The 2023/24 U18 Academy League returns this weekend for Round 3, with four further rounds of action over the next five weeks, culminating in Finals Day at Kingsholm on the 18^th February.

The Academy League began in August with the opening two rounds of the campaign. Without any England players available there was an unfamiliar feel to some games, but despite that some very clear early big performances – not least from Northampton Saints, who won two from two, including a stunning 75-7 victory over Leicester Tigers, who did bounce back against Sale Sharks in Round 2.

Midlands Central also won two from two, with a tight victory over Yorkshire Academy and a good performance against Newcastle Falcons.

In the Southern Conference Bath took two from two, beating local rivals Bristol Bears in a cracker in their opening game before following that up with a good away win at Saracens. The other two unbeaten sides in the South Group are Exeter Chiefs and Harlequins, who each had a bye in one round but won their only fixture, Exeter winning at home against Saracens and Harlequins winning 35-25 at home to London & South Central.

Round 3 Fixtures (6^th/7^th January) – Team News to Follow

North

Midlands Central v Midlands West – Saturday, Warwick School, 2pm

Newcastle Falcons v Leicester Tigers – Saturday, Kingston Park, 2pm

Sale Sharks v Northampton Saints – Sunday, Heywood Road, 1pm

Yorkshire Academy – Bye

It’s derby day on Saturday for the RFU Midlands Academy, with Midlands Central, the former Wasps Academy, hosting Midlands West, the old Worcester Warriors Academy, at Warwick School. Central will be looking to make it three from three while West are looking for a first victory of the campaign after a bye and an exciting draw with Sale Sharks.

Also on Saturday there is action at Kingston Park, where Newcastle Falcons look for a first victory of this year’s league, their defeat to Midlands Central was their only game of the summer as they had a bye in the other round. Coming to face them are Leicester Tigers, who will be eager to show that their performance against Sale in the summer, rather than Saints, was the true version of themselves.

The Round 3 action in the North Group concludes on Sunday at Heywood Road when pace-setters Northampton Saints head to take on Sale Sharks. Three from three would be outstanding from Saints, while for Sale the hope is for a first victory of the campaign after a draw and a defeat.

South

Bath v Exeter Chiefs – Saturday, Chippenham RFC, 2pm

Gloucester v Harlequins – Saturday, Kingsholm, 1pm

Saracens v London South Central – Saturday, StoneX, 1pm

Bristol Bears – Bye

In the South Bath will look to make it three from three at Chippenham RFC, they host an Exeter Chiefs side that will be eager to continue their one victory from one game record this weekend. Expect one of the games of the weekend.

Along at Kingsholm, the venue for the Finals of the U18 Academy this year, Gloucester, who are looking for a first victory of the campaign, will host a promising Harlequins side that have won their sole game of the league so far.

StoneX will host as well this weekend as Saracens, who are also searching for a first victory of this year’s league, host London & South Central, the old London Irish Academy, who had two thrillers in the opening rounds, a tight 36-33 victory over Gloucester, and a 35-25 defeat to Harlequins. Don’t be surprised to see more fireworks on Saturday, then.

Team News

Midlands Central

15 George Pearson (City of Oxford College), 14 Austin Nevitt (Fairfax Academy), 13 Thomas Cunningham (Magdalen College), 12 Elis Thomas (City of Oxford College), 11 Emosi Nabakeke (Queen Ethelburga’s), 10 Charlie Mason (St Edward’s, Oxford, vc), 9 Kieran Edwards (City of Oxford College), 1 George Alexander (City of Oxford College), 2 Oskar Parker (Henley College), 3 Sam Scott (City of Oxford College, captain), 4 Ade Oyeyemi (Henley College), 5 Ethan Surrey (City of Oxford College), 6 John Baldwin (Bloxham), 7 Matt Bridge (City of Oxford College), 8 Harry Bewley (St George’s, Harpenden).

Replacements: Michael Onobhayedo (Magdalen College), L Asatiani-Kalandadze (Bishop Vesey’s GS), Drew Johnson (City of Oxford College), Will Diver (Rugby), Diamond Ayiehfor (Warwick), Jayden Wrottesley (City of Oxford College), Harry Eckersall (Wellington College), Charlie Morgan-Stephens (Magdalen College).

Midlands West

15 Jacob Reynolds (Stourport HS), 14 Brendan Colley (Bromsgrove), 13 David-Florian Petrescu (Newport HS), 12 Henry Parsons (Bromsgrove), 11 Ellis Deans-Smith (Hartpury College), 10 Ned Collins (Hereford 6^thform College), 9 Osian Catlin (Millfield), 1 Will Conduit (Stourport HS), 2 George Knowles (Hereford Cathedral School), 3 Lewys Perkins (Stourport HS), 4 Tom Hilton (Malvern College), 5 Dan Halkon (RGS Worcester), 6 Jack Gilbert (Bromsgrove), 7 Harvey Leonard (Ellesmere College), 8 Fintan Dowling (KES Birmingham, captain).

Replacements: Jeremey Akena (Stourport HS), Harry Wright (Stourport HS), Robin Jorden (KES Birmingham), Ewan Tulloch (Ellesmere College), Harrison Osbourne (Bromsgrove), Tom Roberts (Hartpury College), Harry Pemberton (Solihull), Haydn Lewis (Hartpury College).

Newcastle Falcons

15 Tom Katory (Dame Allan’s), 14 Oli Stanley (Barnard Castle), 13 Osea Navuso (Richmond 6^th form College), 12 Josh Farley (Gosforth Academy), 11 Huw Lloyd (Gosforth Academy), 10 Junior Newton (Sedbergh), 9 Joe Davis (Barnard Castle), 1 Harvey Headlam (Hartlepool 6^th form), 2 Ryan Shaw (Gosforth Academy), 3 Finn Kennedy (Carlisle RUFC), 4 Patrick Hogg (Durham, captain), 5 Aaron Nokes (Gosforth Academy), 6 Jacob Butterill (Sedbergh), 7 Charlie Turnbull (Sedbergh), 8 Reuben Parsons (Gosforth Academy).

Replacements: 16 Ollie Forster (Dame Allan’s), 17 Chris Kelly (RGS Newcastle), 18 Elvis Kitenge-Fuki (Gosforth Academy), 19 Harry Wildridge (Yarm), 20 Will Mallatratt (Durham), 21 Reuben Dyer (Gosforth Academy), 22 Rory Linkleter (Gosforth Academy), 23 James Bent (Gosforth Academy).

Leicester Tigers

15 Ethan Blackmore (King’s Grantham), 14 Freddie Snary (Norwich), 13 Harvey Nkrumah (Norwich), 12 Tom Pickering (Denstone College), 11 Tobias Spencer (Norwich), 10 James Egerton (Stamford), 9 Jonty Nickols (Stamford), 1 Bronson Mellowes (Brooskby Melton College), 2 Finlay Hayward (Old Swinford Hospital), 3 Ben Beere (Stamford), 4 George Marsh (Gresham’s), 5 Harry Palmer (Brooksby Melton College), 6 Henry Nanka-Bruce (Brooksby Melton College), 7 Lawrence Adediran (Brooksby Melton College), 8 Ralfie Willott (Brooksby Melton College).

Replacements: 16 Euan Fern (Brooksby Melton College), 17 Jamie Longyear (Denstone College), 18 Max Oliver (Gresham’s), 19 Tate Skinner (Old Swinford Hospital), 20 Joshua Brahoua (King’s Grantham), 21 Jack Dickens (Trent College), 22 Oliver Docherty (Oakham), 23 Yaw Afirifah-Mensah (Trent College).

Sale Sharks

15 Daniel Green (St Ambose College), 14 Fraser Rossiter (King’s Chester), 13 Ben Firth (Kirkham GS), 12 Toby Wilson (King’s Macclesfield), 11 Sebi Krippner (Kirkham GS), 10 Ollie Davies (Kirkham GS), 9 Will Holmes (Sedbergh), 1 Ben Lilley (Knutsford Academy), 2 Tom Davis (St Mary’s College), 3 Leon Tahana (Wirral GS), 4 Josh Gibbon (Ashton on Mersey), 5 Jos Gilmore (Kirkham GS), 6 Ruben Reed (Merchant Taylors’), 7 Seb Kelly (Kirkham GS, captain), 8 Liam Harrison (Xaverian College).

Replacements: 16 Freddie Griffiths (King’s Macclesfield), 17 Noah Lawton (Myerscough College), 18 Cian Jackson (Kirkham GS), 19 Dylan Hodkinson (Wirral GS), 20 Will Bennett (Sedbergh), 21 Rhys Hulse (Kirkham GS), 22 Alex Smith (Kirkham GS), 23 Billy Birkett (Sedbergh).

Northampton Saints

15 James Pater, 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 Reon Gilbert-Joseph, 4 Thomas Ross, 5 James Barrett, 6 Rhys Harries, 7 Kieran Perkins, 8 Alfie Hoyles.

Replacements: 16 Zack Garrett, 17 Giorgi Turashvilli, 18 Jack Lawrence, 19 Harry Price, 20 James Thompson, 21 Will Tinley, 22 Tom Addison.

Bath

15 Owen Erasmus (Millfield), 14 Julian Nunn (Beechen Cliff), 13 Henry Bartlett (Beechen Cliff), 12 Steffan Emanuel (Millfield), 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 Harry Butterworth (Dauntsey’s), 5 Alex Deering (Millfield), 6 James Maloney (Marlborough College), 7 Ed Elliott (Marlborough College), 8 Connor Treacey (Beechen Cliff, captain).

Replacements: 16 Henry Bonetti (Millfield), 17 Sam Janaway (Canford), 18 Oliver Cartwright (Beechen Cliff), 19 Alfie Blackett (Beechen Cliff), 20 Fred Kempton (Beechen Cliff), 21 Isaac Mears (Beechen Cliff), 22 Jack Harrison (Beechen Cliff), 23 Declan Treacey (Priestlands).

Exeter Chiefs

15 Jed Findlay, 14 Noah Clifford, 13 Luca Brano, 12 Nick Lilley, 11 Rhys Williams, 10 Freddie Hirst, 9 Josh Pengilly, 1 Josh Mann, 2 Tyler Bailey, 3 Ben Woodmansey, 4 Luke Evans, 5 Charlie Evered, 6 Mawgen Warren, 7 Ben Harris, 8 Xan Retallick.

Replacements: 16 Ted Hocking, 17 Morgan Lowery, 18 Albert Dowse, 19 Tom Dingle, 20 Jacob Lewis, 21 George Newman, 22 Israel Akinrowo, 23 Rhys Richards.

Gloucester

15 Woody Walker (Radley College), 14 Raph Campbell (King’s Gloucester), 13 Ollie Rendell (Sir Thomas Rich’s), 12 Billy Benson (Dean Close), 11 Jack Hopson (Dean Close), 10 Taite Fortey (Hartpury College), 9 James Lilwall (Sir Thomas Rich’s), 1 Billy Kerslake (Wycliffe College), 2 Ruben Cummings (Hartpury College), 3 Alex Bosworth (Hartpury College), 4 Jonno Balding (Radley College), 5 Jay Evans (Sir Thomas Rich’s), 6 Solomon Shand (Hartpury College), 7 Caio James (Hartpury College, captain), 8 Olly Allport (Dean Close).

Replacements: 16 Orlo Clark (Radley College), 17 Ellis Allen (Hartpury College), 18 Tom Ring (King’s Gloucester), 19 Josh Hansen (Cheltenham College), 20 Kealan Freeman-Price (Hartpury College), 21 Josh Pearce (Hartpury College), 22 Harry Tovey (Hartpury College), 23 Louis Callow (Hartpury College).

Harlequins

15 Elliot Southworth (Hartpury College), 14 Tyler Stewart-Passley (Whitgift), 13 Zuko Robb (Gordon’s), 12 Rory Minton (Seaford College), 11 Izaak Manuel (Eton College), 10 Ben Webb (Gordon’s), 9 Morgan Purnell (Gordon’s), 1 Jamie Miller (Whitgift), 2 Jimmy Staples (Seaford College), 3 Ollie Streeter (Gordon’s), 4 Fin Healey (Gordon’s), 5 Elliot Williams (Gordon’s), 6 Quinn Singh (Trinity), 7 Jack O’Kelly (Henley College), 8 Adam Beney (Gordon’s).

Replacements: 16 N/A, 17 Connor Van Lille (Newman College), 18 Milo Rayner-Parkin (Hurstpierpoint College), 19 Harry Bostock (Seaford College), 20 Ben Giles (St George’s, Weybridge), 21 Sam Line (Whitgift), 22 Math Jones (Gordon’s), 23 Ed Tusler (Hurstpierpoint College).

Saracens

15 Jack Bracken (St Albans), 14 Finn Newton (Haileybury), 13 Charlie Griffin (Harrow), 12 Angus Hall (The Judd, co-captain), 11 Ben Morrow (Millfield), 10 Alex Nagele (Berkhamsted), 9 Asa Stewart-Harris (St Albans), 1 Lewis Young (Sutton Valence), 2 Frank Kitchen (The Judd), 3 Rohan Burke (Ipswich), 4 Charlie Barker (Ashford), 5 Tayo Adegbemile (St Albans, co-captain), 6 Jack Marshall (Campion), 7 Charlie West (St Albans), 8 Finn White (Sedbergh).

Replacements: 16 Harry McNamara (Hayes), 17 Josh Twigg (St George’s, Harpenden), 18 Gabriel Registe (Campion), 19 Jack Murphy (Colfe’s), 20 Gabriel Nott (Berkhamsted), 21 Alfie Marks (Gravesend GS), 22 Fraser Rawlins (Haileybury), 23 Rafael Varona Blakstad (Mill Hill).

London & South Central

15 Inigo Langford, 14 Finlay Wiseman, 13 Martin Betsen-Tchoua, 12 Maximus Winter, 11 Tyler Offiah, 10 Finn Keylock, 9 Aidan Pugh, 1 Charlie Holyer, 2 Oscar Thomas, 3 Jerold Gorleku, 4 Rory McKnight, 5 Oliver Agar, 6 Elijah Taylor, 7 Reggie Hammick (c), 8 Kepueli Tuipulotu.

Replacements: 16 Hunter Deane-Johns, 17 Alan Poku, 18 Spencer Codling, 19 Will May, 20 Isaac Sprenger, 21 Albert Mildenhall, 22 Cameron Ward, 23 Jody Bunce.

Standings

North Group

South Group

Upcoming Fixtures

Round 4 (13^th/14^th January)

North

Leicester Tigers v Yorkshire Academy – Saturday, Loughborough Uni, 5pm

Midlands West v Northampton Saints – Saturday, Stourport HS, 2pm

Sale Sharks v Newcastle Falcons – Sunday, Heywood Road, 1pm

Midlands Central – Bye

South

Bath v London South Central – Saturday, Chippenham RFC, 12.15pm

Bristol Bears v Saracens – Saturday, Dings Crusaders, 7pm

Exeter Chiefs v Harlequins – Saturday, Truro College, 12.30pm

Gloucester – Bye

Round 5 (20^th January)

North

Midlands Central v Northampton Saints – Saturday, Aylesbury RFC, 2pm

Newcastle Falcons v Midlands West – Saturday, Kingston Park, 2pm

Yorkshire Academy v Sale Sharks – Saturday, Keighley RFC, 2pm

Leicester Tigers – Bye

South

Exeter Chiefs v Gloucester – Saturday, Truro College, 2pm

Harlequins v Bath – Saturday, Cobham RFC, 1.30pm

London South Central v Bristol Bears – Saturday, Hazelwood, 1pm

Saracens – Bye

Round 6 (2^nd/3^rd/4^th February)

North

Midlands West v Leicester Tigers – Saturday, Stourport HS, 2pm

Newcastle Falcons v Yorkshire Academy – Friday, Kingston Park, 8pm

Sale Sharks v Midlands Central – Sunday, Platt Lane, 2pm

Northampton Saints – Bye

South

Gloucester v Saracens – Saturday, Kingsholm, 1pm

Harlequins v Bristol Bears – Saturday, Grasshoppers RFC, 12.30pm

London South Central v Exeter Chiefs – Saturday, Hazelwood, 2pm

Bath – Bye

Round 7 (10^th/11^th February)

North

Leicester Tigers v Midlands Central – Saturday, Loughborough Uni, 2pm

Northampton Saints v Newcastle Falcons – Saturday, Franklins Gardens, 4.30pm

Yorkshire Academy v Midlands West – Saturday, Doncaster Knights, 2pm

Sale Sharks – Bye

South

Bristol Bears v Exeter Chiefs – Saturday, Dings Crusaders, 4pm

Gloucester v Bath – Saturday, Kingsholm, 1pm

Saracens v Harlequins – Sunday, StoneX, 1pm

London South Central – Bye

Finals Day – Sunday 18th February, Kingsholm Stadium

Past Results

Round 1

North

Midlands West 22-22 Sale Sharks

Northampton Saints 75-7 Leicester Tigers

Yorkshire Academy 31-33 Midlands Central

Newcastle Falcons – Bye

South

Bath 29-27 Bristol Bears

Exeter Chiefs 44-27 Saracens

London South Central 36-33 Gloucester

Harlequins – Bye

Round 2

North

Leicester Tigers 40-26 Sale Sharks

Midlands Central 45-14 Newcastle Falcons

Northampton Saints 40-21 Yorkshire Academy

Midlands West – Bye

South

Bristol Bears 49-12 Gloucester

Harlequins 35-25 London South Central

Saracens 26-34 Bath

Exeter Chiefs – Bye