The academy stars to watch out for this Premiership season
Telegraph Sport analyses which promising youngsters could make an impact for their clubs in the top flight this year
By Ben Coles, Rugby Reporter 6 September 2022 • 8:00am
Former England scrum-half Kyran Bracken's son Charlie is on the books at Saracens Credit: GETTY IMAGES
With the salary cap squeezed this season Gallagher Premiership clubs are set to turn to their academies once again to cover gaps and expose new talents to top-flight rugby.
Below are the academy prospects from each club who could have a major say in each club's season.
Bath
Player: Ethan Staddon
Position: Back row
Age: 20
First-team appearances: Eight
Bath’s youngest-ever Premiership player after he was one of many young talents used through the abridged Covid season of 2020-21, the physical 6ft 5in blindside has only shown further signs of promise since then when appearing either in the Premiership Rugby Cup or for England Under-20s.
After overcoming a lengthy knee injury Staddon has returned in good shape for Bath, and will look to emulate fellow academy player Ewan Richards (who must be close to a senior contract) by featuring prominently in the first team. Hooker John Stewart is another to keep tabs on.
Bristol Bears
Player: Deago Bailey
Position: Wing
Age: 20
First-team appearances: Two
The England Under-20 wing feels on the cusp of a senior breakthrough this season, having previously made a couple of appearances in the Premiership Rugby Cup.
Bailey has spent time at Hartpury in the past as well, and while Bristol have good wing options unlikely to miss time away on Test duty, Bailey’s power and pace (as seen below in a try for England against Scotland earlier this year) highlights what he has to offer. Also look out for lock Charlie Rice.
Exeter Chiefs
Player: Ollie Leatherbarrow
Position: Back row
Age: 20
First-team appearances: One
Back row was a problem area for Exeter, not because of quality but available personnel with a nasty run of injuries. It was notable that Leatherbarrow, a Scotland Under-20 international, started at No 8 in the recent pre-season defeat against Ulster.
The Macclesfield-born back-row feels like a name to watch for both club and country over the coming months, having scored against England Under-20s back in February.
Gloucester
Player: Louis Hillman-Cooper
Position: Centre
Age: 20
First-team appearances: Five
Scored on his Premiership debut away at Sale last season, reaching out well to finish despite the attention of a couple of tacklers, and also appeared for Gloucester in the Premiership Rugby Cup and Challenge Cup.
Having re-signed in January this year, along with promising scrum-half Matty Jones, the homegrown back will be hoping for more first-team action when Chris Harris and Giorgi Kveseladze are away on Test duty.
Flanker Harry Taylor has also stood out in pre-season according to head coach George Skivington.
Harlequins
Player: Will Hobson
Position: Prop
Age: 19
First-team appearances: Two
Plenty of choice for Harlequins with exciting wingers Cassius Cleaves and Conor Oresanya having spent time with England Under-20s during the Six Nations and summer series respectively, while fly-half Jamie Benson has been a regular.
Hobson's former fellow academy prop Fin Baxter is now in the senior squad and the England Under-20 prop should soon follow, having made his Champions Cup debut last season as a replacement against Cardiff Blues.
Hobson also played in the Premiership Rugby Cup and will be aiming for more appearances in that competition this season.
Leicester Tigers
Player: Emeka Ilione
Position: Back row
Age: 20
First-team appearances: Two
There are no shortage of options at Leicester, including the highly-rated lock Lewis Chessum (brother of England forward Ollie), tighthead Tim Hoyt and fly-half Jed Walsh.
But it is hard to look past the England Under-20 captain, who featured twice in the Premiership Rugby Cup last season and is only getting bigger and better for both club and country. More first-team opportunities feel imminent for a player with tons of experience at junior level.
London Irish
Player: Chandler Cunningham-South
Position: Back row/lock
Age: 20
First-team appearances: Three
Plenty to choose from, including talented props Tarek Haffar and Mikey Summerfield plus back-row Lucas Brooke, son of a certain Zinzan.
But Cunningham-South has been a revelation and there is excitement at Hazelwood around the 6ft 4in forward’s potential, having been almost parachuted into the England Under-20 setup earlier this year following his arrival from New Zealand. Irish plan to use him in both the back and second rows this season, and he should add some heft.
Newcastle Falcons
Player: Louie Johnson
Position: Fly-half
Age: 19
First-team appearances: One
Straight into a talented England Under-20 line-up last season, the teenager also featured for England’s Under-19 side in April while making a Premiership Rugby Cup appearance for Newcastle last season after joining the academy from Sedbergh.
Iwan Stephens’ deserved promotion to the senior squad leaves Johnson and hooker Ollie Fletcher as ones to watch among Newcastle's young prospects.
Northampton Saints
Player: Ethan Grayson
Position: Centre
Age: 20
First-team appearances: Three
A familiar name, son of Paul and brother of Northampton fly-half James, Ethan has featured regularly for England over the past season in both the U20 Six Nations and summer series.
Grayson also made three appearances in the Premiership Rugby Cup last season and is one of a number of Saints’ current crop, including Tom Litchfield, George Hendy and Tom Lockett, who look full of promise.
Sale Sharks
Player: Tristan Woodman
Position: Flanker
Age: 18
First-team appearances: None
With scrum-half Nye Thomas now part of the senior squad, attention turns to Woodman who has featured regularly for the England Under-18s in 2022, including as part of the side’s unbeaten Six Nations campaign where he went on to be named in Next Gen XV’s team of the tournament.
Saracens
Player: Charlie Bracken
Position: Scrum-half
Age: 18
First-team appearances: One
This entry was set to belong to flanker Toby Knight, until Saracens announced on Monday that the openside flanker, who made his Premiership debut in the final regular season game of last season, has been promoted to the senior squad.
So, how about a scrum-half with a rather familiar surname? Yes, Charlie Bracken is the son of former England scrum-half Kyran, and has already appeared for Saracens in the Premiership Rugby Cup and made four appearances for the England Under-20s this summer.
Wasps
Player: Immanuel Feyi-Waboso
Position: Centre/Wing
Age: 19
First-team appearances: None
Reketi Ma'asi-White is an intriguing prospect, having played four matches for England Under-20s this summer. But Immanuel Feyi-Waboso’s move to join the Wasps Senior Academy from Cardiff Blues earlier this year caught the eye.
Gruff Rees, his former academy manager at Cardiff Blues, notably said to WalesOnline of Feyi-Waboso that there was “such raw potential there”, fearing that the back raised in Llandaff would be lost to England.
Worcester Warriors
Player: Fin Smith
Position: Fly-half
Age: 20
First-team appearances: 18
Still technically listed in Worcester’s academy, which would normally be a surprise had the club not been dealing with bigger issues this summer. Smith started 15 Premiership games last season and looks to be one of Worcester’s best talents.
Northampton Saints however are circling, with Smith widely linked with a move to Franklin’s Gardens sooner or later regardless of what happens with Worcester this season. Whether in the Premiership or with England Under-20s, Smith has long looked like some prospect.
Topic: The Academy Stars to Look Out For - Telegraph (Read 706 times)
Always a Wasp