The U18 Academy League second round takes place this Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, following on from a thrilling opening round last weekend.
Four of the six games were decided by three points of fewer, with Midlands West and Sale Sharks actually drawing.
Round 1 Results
North
Midlands West 22-22 Sale Sharks
Northampton Saints 75-7 Leicester Tigers
Yorkshire Academy 31-33 Midlands Central
South
Bath 29-27 Bristol Bears
Exeter Chiefs 44-27 Saracens
South Central London 36-33 Gloucester
It was a tough day at the office for Leicester Tigers, however this week they are sure to be buoyed as they head to Welford Road to host on Sale Sharks as part of a double header that will also see their senior side host Nottingham in a pre-season friendly.
Elsewhere though, things were tight, that draw between Midlands West and Sale Sharks, a tight win at Yorkshire Academy for Midlands Central, and an equally tight one for Bath at home to Bristol Bears, similarly for the reigning champions, London South Central Academy, who edged out Gloucester.
Exeter Chiefs, who have a bye this week, were on song against Saracens, but a Saracens side that this week sees the return of four key players that were absent after their England U18 commitments.
Round 2 Fixtures & Team News
North
Leicester Tigers v Sale Sharks (Friday 1st September, 3pm)
Tigers, as mentioned, look to bounce back from last week and have the inspiration of Welford Road and a double header with the 1st XV to help them along the way. They are led by back row Ralphie Willott, who will lead the charge against a Sale Sharks side that sees England U18 internationals Dom Hanson and Jack Lightbown return to the side at scrum half and number 8 respectively.
Sale are also led by a flanker, openside Seb Kelly, and as well as Hanson and Lightbown they bring in Ben Firth at outside centre and Dan Rabbette inside him, Ben Lilley at loosehead, and Will Bennett at blindside. England U18 fly half Ollie Davies is on the bench as he makes his comeback from injury.
Leicester Tigers:
15 Ethan Blackmore, 14 Yaw Afirifah-Mensah, 13 Harvey Nkrumah, 12 Oliver Docherty, 11 Tobias Spencer, 10 James Egerton, 9 Jack Dickens, 1 Bronson Mellows, 2 Finlay Hayward, 3 Ben Beere, 4 Tate Skinner, 5 Joshua Brahoua, 6 Ralphie Willott (c), 7 Lawrence Adediran, 8 George Marsh.
Replacements: 16 Fergus Hanna, 17 Euan Fern, 18 Max Oliver, 19 Sam Byrd, 20 Archie Greenhalgh, 21 Jonty Nickols, 22 Freddie Snary, 23 Joe Masunda.
Sale Sharks:
15 Billy Birkett, 14 Sebi Krippner, 13 Ben Firth, 12 Dan Rabbette, 11 Fraser Rossiter, 10 Rhys Hulse, 9 Dom Hanson, 1 Ben Lilley, 2 Tom Davis, 3 Leon Tahana, 4 Josh Gibbons, 5 Jos Gilmore, 6 Will Bennett, 7 Seb Kelly (c), 8 Jack Lightbown.
Replacements: 16 H Kent-Mannion, 17 Noah Lawton, 18 Cian Jackson, 19 Ben Hartigan, 20 Ruben Reed, 21 Will Holmes, 22 Ollie Davies, 23 Sam Lewtas.
Northampton Saints v Yorkshire Academy (Friday 1st September, 1pm)
Northampton Saints and Yorkshire Academy are also in action on Friday, Saints will be buoyant after their derby victory over Leicester Tigers last time out and unsurprisingly do not make too many changes. Ben Agbenu moves from the wing to outside centre, with Louis Burns promoted from the bench to the wing, while Harry Price is also promoted from the bench, he starts at openside. Oscar Lile and Preston McFarlane make their way onto the bench after missing out last time.
Yorkshire meanwhile, after a promising display in their opener, welcome back England U18 pair Louie Platt and Alfie Longstaff. Mount St Mary’s College’s Platt starts at fly half, while Woodhouse Grove’s Longstaff starts at flanker, showing his versatility after playing at hooker for England. Queen Ethelburga’s Seb Easterby-Gray retains the captaincy and the hooking berth. Platt’s arrival sees George Brown of Barnard Castle move to full back, while there are some fresh faces on the bench too, Hill House’s Harry Tunningley, Ampleforth’s Joshua Oke, Wellington College’s Lloyd McEwan-Peters, and Woodhouse Grove’s Callum Hyland-Dugbo.
Northampton Saints:
15 Edoardo Todaro, 14 Louis Burns, 13 Ben Agbenu, 12 Billy Pasco (c), 11 Rafe Witheat, 10 Louis Haley, 9 Jonathan Weimann, 1 Tom Dye, 2 Robert Gaffan, 3 Sonny Tonga’uhia, 4 Thomas Ross, 5 James Barrett, 6 Rhys Harries, 7 Harry Price, 8 Alfie Hoyles.
Replacements: 16 Kahnoa Lilo, 17 Norbert Zastawnik, 18 Archie Appleby, 19 Oscar Lile, 20 Ben Currie, 21 Will Tinley, 22 Preston McFarlane.
Yorkshire Academy:
15 George Brown (Barnard Castle), 14 Finaly Green (Harrogate Grammar), 13 Jack Wilson (Harrogate Grammar), 12 Isaac Firth (Birkdale), 11 Thomas Rowe (Woodhouse Grove), 10 Louie Platt (Mount St Mary’s College), 9 Gabriel Horberry (Harrogate Grammar), 1 Lucas Oxley (St Peter’s, York), 2 Seb Easterby-Gray (Queen Ethelburga’s, captain), 3 Will Farr (Bishop Burton College), 4 Callum Russell (Bishop Burton College), 5 Anthony McCormack (Bishop Burton College), 6 Alfie Longstaff (Woodhouse Grove), 7 Archie Hurford (Woodhouse Grove), 8 Oliver Spencer (Grammar School at Leeds).
Replacements: 16 Harry Tunningley (Hill House), 17 Luca Foster (Bishop Burton College), 18 Sam Bland (Bishop Burton College), 19 Joshua Oke (Ampleforth College), 20 Oliver Owuor (Lady Lumley’s), 21 Rylie Bonsall (Mount St Mary’s College), 22 Lloyd McEwan-Peters (Wellington College), 23 Callum Hyland-Dugbo (Woodhouse Grove).
Midlands Central v Newcastle Falcons (Saturday 2nd September, 3.30pm)
Midlands Central won a thriller at Yorkshire Academy last time out but they have made a few changes to face Newcastle Falcons, bringing in George Pearson, Will Baildon, and Oskar Parker, while promoting Charlie Morgan-Stephens from the bench to the outside centre berth. There are new faces on the bench too, with Lasha Astiani-Kalandadze, John Baldwin, Drew Delaney, and Oscar Talbot all getting their chance.
It’s a first U18 Academy League runout for Newcastle Falcons this season, though they did take on Harlequins in a friendly last week. They are led by Gosforth Academy centre Josh Farley, one of seven representative from the ACE side in the 23. Look out also for England U18 tighthead Sam Graham, among others, one of two Durham School pupils in the side.
Midlands Central:
15 Darcy Bunce, 14 George Pearson, 13 Charlie Morgan-Stephens, 12 Elis Thomas, 11 Emosi Nabakeke, 10 Will Baildon, 9 Kieran Edwards, 1 George Alexander, 2 Oskar Parker, 3 Sam Scott (c), 4 Jacob Griffin, 5 Ethan Surrey, 6 Harvey Bewley, 7 Matt Bridge, 8 Jake Roberts.
Replacements:16 Michael Onobhayedo, 17 Gruff Williams, 18 Lasha Asatiani-Kalandadze, 19 Dan O’Reilly, 20 John Baldwin, 21 Drew Delaney, 22 Oscar Talbot, 23 Thomas Cunningham
Newcastle Falcons:
15 Ben O’Halloran (Gosforth Academy), 14 Lucas Jessop (RGS Newcastle), 13 Osea Navuso (Richmond 6thform), 12 Josh Farley (Gosforth Academy, captain), 11 Sam Wardle (RGS Newcastle), 10 Junior Newton (Sedbergh), 9 Reuben Dyer (Gosforth Academy), 1 Harvey Headlam (Hartlepool 6th form), 2 Ryan Shaw (Gosforth Academy), 3 Sam Graham (Durham), 4 Harry Wildridge (Yarm), 5 Patrick Hogg (Durham), 6 Charlie Brewer (Dame Allan’s), 7 Charlie Turnbull (Sedbergh), 8 Jacob Butterill (Sedbergh).
Replacements: 16 Ollie Forster (Dame Allan’s), 17 Aidan Stewart (Sedbergh), 18 Chris Kelly (RGS Newcastle), 19 Lauchlan Hill (Gosforth Academy), 20 Dan Toole (Durham), 21 Joe Davis (Barnard Castle), 22 Rory Linkleter (Gosforth Academy), 23 James Bent (Gosforth Academy).
South
Bristol Bears v Gloucester (Sunday 3rd September, 2pm)
Gloucester have kept things pretty similar to the side that just missed out to London South Central last time out, bringing in Hartpury College pair Barty Hunt and Evan Rees on the left wing and in the second row respectively, while Keelan Freeman-Price of John Kyrle is promoted, like Hunt, from the bench to start on the blindside flank. England U18 back rower Solomon Shand of Hartpury College again captains the Cherry and Whites.
Bristol have, meanwhile, made just two changes to the side that narrowly missed out to Bath I their opener, with Jack Parkinson promoted from the bench to start at tighthead, likewise Kieran Hill on the openside. Russell, Burton, and Worsnip come on to the bench having missed out last week.
Bristol Bears:
15 Tom Bowen, 14 Louis Nancekivell, 13 Geth O’Callaghan, 12 Jamie Howick, 11 Aidan Boshoff, 10 Fin Fielder, 9 Ted Phillips, 1 Will Pearce, 2 Charlie Manship, 3 Jack Parkinson, 4 Rowan Curry, 5 Joachim Hullah, 6 Joe Lloyd, 7 Kieran Hill, 8 Sonny Davis (c).
Replacements: 16 Spokes, 17 Leyland, 18 Russell, 19 Mills, 20 Burton, 21 Green, 22 Worsnip, 23 Randall.
Gloucester:
15 Louis Callow (Hartpury College), 14 Raph Campbell (King’s Gloucester), 13 Ollie Rendell (Sir Thomas Rich’s), 12 Harry Tovey (Hartpury College), 11 Barty Hunt (Hartpury College), 10 Taite Fortey (St Peter’s, Gloucester), 9 James Lilwall (Sir Thomas Rich’s), 1 Tom Phillips (Hartpury College), 2 Leo Mullis (King’s Gloucester), 3 Ellis Allen (Hartpury College), 4 Finn Watkins (Hartpury College), 5 Evan Rees (Hartpury College), 6 Keelan Freeman-Price (John Kyrle), 7 Caio James (Hartpury College), 8 Solomon Shand (Hartpury College, captain).
Replacements: 16 Ethan Jones (Cheltenham College), 17 Tom Ring (King’s Gloucester), 18 Ollie Workman (The Crypt), 19 Harry Fernandez-Ford (Monmouth), 20 Olly Allport (Dean Close), 21 Rio Ebanks (St Peter’s, Gloucester), 22 Jack Hopson (Dean Close), 23 Woody Walker (Radley College).
Harlequins v South Central London (Friday 1st September, 1pm)
It’s a first game of the season for Quins after a bye last week, though they did take on Newcastle in a friendly last weekend. They are led by co-captains Isaac Buck of Newman College at hooker and Rory Minton of Seaford College at inside centre. Among those that they can call on are England U18 pair Jamie Miller, the Whitgift loosehead, and Ronan Daniell, the Hurstpierpoint College man starts at number 8. Look out also for Gordon’s Zuko Robb on the bench, who had to pull out of the England squad due to injury.
London South Central won the league last year as London Irish and got their defence off to a strong start with a thrilling victory over Gloucester last time out. They also have some returning England U18 starts, Harrow pair Kepueli Tuipulotu and Charlie Griffin, at hooker and outside centre respectively. They have a couple of other changes too, Freddy Rossigneux and Sam Winters swap positions, while Finn Keylock comes in at fly half, Otto Bennett gets a start at loosehead and Oliver Agar comes in to the second row. Henry Dargan is an addition to the bench from outside of the squad last week.
Harlequins:
15 Elliott Southworth (Hartpury College), 14 Izaak Manuel (Eton College), 13 Henry Williams (Brighton College), 12 Rory Minton (Seaford College, co-captain), 11 Max Farrell (Trinity), 10 Ben Webb (Gordon’s), 9 Fergus Callington (Whitgift), 1 Jamie Miller (Whitgift), 2 Isaac Buck (Newman College, co-captain), 3 Connor Van Lille (Newman College), 4 James Davies (Brighton College), 5 Elliot Williams (Gordon’s), 6 Quinn Singh (Trinity), 7 Sam Worne (Whitgift), 8 Ronan Daniell (Hurstpierpoint College).
Replacements: 16 N/A, 17 Ethan Manzi (Gordon’s), 18 Ollie Streeter (Gordon’s), 19 Fin Healey (Gordon’s), 20 Ashton Graham (Gordon’s), 21 Sam Cowman (Hartpury College), 22 Felix Bateman-Champain (Worth), 23 Zuko Robb (Gordon’s).
London South Central:
15 Freddy Rossigneux, 14 Sam Winters, 13 Charlie Griffin, 12 Filip Edstrom, 11 Tyler Offiah (vc), 10 Finn Keylock, 9 George Harris, 1 Otto Bennett, 2 Kepueli Tuipulotu, 3 Hunter Dean-Johns, 4 Rory McKnight (vc), 5 Oliver Agar, 6 John Edwards, 7 Reggie Hammick (c), 8 Edward Bachelor.
Replacements: 16 Martin Chalmers, 17 Charlie Hoyler, 18 Isaac Sprenger, 19 Will May, 20 Henry Dargan, 21 Aidan Pugh, 22 Ben Littlefair, 23 Maximus Winter.
Saracens v Bath (Saturday 2nd September, 2pm)
Saracens, as mentioned, have four England U18 starts returning to their ranks as they look to bounce back from defeat to Exeter Chiefs last time out. Finn Newton of Haileybury comes in at full back, with Judd’s Angus Hall at inside centre alongside St Albans’ Jack Bracken, his schoolmate Tayo Adegbemile comes into the second row. Those four are the only changes to the starting fifteen, though Frank Kitchen and Fraser Rawlins are additions to the bench.
Bath meanwhile makes just one change to their side that defeated Bristol Bears 29-27 in their opener, with Beechen Cliff’s George Yarwood coming in at inside centre. There are some new faces on the bench too as Beechen Cliff’s Alfie Blackett and Julian Nunn come in, so too Millfield’s Ellis James.
Saracens:
15 Finn Newton, 14 Ben Morrow, 13 Jack Bracken, 12 Angus Hall, 11 Rafa Varona Blakstad, 10 Alex Nagele, 9 Will Howard, 1 Josh Twigg, 2 Lewis Young, 3 Finn Bloomer, 4 Charlie Barker, 5 Tayo Adegbemile, 6 Gabriel Nott (c), 7 Eddie Alliott, 8 Finn White.
Replacements: 16 Frank Kitchen, 17 Owen Gillett, 18 Rohan Burke, 19 Lewis Golding, 20 Jack Marshall, 21 Freddie Bracken-Smith, 22 Fraser Rawlins, 23 Asa Stewart-Harris.
Bath:
15 Owen Erasmus (Millfield), 14 Wyatt McLoughlin (Beechen Cliff), 13 Henry Bartlett (Beechen Cliff), 12 George Yarwood (Beechen Cliff), 11 Toby Lock (Beechen Cliff), 10 James Linegar (Kingswood), 9 Sam Gane (Beechen Cliff), 1 Theo Malik (Dauntsey’s), 2 Evan Gallagher (Kingswood), 3 Leo Palmer (Kingswood), 4 Alex Deering (Millfield), 5 James Maloney (Marlborough College), 6 Charlie Ward (Kingswood), 7 Arthur Moore (Clayesmore), 8 Connor Treacey (Beechen Cliff, captain).
Replacements: 16 Henry Bonetti (Millfield), 17 Sam Janaway (Canford), 18 Codi Purnell (Millfield), 19 Alfie Blackett (Beechen Cliff), 20 Ed Elliott (Marlborough College), 21 Ellis James (Millfield), 22 Julian Nunn (Beechen Cliff), 23 Oliver Manchip (Beechen Cliff).
Further Rounds
Round 3 (Weekend of 6th January)
North
Midlands Central v Midlands West
Newcastle Falcons v Leicester Tigers
Sale Sharks v Northampton Saints
South
Bath v Exeter Chiefs
Gloucester v Harlequins
Saracens v South Central London
Round 4 (Weekend of 13th January)
North
Leicester Tigers v Yorkshire Academy
Midlands West v Northampton Saints
Sale Sharks v Newcastle Falcons
South
Bath v South Central London
Bristol Bears v Saracens
Exeter Chiefs v Harlequins
Round 5 (Weekend of 20th January)
North
Midlands Central v Northampton Saints
Newcastle Falcons v Midlands West
Yorkshire Academy v Sale Sharks Academy
South
Exeter Chiefs v Gloucester
Harlequins v Bath
South Central London v Bristol Bears
Round 6 (Weekend of 3rd February)
North
Midlands West v Leicester Tigers
Newcastle Falcons v Yorkshire Academy
Sale Sharks v Midlands Central
South
Gloucester v Saracens
Harlequins v Bristol Bears
South Central London v Exeter Chiefs
Round 7 (Weekend of 10th February)
North
Leicester Tigers v Midlands Central
Northampton Saints v Newcastle Falcons
Yorkshire Academy v Midlands West
South
Bristol Bears v Exeter Chiefs
Gloucester v Bath
Saracens v Harlequins
Final Day: 18th February 2024
