Whitbread), 10 Rory Hollis (Ipswich), 9 Archie McParland (Stowe), 1 Lucas Nisbett-Hadaway (Ipswich), 2 Sol Moody (Finborough), 3 Will Lamprell (Ipswich), 4 Aiden Kabi (Oundle), 5 Henri Burditt (Stowe), 6 Mart van der Veen (Ipswich), 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 Ashton Webb (Wisbech Grammar), 20 Alfie Hoyles (Oakham), 21 Billy Pasco (Oundle), 22 Max Allman-Ward (Bedford), 23 Ben Agebnu (Bedford).

London Irish

15 Ben Frampton (Wellington College), 14 Theo Williamson (Bishop Wand), 13 George Staveley (Wellington College), 12 Cameron Ellis (Harrow), 11 Sam Rockley (Bishop Wand), 10 Louie Heard (Bishop Wand), 9 Connor Peters (Berkhamsted), 1 Ralph McEachran (Bishop Wand), 2 Kepueli Tuipulotu (Harrow), 3 Brandon Vince (Bishop Wand), 4 Mario Ikumola-Andre (Bishop Wand), 5 Ciaran Brickley (London Oratory), 6 Tayo Adegbemile (St Albans), 7 Finn Worley-Brady (Bishop Wand, captain), 8 Jack Lee (Millfield).

Replacements: 16 George Goodridge (Bishop Wand), 17 Ralph Hawker (Wellington College), 18 Philip Truscott (Harrow), 19 Edward Bachelor (Bishop Wand), 20 Sam Lee (RGS High Wycombe), 21 Noah Cowan (Stowe), 22 Rory Taylor (Wellington College), 23 Charlie Griffin (Harrow).

Leicester Tigers v Bristol Bears – 5.25pm, 3^rd Place Play Off

Tigers’ last league games of the season may have had to have been pushed back by 48 hours but they still came away with a victory against Midlands Central to claim second place, and are the only side to have defeated Northampton Saints, the side contesting the final on behalf of the northern conference. Bristol Bears also finished on a high to reach the third place play-off, a year on from reaching claiming the U18 Premiership title, they enjoyed a strong win over Exeter Chiefs to finish off.

Leicester Tigers have named their team for the first time since round 4, so any changes from the previous round are hard to be certain of. However a key move seems to be Oakham fly half taking over the captaincy and starting the game at full back with Nottingham High School’s Tom Threlfall at fly half. Denstone College, Oakham, and Brooksby Melton College have big influences on this squad, and tighthead Henry Mountford of Denstone College alongside his school skipper and England U18 international George Perkins are likely to be key contributers.

Bristol Bears’ side sees a couple of changes from the side that finished off the league campaign with victory over Exeter Chiefs. Coleg y Cymoedd’s Kenzie Jenkins starts in the second row, while SGS Filton College’s Archie Prewett starts at number 8, meaning a move to the openside flank for Clifton College’s Tom Gardner, with Joachin Hullah and Sonny Davis both waiting to make an impact from the bench.

Leicester Tigers

15 Ben Taylor (Oakham, captain), 14 Malelili Satala (Brooksby Melton), 13 Elliot Smith (Denstone College), 12 Jack Teague (Old Swinford Hospital), 11 Alex Garrett (Denstone College), 10 Tom Threlfall (Nottingham High), 9 Nicolas Gali (Denstone College), 1 Tom Wand (Brooksby Melton), 2 Harry Clarke (Denstone College), 3 Henry Mountford (Denstone College), 4 Felix Starkey (Oakham), 5 Osian Thomas (Stamford), 6 Lawrence Adediran (Brooksby Melton), 7 George Perkins (Denstone College), 8 Sam Williams (Stamford).

Replacements: 16 Finlay Haywood (Old Swinford Hospital), 17 Bronson Mellowes (Brooksby Melton), 18 Oliver Avison (Brooksby Melton), 19 Phelton Tandoh (Stamford), 20 Jamie Talbot (Brooksby Melton), 21 Jack Dickens (Trent College), 22 James Egerton (Stamford), 23 Joe Dickson (Denstone College).

Bristol Bears

15 Jake Smith (Collegiate), 14 Louis Nancekivell (Bristol Grammar), 13 Jamie Howick (Wellington School), 12 Jacob Mitchell (Clifton College), 11 Aiden 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 Kenzie Jenkins (Coleg y Cymoedd), 6 Joe Wooler (Clifton College, captain), 7 Tom Gardner (Clifton College), 8 Archie Prewett (SGS Filton College).

Replacements: 16 Arthur Davis (SGS Filton College), 17 George Payne (Clifton College), 18 Joachim Hullah (SGS Filton College), 19 Sonny Davis (SGS Filton College), 20 Will Knight (Prior Park College), 21 Eamonn Rogers (Clifton College), 22 Joe Webb (Hartpury College).

Midlands West v Exeter Chiefs – 3.50pm, 13^th Place Play Off

The 13^th place play off is not just about finishing above bottom spot, it’s a massive game for both these teams. Last week Midlands West, the former Worcester Warriors Academy, claimed their first victory of the season with a 35-22 defeat of Yorkshire Academy to add to a Round 5 draw with Newcastle Falcons. Exeter Chiefs meanwhile are seeking a first victory of the season as they head to the StoneX Stadium.

Unsurprisingly after last week’s success, Midlands West have not made too many changes. Captain Billy McDonough of Bromsgrove returns to scrum half having started that game on the bench, while Malvern College’s Luka Jansen van Vuuren moves from the second row to the blindside flank, with Hereford 6^th form College’s Warwick Archer promoted from the bench to start in the second row. On the bench Old Swinford Hospital’s Max Truby returns.

Exeter Chiefs have made a few changes. Louie Drennan is sadly out so Exeter College’s Nick Lilley is promoted from the bench to start at outside centre, while Truro College’s Ollie Critchley comes in at tighthead. In the back row skipper Barnaby Elderkin, of Truro College, moves from 8 to 7 as Exeter College’s Ben Hobbs comes in at 8. All of the Exeter Chiefs 23 are from their ACE Colleges, Truro College and Exeter College, except blindside flanker Pip Burton-Race of Kingsbridge RFC. On the bench there are some new faces too, Truro College’s Feddie Hirst and Exeter College’s Kofi Firth come into the 23.

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 Billy McDonough (Bromsgrove, captain), 1 Jacob Tomkinson (Old Swinford Hospital), 2 Loic Keasey (RGS Worcester), 3 Emmanuel Olaleye (Old Swinford Hospital), 4 Warwick Archer (Hereford 6^th form College), 5 Tom Hilton (Malvern College), 6 Luka Jansen Van Vuuren (Malvern College), 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 Zach Armstrong (Bromsgrove), 20 Max Truby (Old Swinford Hospital), 21 Charlie Bemand (Stourport High), 22 Charlie Whorrod (Warwick), 23 Cameron Smith (Malvern College).

Exeter Chiefs

15 Josh Golden-Clarke (Truro College), 14 Bobby Wigginton (Exeter College), 13 Nick Lilley (Exeter College), 12 Jeremy Tuima (Exeter College), 11 Rhys Williams (Truro College), 10 Jed Findlay (Exeter College), 9 Will Tanswell (Truro College), 1 Callum Arnold (Exeter College), 2 George Edson (Truro College), 3 Ollie Critchley (Truro College), 4 Oscar Beckerleg (Truro College), 5 Charlie Evered (Truro College), 6 Pip Burton-Race (Kingsbridge RFC), 7 Barnaby Elderkin (Truro College, captain), 8 Ben Hobbs (Exeter College).

Replacements: 17 Josh Mann (Truro College), 18 Harry Rodwell (Exeter College), 19 Bobby Pond (Exeter College), 20 Dom Ellery (Truro College), 21 Max Fergusson (Exeter College), 22 Freddie Hirst (Truro College), 23 Kofi Firth (Exeter College).

Bath v Newcastle Falcons – 2.15pm, 9^th Place Play Off

These two sides will be wondering how on earth they have ended up in a 9^th place play off after league campaigns that saw them competing with sides that finished well above them in the table. Bath finished with a brilliant four wins from six games, the same as Bristol Bears who compete in the third place play off, yet finished fifth by the most slender of margins. Newcastle had a slightly lesser record, with two wins, but that was still the same as Midlands Central, who finished up in third. These two epitomise just how close the tables have been.

Bath’s final league game was a 27-12 home win over Gloucester and they only make a handful of changes from that game, with Beechen Cliff’s Henry Bartlett coming in on the wing, his schoolmate Kacey Pike returning from injury at hooker, and Kingswood’s Charlie Ward being promoted from the bench to start in the second row. Beechen Cliff’s Harry Love and Clayesmore’s Arthur Moore are also back in the matchday 23.

Newcastle’s final game saw them go down 31-10 at home to the finalists, Northampton Saints. They have made a number of changes, with Sedbergh School seeing a major influence on the side – particularly among the changes. Sedbergh trio Tom Burton, Junior Newton, and Jacob Butterill are all promoted to the starting XV from the bench, joining Ben Redshaw, Kane James, and Fin Baker who were already in the side, with Charlie Turnbull on the bench. Burton comes in on the left wing, with sees Lucas Rowell of Gosforth Academy move from there to outside centre and Durham’s Callum Brown shift in to inside centre. Junior Newton is in at 10, while Butterill comes in on the blindside in a rejigged back row that sees James move to 7 and Gosforth Academy’s Reuben Parsons come from outside of the 23 to start at 8. Gosforth’s Ewan Brown and Rhys Beeckmans, and Aspatria’s Riley Thwaites come in to the matchday 23 having missed out last time around.

Bath

15 James Linegar (Kingswood), 14 Henry Bartlett (Beechen Cliff), 13 James Short (Beechen Cliff), 12 Rory Crum (Beechen Cliff), 11 Luke Graham (Paul Roos), 10 Raff Weston (Beechen Cliff), 9 Ieuan Davies (Millfield), 1 Ioan Emanuel (Millfield), 2 Kacey Pike (Beechen Cliff), 3 Billy Sela (Beechen Cliff), 4 Charlie Ward (Kingswood), 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 Harry Love (Beechen Cliff), 18 Leo Palmer (Kingswood), 19 Arthur Moore (Clayesmore), 20 James Maloney (Marlborough College), 21 Ollie Byrne (Beechen Cliff), 22 George Cottrell (Millfield), 23 Charlie Brook (Marlborough College).

Newcastle Falcons

15 Ben Redshaw (Sedbergh), 14 Oscar Doran (Keswick), 13 Lucas Rowell (Gosforth Academy), 12 Callum Brown (Durham), 11 Tom Burton (Sedbergh), 10 Junior Newton (Sedbergh), 9 Joe Davis (Barnard Castle), 1 Isaac Keller (Gosforth Academy), 2 Jacob Oliver (Barnard Castle, captain), 3 Sam Graham (Durham), 4 Connor Bowran (Gosforth Academy), 5 Finn Baker (Sedbergh), 6 Jacob Butterill (Sedbergh), 7 Kane James (Sedbergh), 8 Reuben Parsons (Gosforth Academy).

Replacements: 16 Ryan Shaw (Gosforth Academy), 17 Ewan Brown (Gosforth Academy), 18 Sam Kirkman (Penrith), 19 Riley Thwaites (Aspatria RFC), 20 Charlie Turnbull (Sedbergh), 21 Reuben Dyer (Gosforth Academy), 22 Dan Woodcock (Cockermouth), 23 Rhys Beeckmans (Gosforth Academy).

Harlequins v Yorkshire Academy – 12.40pm, 7^th Place Play Off

The lunchtime kick off at finals day, and it could be a classic. Harlequins secured 8 bonus points over the course of the league season so tries seem a fair bet. Indeed so many bonus points did Quins secure, that they were just a win away from competing in the final, though they will have taken some satisfaction in defeating Saracens last week to deny them a place in the final too. Yorkshire Academy had a bit of everything this season, ending the league campaign on a bit of a downer having been defeated by Midlands West, but having also beaten both Newcastle Falcons and Sale Sharks earlier in the campaign in absolute thrillers.

Quins have made a few changes to the side that defeat Saracens last time out, Trinity’s England full back Conor Byrne is fit again and back at full back, while Reigate Grammar’s Matt Wickham gets a first start at 9, Trinity’s Lucas Friday will be introduced from the bench. Gordon’s Theo Currie is also back in the starting side, partnering Hal Kennedy in the second row. On the bench Currie’s schoolmate Ethan Manzi gets a shot.

Yorkshire have kept the changes to an absolute minimum from that narrow defeat last time out, in fact the only change to the team sees Henry Du Boulay and Oliver Barker swap places, with Barker starting at 8 and Du Boulay to be introduced from the bench.

Harlequins

15 Conor Byrne (Trinity), 14 Tom Humphreys (RGS Guildford), 13 Frank McMillan (Bhavsic), 12 Sean Kerr (Whitgift), 11 Ethan Dando (Brighton College), 10 Josh Bellamy (Trinity), 9 Matt Wickham (Reigate Grammar), 1 Richard Twitchen (Seaford College), 2 Jimmy Staples (Seaford College), 3 Kane Fleary (Trinity), 4 Hal Kennedy (Emanuel), 5 Theo Currie (Gordon’s), 6 Ronan Daniell (Hurstpierpoint College), 7 Roma Matebalavu (Trinity), 8 Lucas Schmid (Epsom College).

Replacements: 16 Enock Addai (Gordon’s), 17 Ethan Manzi (Gordon’s), 18 N/A, 19 Seth Eley (KCS Wimbledon), 20 Will Peart-Smith (Trinity), 21 Lucas Friday (Trinity), 22 Ethan Fitzgerald (Whitgift), 23 Jack Thomas (Churcher’s 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 Oliver Barker.

Replacements: 16 Corey McCormack, 17 Oliver Fretwell, 18 David Mpofu, 19 Henry Du Boulay, 20 Archie Hurford, 21 Charlie Borchard, 22 Charlie Metcalf, 23 Matthew Saxby.

Sale Sharks v Gloucester – 11.05am, 11^th Place Play Off

Sale Sharks arrive at this one having had a week off after a bye week last time out, while Gloucester were defeated by Bath but had a good showing against their West Country rivals.

Sale’s last game was an outstanding 57-24 defeat of Midlands central, but they have had to make a few changes from that side. Myerscough College’s Jack Lighowler returns at full back, which sees Newcastle-Under-Lyme’s Sebi Krippner move to the left wing. Sedbergh’s Archie Callaghan is promoted from the bench to line up at inside centre, while Stockport Grammar’s Dominic Hanson starts at scrum half, with Sedbergh’s Will Wootton on the bench after appearing for the 1^st XV in the Premiership Cup last week. Up front Ellesmere College’s Josh MacAndrew returns at hooked, with Wirral Grammar’s Leon Tahana getting a start at tighthead. There is upheaval in the second row with Kirkham Grammar pair James Appleton and skipper Darren Low out, Denstone College’s Dan Green and Sedbergh’s Michael Broderick start. In the back row, meanwhile, Kirkham Grammar’s Wills Austin returns to openside after a stint at hooker. On the bench Stockport Grammar’s Isaac Deans, and Kirkham Grammar pair Cam Scanlon and Efan Edwards both come in.

Gloucester, in contrast, make only one change as skipper Mikey Nixon returns. The Sir Thomas Rich’s star comes straight into the second row, with The Crypt’s Ollie Workman moving to the bench in what is a very consistent Gloucester selection.

Sale Sharks

15 Jack Lightowler (Myerscough College), 14 Albert Bradshaw (Stockport Grammar), 13 Ollie Davies (Kirkham Grammar), 12 Archie Callaghan (Sedbergh), 11 Sebi Krippner (Newcastle-Under-Lym), 10 Rhys James (Wirral Grammar), 9 Dominic Hanson (Stockport Grammar), 1 Ben Lilley (Knutsford Academy), 2 Josh MacAndrew (Ellesmere College), 3 Leon Tahana (Wirral Grammar), 4 Dan Green (Denstone College), 5 Michael Broderick (Sedbergh), 6 Frank Chatterton (Stockport Grammar), 7 Wills Austin (Kirkham Grammar), 8 Jack Lightbown (Bolton 6^th form).

Replacements: 16 Jonny Hanson (Sedbergh), 17 Dan Rourke (St Edward’s College), 18 Isaac Deans (Stockport Grammar), 19 Will Wootton (Sedbergh), 20 Cameron Scanlon (Kirkham Grammar), 21 Efan Edwards (Kirkham Grammar), 22 Owain Williams (Myerscough College).

Gloucester

15 Ioan Jones (Dean Close, co-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 Mikey Nixon (Sir Thomas Rich’s, co-captain), 6 Sol 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 Ollie Workman (The Crypt), 20 Olly Allport (Dean Close), 21 Rhys Price (Hartpury College), 22 Woody Walker (Radley College), 23 Louis Callow (Hartpury College).

Saracens v Midlands Central – 9.30am, 5^th Place Play Off

The first game of the day is a pretty high-stakes on, Saracens v Midland Central for 5^th place. Saracens had a shot of top spot in the South but a 36-17 defeat to Harlequins at Cobham left them in third, while Midlands Central lost out in a delayed shootout for second place to Leicester Tigers on Monday.

Saracens make a few changes from that defeat to Quins, Finborough’s Louie Sinclair returns to the starting XV at inside centre, with Oaklands College’s Oscar Wilson shifting out one. Haileybury’s Joe Robinson is in on the left wing, while Declan Murphy returns to scrum half having been on the bench last week. Up front Berkhamsted’s Alex O’Driscoll is back at loosehead, with Ravens Wood’s Dylan Enskat coming from outside the 23 straight into the second row, Felsted’s Pierre Garino starts at openside. On the bench Finn Newton of Haileybury also comes in.

In contrast, Midlands Central have kept an unchanged starting XV from the side that lost out to Tigers in that thriller on Monday, there are just a couple of changes on the bench with St Edward’s Oxford prop Egor Varivoda coming in alongside schoolmate Oliver Sedgwick, who covers the outside backs.

Saracens

15 Jack Bracken (St Albans), 14 Toby Clinch (Finborough), 13 Oscar Wilson (Oaklands College), 12 Louie Sinclair (Finborough), 11 Joe Robinson (Haileybury), 10 Benjy Mills (Brentwood), 9 Declan Murphy (Saracens Academy), 1 Alex O’Driscoll (Berkhamsted), 2 Lucas Eule (King’s Canterbury), 3 Max Wheeler (North Kent College), 4 Jack Bausor (Westcliff High), 5 Dylan Enskat (Ravens Wood), 6 James Boylan (Berkhamsted), 7 Pierre Garino (Felsted), 8 Barney Merrett (Sutton Valence).

Replacements: 16 Henry Walker (Hartpury College), 17 Ikhi Osebor (Haileybury), 18 Charlie Nunn (Haileybury), 19 Junior Kpoku (Finborough), 20 Dayo Oyerinde (Sutton Valence), 21 Ewan Entwistle (Hayes), 22 Lance Kruger (Finborough), 23 Finn Newton (Haileybury).

Midlands Central

15 Dan Barnett (Berkhamsted), 14 Will Glister (City of Oxford College), 13 Ryan Sweeting (Rugby School, 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 Reuben Logan (Berkhamsted), 7 Charlie Bell (Bablake & King Henry VIII), 8 Felix Hunt (Bloxham).

Replacements: 16 Beau Delaney (City of Oxford College), 17 Egor Varivoda (St Edward’s, Oxford), 18 Lasha Astiani-Kalandadze (Bishop Vesey’s Grammar), 19 Harry English (Coventry College), 20 Nikita Tutus (Radley College), 21 Reuben Elias (City of Oxford College), 22 Thomas Cunningham (Magdalen College), 23 Oliver Sedgwick (St Edward’s, Oxford).

Final League Standings

North

South

League 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

Round 7

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