London Irish claimed the 2023 Premiership Rugby U18 Academy League title on Sunday as they beat Northampton Saints 24-19 in the final at Saracens’ StoneX Stadium.

It is the third time that the Exiles have got their hands on the trophy, first winning it back in 2016 before sharing the title with Leicester Tigers in 2020. Now the London side is back on top of the pile after topping an unbelievable competitive Southern Conference by a point and then winning a fantastic final against Northampton Saints, who had been so good in the Northern Conference as well, holding off the challenge from 2018, 2019, and shared 2020 champions Leicester Tigers.

It’s a tough blow for Saints, their second final defeat in a row for the side that won back to back titles in 2013 and 2014, but one for all sides to be proud of with all fourteen sides taking to the field at StoneX over the course of Sunday for a Finals Day that began at 9.30am and finished with the final at 7pm.

Each side played their counterpart finished from the opposing conference, leaving each side with a position from 1 to 14 in the overall standings, and it was a day to remember for the Southern Conference sides in particular as they won five of the seven matches, with Exeter Chiefs claiming their first victory of the campaign with a 36-19 victory over Midlands West, the old Worcester Warriors Academy, to finish in 13^th overall.

It was a poignant day on many fronts as well, the final time many players will wear the shirts of the famous clubs, while a number of others missed out due to injury. Most poignant of all though was the story of two Berkhamsted pupils, the school that had players in action for Saracens, Midlands Central, and London Irish. Both pupils had lost a parent since the turn of the New Year and put in displays of real bravery and pride. Both came out on top too, Saracens’ Alex O’Driscoll helping his side to fifth place, against some of his schoolmates in Midlands Central colours, and London Irish scrum half Connor Peters earning the ultimate prize in Academy Rugby as his side lifted the Shield.

On the field it was a day of try-scoring brilliance in the 5^th-13^th place play off games, as mentioned Exeter Chiefs beat Midlands West 36-19 for their first victory of the season, while Sale Sharks were rampant to seal 11^th ahead of Gloucester, winning 66-19 despite the absence of their injured skipper.

Bath and Newcastle Falcons but on an absolute show, and little wonder, both could easily have been competing for far higher places. As it was, Bath sealed 9^th in a classic, winning 41-32. Harlequins have been capable of try-scoring brilliance all season and that was on display in a big way at lunchtime as they beat Yorkshire Academy 53-19 for 7^th place, meanwhile in the opening game of the day it was home side Saracens that sealed victory, earning 5^th place with that 43-31 defeat of Midlands Central.

The final two games of the day saw things tighten up though, perhaps the tension of bigger prizes forcing things closer or maybe the teams being at that top end therefore having more challenging defences. Either way, we were treated to a couple of classic finals to round off the day.

The penultimate game was the 3^rd place play off, Leicester Tigers v Bristol Bears, the 2018, 2019, and shared 2020 champions, Leicester, taking on the reigning champions, Bristol. They played like a pair of champions sides too, and little wonder, they were each only a single league point off competing in the final. It was a strange old contest, with all the scoring done after 40 minutes, Sam Williams of Stamford giving Tigers a 19-7 lead before half time, before his opposite number 8, SGS Filton College’s Archie Prewett, scored a near identical try just after the break for Bristol. That left the scores at 19-14 in Tigers’ favour as the most tense of final half hour’s ticked away. No further scores came though, with Tigers therefore claiming third place.

The final was an epic affair, and it started with a bang, Saints skipper Henry Pollock doing what the Stowe flanker has been doing all season and absolutely tearing down the right wing to put his side in the lead after just three minutes, Samuel Whitbread’s Ben Radnor converting. Saints were at it again ten minutes later with another epic try, this time Oakham’s Toby Cousins, who played for England U20 a few weeks ago. Usually a winger, Cousins showed just how at home he is at 15 too as he scorched away from around halfway to put his side 12-0 up.

It looked like dark times ahead for London Irish but Bishop Wand fly half Louie Heard had a quick response just two minutes later to calm a few nerves and narrow the gap to 12-5, before Harrow sensation Kepu Tuipulotu went on a typically bulldozing run to level the game at 12-12 with Heard’s conversion.

Big players were stepping up in big ways for both sides and shortly before half time another did for Irish as skipper Finn Worley-Brady of Bishop Wand crashed over from close range to send his side in 19-12 ahead at the half time break, with Heard converting.

Saints came flying out after half time though, Pollock getting held up and then moment later Finborough hooker Sol Moody barged over from the tail of the maul. Radnor converted and suddenly the game was level again.

Irish responded though, a third hookers try of the game as replacement hooker Robert Gaffan of Rugby School went over on 46 minutes. That sent the Exiles 24-19 ahead, and it was a lead that they would hold onto for the remainder of the game as the tension ramped up and up and up.

Both sides had further chances, but when returning Wellington College and England U18 fly half Rory Taylor lined up a penalty with a clock in the red, the game was done. The penalty didn’t quite make it, but it mattered not for London Irish as the whistle went, the cheers went up, and the men in green had their third Premiership Rugby U18 Academy League title.

It was a magnificent final, ending a wonderful day of rugby at StoneX, and a day that confirmed that at U18 level at least, English rugby is in very very rude health indeed.

Premiership Rugby U18 Academy League Finals Day Results:

Northampton Saints 19-24 London Irish –  Final

Leicester Tigers 19-14 Bristol Bears – 3^rd Place Play Off

Saracens 43-31 Midlands Central – 5^th Place Play Off

Harlequins 53-19 Yorkshire Academy – 7^th Place Play Off

Bath 41-32 Newcastle Falcons – 9^th Place Play Off

Sale Sharks 66-19 Gloucester – 11^th Place Play Off

Midlands West 19-36 Exeter Chiefs – 13^th Place Play Off

2023 Premiership Rugby U18 Academy League Final Standings:

1 London Irish

2 Northampton Saints

3 Leicester Tigers

4 Bristol Bears

5 Saracens

6 Midlands Central

7 Harlequins

8 Yorkshire Academy

9 Bath

10 Newcastle Falcons

11 Sale Sharks

12 Gloucester

13 Exeter Chiefs

14 Midlands West

Team Sheets:

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

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

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

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

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

15 Jack Lightowler (Myerscough College), 14 Albert Bradshaw (Stockport Grammar), 13 Ollie Davies (Kirkham Grammar), 12 Archie Callaghan (Sedbergh), 11 Sebi Krippner (Newcastle-Under-Lyme), 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

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

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

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