The Premiership Rugby U18 Academy League moves to Round 5 this weekend, with every single game taking place on Saturday 20^th January.

The race for the top of each conference and a place in the Academy League Final is hotting up, in the North Pool Northampton Saints sit top of the table but have Sale Sharks snapping at their heels, with Leicester Tigers top too far behind, and their hosts on Saturday 7 points behind but, crucially, with a game in hand.

Meanwhile in the South Pool Bath are eight points clear on Exeter Chiefs and are the only unbeaten side in either conference having so far secured the maximum number of points. However with Exeter having a game in hand, likewise Bristol Bears in third, the conference is far from settled.

Round 5 Fixtures & Team News (20^th January)

North (Leicester Tigers Bye)

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

A crucial one of Midlands Central after a bye last week and defeat to RFU Midlands Academy rivals Midlands West the week before. Victory keeps them in touch with Saints at the top, while victory for Saints will see them take another step towards the final after returning to winning way at Midlands West last time around.

Midlands Central make four changes to the side that lost out to Midlands West last time out, three of them in the pack with City of Oxford College’s Beau Delaney and Bishop Vesey’s Lasha Asatiani-Kalandadze coming into the front row and Rugby School’s England squad member Jake Roberts returning from injury at number 8. In the backs Wellington College’s Harry Eckersall steps in at scrum half. There are a number of players on the bench that were not involved last time, with Gruff Rhys Williams, Harry Bewley, Oscar Talbot, Freddie Walton, and Charlie Hodson all getting a go.

Like Midlands Central, Northampton Saints make two changes in the front row with Kanoa Lilo and Giorgi Turashvilli coming in, while Ollie Hill comes into the second row. The backline is unchanged from the victorious side over Midlands West last time out. The bench sees some fresh faces with Edward Delaney, Jack Lawrence, and Henry Lumley coming in alongside the much anticipated return of Sonny Tonga’uiha.

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), 9 Harry Eckersall (Wellington College), 1 George Alexander (City of Oxford College), 2 Beau Delaney (City of Oxford College), 3 Lasha Asatiani-Kalandadze (Bishop Vesey’s GS), 4 Ade Oyeyemi (Henley College), 5 Ethan Surrey (City of Oxford College), 6 John Baldwin (Bloxham), 7 Matt Bridge (City of Oxford College), 8 Jake Roberts (Rugby).

Replacements: Michael Onobayedo (Magdalen College), Gruff Rhys Williams (City of Oxford College), Harry Bewley (St George’s, Harpenden), Oscar Talbot (Rugby), Diamond Ayiehfor (Warwick), Freddie Walton (Magdalen College), Charlie Hodson (RGS High Wycombe), Will Diver (Shiplake College)

Northampton Saints

15 Edouardo Todaro, 14 Louis Burns, 13 Ben Agbenu, 12 Billy Pasco (C), 11 Rafe Witheat, 10 Louis Haley, 9 Jonathan Weimann, 1 Tom Dye, 2 Kanoa Lilo, 3 Giorgi Turashvilli, 4 Thomas Ross, 5 Ollie Hull, 6 Harry Price, 7 Keiran Perkins, 8 Alfie Hoyles.

Replacements: 16 Edward Delaney, 17 Sonny Tonga’uiha, 18 Jack Lawrence, 19 Rhys Harries, 20 Ben Currie, 21 Tom Addison, 22 Henry Lumley.

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

After victory over Leicester a fortnight ago, Newcastle were bouncing. However a sobering defeat to Sale Sharks last time out sees them looking to get that bounce back. They will be aiming to do so against a Midlands West side that is playing well, having beaten Midlands Central a fortnight ago and run table-toppers Northampton Saints close last time out.

Newcastle make planet of changes from the side that lost to Sale, with Josh Farley and Osea Navuso moving from 10 and 12 to 12 and 13, and Will Bulman coming in at fly half. Josh Bailey comes in at full back with his Gosforth Academy teammate James Bent coming in on the right wing. Up front there are two new props, Chris Kelly and Elvis Kitenge-Fuki, while Yarm’s Harry Wildridge is in the second row and Durham’s Dan Toole comes in at 8. There are fresh faces on the bench too as Ollie Forster, Aidan Stewart, Lauchlan Hill, Charlie Brewer, Harry Ryder, and Lucas Jessop all come in.

Midlands West also make changes, particularly in the back three where Haydn Lewis and Jacob Reynolds swap positions and Charlie Whorrod comes in. Meanwhile Henry Williams starts in the centres. Up fron there are two new men in the back row, Harry Pemberton and Fintan Dowling, while Ollie McGinnity comes in to the second row. Fresh faces on the bench include Gus Wixey, Tom Casswell, Harvey Shaw, Monty Oliver, and Robin Jorden.

Newcastle Falcons

15 Josh Bailey (Gosforth Academy), 14 James Bent (Gosforth Academy), 13 Osea Navuso (Richmond 6^thform College), 12 Josh Farley (Gosforth Academy), 11 Huw Lloyd (Gosforth Academy), 10 Will Bulman (Gosforth Academy), 9 Joe Davis (Barnard Castle), 1 Chris Kelly (RGS Newcastle), 2 Ryan Shaw (Gosforth Academy), 3 Elvis Kitenge-Fuki (Gosforth Academy), 4 Patrick Hogg (Durham, captain), 5 Harry Wildridge (Yarm), 6 Jacob Butterill (Sedbergh), 7 Charlie Turnbull (Sedbergh), 8 Dan Toole (Durham).

Replacements: 16 Ollie Forster (Dame Allan’s), 17 Aidan Stewart (Sedbergh), 18 Finn Kennedy (Carlisle RUFC), 19 Lauchlan Hill (Gosforth Academy), 20 Charlie Brewer (Dame Allan’s), 21 Reuben Dyer (Gosforth Academy), 22 Harry Ryder (Dame Allan’s), 23 Lucas Jessop (RGS Newcastle).

Midlands West

15 Jacob Reynolds (Stourport HS), 14 Haydn Lewis (Hartpury College),13 Henry Williams (Hartpury College), 12 Henry Parsons (Bromsgrove), 11 Charlie Whorrod (Warwick), 10 Ned Collins (Hereford 6^th form College), 9 Osian Catlin (Millfield), 1 Jeremy Akena (Stourport HS), 2 George Knowles (Hereford Cathedral School, captain), 3 Lewys Perkins (Stourport HS), 4 Ollie McGinnity (Warwick), 5 Tom Hilton (Malvern College), 6 Henry Black (Hereford 6^th form College), 7 Harry Pemberton (Solihull), 8 Fintan Dowling (KES Birmingham).

Replacements: Rory Blyth (Hereford 6^th form College), Gus Wixey (Malvern College), Tom Casswell (Hartpury College), Harvey Shaw (Hartpury College), Harry Wright (Stourport HS), Monty Oliver (Malvern College), Robin Jorden (KES Birmingham), Joe Johnston (North Leamington College).

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

Yorkshire Academy are still searching for a victory but will have been pleased with their performance in defeat to Leicester Tigers last time out. The bad news for them is that they face arguably the most in form side in the Pool on Saturday, Sale Sharks, who put 59 past Newcastle Falcons last time out, a week on from a thrilling 49-42 victory over the top side in the pool, Northampton. Just three points off the top, Sale are going to be straining every sinew as they attempt to make the final at Kingsholm on Sunday 18^th February.

Yorkshire have rejigged things a bit from the side that lost to Tigers, England’s Alfie Longstaff moves from 8 to hooker, the Woodhouse Grove man also takes over the captaincy. Meanwhile Queen Ethelburga’s Seb Easterby-Gray moves from hooker to 6, with Ampleforth College’s Josh Oke coming in at 8, Hill House’s Fraser Perry at lock, and Bishop Burton College’s Oliver Fretwell at tighthead. In the backs Barnard Castle’s George Brown moves from full back to centre, with Woodhouse Grove’s Callum Hyland-Dugbo going from wing to full back, leaving space for St Peter’s York’s Anesu Chidove to be promoted from the bench to the wing. Joining the bench this week are Hill House’s Harry Tunningley, Bishop Burton College’s Luca Foster, and Mount St Mary’s College pair Rylie Bonsall and Vojtech Nevicky.

Sale Sharks, unsurprisingly given their sensational form, keep the changes to a minimum. Wirral Grammar’s Dylan Hodkinson is promoted from the bench to the second row, a move that sees Kirkham Grammar’s Jos Gilmore move from lock to the blindside flank and Xaverian College’s Liam Harrison move from 6 to 8. There are two new faces on the bench, Wigan Warriors College’s Harrison Kent-Mannion and Sandbach’s Spike Street.

Yorkshire Academy

15 Callum Hyland-Dugbo (Woodhouse Grove), 14 Anesu Chidove (St Peter’s, York), 13 Lloyd McEwan-Peters (Wellington College), 12 George Brown (Barnard Castle), 11 Thomas Rowe (Woodhouse Grove), 10 Louie Platt (Mount St Mary’s College), 9 Gabriel Horberry (Harrogate GS), 1 Lucas Oxley (St Peter’s, York), 2 Alfie Longstaff (Woodhouse Grove, captain), 3 Oliver Fretwell (Bishop Burton College), 4 Callum Russell (Bishop Burton College), 5 Fraser Perry (Hill House), 6 Seb Easterby-Gray (Queen Ethelburga’s), 7 Archie Hurford (Woodhouse Grove), 8 Josh Oke (Ampleforth College).

Replacements: 16 Harry Tunningley (Hill House), 17 Oliver Spencer (Grammar School at Leeds), 18 Luca Foster (Bishop Burton College), 19 Henry Renshaw (Mount St Mary’s College), 20 Will Brooks (Grammar School at Leeds), 21 Oscar Binns (Woodhouse Grove), 22 Rylie Bonsall (Mount St Mary’s College), 23 Vojtech Nevicky (Mount St Mary’s College).

Sale Sharks

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

Replacements: 16 Harrison Kent-Manion (Wigan Warriors College), 17 Noah Lawton (Myerscough College), 18 Cian Jackson (Kirkham GS), 19 Monty Loggenberg (Kirkham GS), 20 Will Bennett (Sedbergh), 21 Spike Street (Sandbach), 22 Alex Smith (Kirkham GS), 23 Sam Lewtas (Kirkham GS).

South (Saracens Bye)

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

Exeter are in strong form at the moment, taking runaway leaders Bath close before beating Harlequins last time out. Gloucester had a bye last week, but their previous game was a similar victory over Harlequins to Exeter’s, suggesting a superb game on Saturday. Exeter have the best chance of putting Bath under pressure and will be keen to do so, but Gloucester could rise as high as second after this if results elsewhere go their way too.

Exeter Chiefs keep things pretty stable after last week’s victory, making just two changes as Israel Akinrowo comes in at 12 and Freddy Rolls slots in at 7, a move that sees Tom Dingle switch flanks and Mawgen Warren moves into the second row. Three players come onto the bench, Jack Sherratt, Ethan Garnder, and James Howard.

After a week off there are just two changes for Gloucester as well, with Hartpury College’s Louis Callow getting a go on the left wing and his schoolmate Ellis Allen slotting in at loosehead. There are one new man on the bench as Dean Close’s Freddie Ogden-Metherell comes in.

Exeter Chiefs

15 Jed Findlay, 14 Noah Clifford, 13 Nick Lilley, 12 Israel Akinrowo, 11 Rhys Williams, 10 Freddie Hirst, 9 Josh Pengilly, 1 Josh Mann, 2 Tyler Bayley, 3 Ben Woodmansey, 4 Luke Evans (C), 5 Mawgen Warren, 6 Tom Dingle, 7 Freddy Rolls, 8 Xan Retallack.

Replacements: 16 Ted Hocking, 17 Jack Sherratt, 18 Albert Dowse, 19 Ethan Garnder, 20 Bobby Pond, 21 James Howard, 22 Rhys Richards, 23 Luca Brano.

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 Louis Callow (Hartpury College), 10 Taite Fortey (Hartpury College), 9 James Lilwall (Sir Thomas Rich’s), 1 Ellis Allen (Hartpury 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 Orla Clark (Radley College), 17 Billy Kerslake (Wycliffe College), 18 Freddie Ogden-Metherell (Dean Close), 19 Kealan Freeman-Price (Hartpury College), 20 Josh Pearce (Hartpury College), 21 Harry Tovey (Hartpury College), 22 Jack Hopson (Dean Close).

Harlequins v Bath – Saturday, Cobham RFC, 1.30pm

Bottom vs Top, and yet it could be a cracker. Quins may sit at the foot of the table but they could be in the top half come the end of the weekend. It’s a mighty challenge though, nobody has got the better of Bath yet and they have secured a try-scoring bonus point in every single game so far. Another five pointer this weekend and they will have one foot in the final despite a bye next time out.

Quins have really shuffled the deck ahead of this one, with Gordon’s Ben Webb moving from fly half to full back and Worth’s Felix Bateman-Champain coming in at 10. Eton College’s Izaak Manuel and Gordon’s Theo Povey both come in on the wings, while Gordon’s Morgan Purnell slots in at outside centre. Up front England and Whitgift loosehead Jamie Miller returns, with Henley College’s Jack O’Kelly moving from 8 to 6 as Worth’s Tate Williams comes in at 8. On the bench there is room for Gordon’s Emmanuel Shanu-Aby and Adam Beney, as well as Caterham’s Freddie Abel, Whitgift’s Sam Line, and Cranleigh’s Joe Taylor.

Unbeaten Bath meanwhile rejig the backline a bit, with Beechen Cliff’s Jack Harrison coming in at outside centre, with schoolmate Henry Bartlett moving out one to the wing, while another Beechen Cliff man, Julian Nunn, switches wing. Up front Millfield captain Henry Bonetti comes in at hooker, with Kingswood’s Charlie Ward coming into the second row and Beechen Cliff’s Fred Kempton to 6, a move that sees Marlborough College’s James Maloney swap from 6 to 7. Meanwhile on the bench Millfield’s Ellis James and Beechen Cliff’s Harry Walker both come in.

Harlequins

15 Ben Webb (Gordon’s), 14 Izaak Manuel (Eton College), 13 Morgan Purnell (Gordon’s), 12 Ed Tusler (Hurstpierpoint College), 11 Theo Povey (Gordon’s), 10 Felix Bateman-Champain (Worth), 9 Fergus Callington (Whitgift), 1 Jamie Miller (Whitgift), 2 Jimmy Staples (Seaford College), 3 Ollie Streeter (Gordon’s), 4 Nathan Ventham (Brighton College), 5 Elliot Williams (Gordon’s), 6 Jack O’Kelly (Henley College), 7 Ashton Graham (Gordon’s), 8 Tate Williams (Worth).

Replacements: 16 Quinn Singh (Trinity), 17 Connor van Lille (Newman College), 18 Emmanuel Shanu-Abu (Gordon’s), 19 Freddie Abel (Caterham), 20 Adam Beney (Gordon’s), 21 Sam Line (Whitgift), 22 Zuko Robb (Gordon’s), 23 Joe Taylor (Cranleigh).

Bath

15 Owen Erasmus (Millfield), 14 Henry Bartlett (Beechen Cliff), 13 Jack Harrison (Beechen Cliff), 12 Steffan Emanuel (Millfield), 11 Julian Nunn (Beechen Cliff), 10 James Linegar (Kingswood), 9 Sam Gane (Beechen Cliff), 1 Theo Malik (Dauntsey’s), 2 Henry Bonetti (Millfield), 3 Leo Palmer (Kingswood), 4 Charlie Ward (Kingswood), 5 Alex Deering (Millfield), 6 Fred Kempton (Beechen Cliff), 7 James Maloney (Marlborough College), 8 Connor Treacey (Beechen Cliff, captain).

Replacements: 16 Evan Gallagher (Kingswood), 17 Sam Janaway (Canford), 18 Cody Purnell (Millfield), 19 Harry Butterworth (Dauntsey’s), 20 Ed Elliott (Marlborough College), 21 Ellis James (Millfield), 22 Declan Treacey (Preistlands), 23 Harry Walker (Beechen Cliff).

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

There will be plenty of points here, surely. When London & South Central play there are always plenty of points. They started with a 36-33 victory over Gloucester and though they have lost their next three, the points have kept flowing – 35-25, 50-36, 33-31. That latest one was against Bath, the closest Bath have come to defeat this year, and that should five them plenty of reason to believe against Bristol Bears on Saturday, who picked up a victory over Saracens last week after a bye in Round 3 and could yet mount a late challenge for top if Bath slip up.

London & South Central make a couple of enforced changes to the starting XV, with Albert Mildenhall coming in at scrum half and Will May joining the second row, replacing them on the bench are Ashton Ilincic and Ben Littlefair.

Bristol Bears meanwhile name an unchanged backline, while up fron the only change sees skipper Joe Lloyd move from the second row to number 8, with Harrison Jones coming into the second row. Meanwhile Wring and Mills join the bench after missing out last week.

London & South Central

15 Martin Betsen-Tchoua, 14 Finlay Wiseman, 13 Maximus Winter, 12 Cameron Ward, 11 Tyler Offiah, 10 Finn Keylock, 9 Albert Mildenhall, 1 Charlie Holyer, 2 Kepueli Tuipulotu, 3 Jerold Gorleku, 4 Will May, 5 Oliver Agar, 6 Elijah Taylor, 7 Reggie Hammick (c), 8 Isaac Sprenger.

Replacements: 16 Oscar Thomas, 17 Alan Poku, 18 Martin Chalmers, 19 Spencer Codling, 20 Ashton Ilincic, 21 Ben Littlefair, 22 Finlay Cunnison, 23 Jody Bunce.

Bristol Bears

15 Tom Bowen, 14 Louis Nancekivell, 13 Victor Worsnip, 12 Jamie Howick, 11 Aidan Boshoff, 10 Fin Fielder, 9 Oscar Green, 1 Will Pearce, 2 Jacob Hodgson, 3 Jack Parkinson, 4 Rowan Curry, 5 Harrison Jones, 6 Joachim Hullah, 7 Kieran Hill, 8 Joe Lloyd (c).

Replacements: Manship, Davison, Wring, Spokes, Mills, Phillips, Sheppard.

Standings

North Group

South Group

Upcoming Fixtures

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

Round 3 Results

North

Midlands Central 19-27 Midlands West

Newcastle Falcons 26-19 Leicester Tigers

Sale Sharks 49-42 Northampton Saints

Yorkshire Academy – Bye

South

Bath 34-29 Exeter Chiefs

Gloucester 24-14 Harlequins

Saracens 50-36 London South Central

Bristol Bears – Bye

Round 4 Results

North

Leicester Tigers 29-12 Yorkshire Academy

Midlands West 19-34 Northampton Saints

Sale Sharks 59-12 Newcastle Falcons

Midlands Central – Bye

South

Bath 33-31 London South Central

Bristol Bears 27-22 Saracens

Exeter Chiefs 35-24 Harlequins

Gloucester – Bye