Young Gun

Young Guns: Bath & England U18 back row Connor Treacey

14 April 2024 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK England U18s captain Connor Treacey led his country through an unbeaten Six Nations and now plans to be a sponge at Bath, learning […]

Young Guns: Rams and England U20s fly-half George Makepeace-Cubitt

7 April 2024 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK George Makepeace-Cubitt was the only player in England U20s’ victorious Six Nations squad not connected to a Premiership club but the talented […]

Young Guns: Northampton & England U20 wing Toby Cousins

1 April 2024 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK Former Northampton season ticket holder Toby Cousins aims to follow in the footsteps of the club’s youthful backline and break into the […]

Young Guns: Exeter & England U20 back row Kane James

24 March 2024 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK Wales-born back row Kane James has opted to represent England due to the support received by U20s head coach Mark Mapletoft and […]

Young Guns: Saracens & England U20 lock Olamide Sodeke

17 March 2024 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK Powerful second row Olamide Sodeke is earning plaudits for his ferocious defence during the U20s Six Nations but is paying close attention […]

Young Guns: Sale Sharks second row Tom Burrow

10 March 2024 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK Towering Yorkshireman Tom Burrow has found his calling at Sale Sharks and, after transitioning from the U18s programme, he has his sights […]

Young Guns: Gloucester full-back Ioan Jones

3 March 2024 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK England U20s will feel grateful to have Ioan Jones in their ranks as the full-back could easily have opted for Wales, or […]

Young Guns: Harlequins fly-half Josh Bellamy

25 February 2024 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK Josh Bellamy is fortunate to be able to pick the brains of England star Marcus Smith at Harlequins and is eager to […]

Young Guns: England U20s and Sale prop Asher Opoku-Fordjour

18 February 2024 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK With an ageing front row, England are crying out for youthful props who can go toe to toe with the world’s best […]

Young Guns: Bristol wing Louis Nancekivell

11 February 2024 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK Louis Nancekivell didn’t go down the traditional route entering rugby and has only played for one club so far in his career […]

Young Guns: Newcastle wing/fullback Ben Redshaw

4 February 2024 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK Ben Redshaw has burst onto the professional rugby scene and is hoping his wonder try against Perpignan is a sign of what’s […]

Young Guns: Harlequins and England U20s second row Harry Browne

28 January 2024 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK Harry Browne is eager to nail down a starting slot for England U20 in the forthcoming Six Nations. The 19-year-old second row […]

Young Guns: Saracens back row Nathan Michelow

21 January 2024 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK Nathan Michelow already has a useful amount of experience in the top flight and is part of England U20s leadership group heading […]

Young Guns: Newcastle centre Oli Spencer

14 January 2024 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK Now back to full fitness Oli Spencer is hoping to repay the faith shown in him by England and Newcastle Falcons, while […]

Young Guns: Harlequins centre/wing Ben Waghorn

7 January 2024 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK Ben Waghorn could have become a rugby league player rather than playing the 15-a-side game but the Harlequins and England U20s centre, […]

Young Guns: Scotland U20s prop Callum Smyth

31 December 2023 0 comments

BY BEN JAYCOCK Scotland U20s prop Callum Smyth enjoyed the ‘best six months of his life’ this year when he took part in the Macphail […]

Young Guns: Leicester Tigers Prop Cameron Miell

24 December 2023 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK Cameron Miell is South African born and bred but the Leicester prop is fully committed to England, eagerly anticipating his first opportunity […]

Young Guns: Bath prop Billy Sela

17 December 2023 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK Despite being just 18, Billy Sela is a relatively experienced England age grade player having already twice toured South Africa. The Bath […]

Young Guns: Northampton scrum-half Archie McParland

10 December 2023 0 comments

BY BEN JAYCOCK Under the close guidance of Will Parkin, Archie McParland has made the transition from fly-half to scrum-half and is reaping the rewards […]

Young Guns: Exeter second row Joe Bailey

3 December 2023 0 comments

BY BEN JAYCOCK Having had a surprise call up to the U20s World Championship this summer, Exeter lock Joe Bailey is hoping for a busy […]

Young Guns: Harlequins back row Louis Schmid

26 November 2023 0 comments

BY BEN JAYCOCK Following in his father’s footsteps, Lucas Schmid took up rugby as early as three and after excelling at U18s level he has […]

Young Guns: Bath second row Rory Cameron

19 November 2023 0 comments

BY BEN JAYCOCK Rory Cameron only started playing rugby aged 15 but the Bath lock has taken inspiration from fellow late bloomer Courtney Lawes and […]

Young Guns: Bristol Prop Louis Trevett

12 November 2023 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK Welshman Louis Trevett represented England U18s at the Six Nations Festival in Dublin this year but has been forced to set his […]

Young Guns: Yorkshire academy flanker Archie Hurford

5 November 2023 0 comments

BY BEN JAYCOCK Archie Hurford says watching England’s senior players shine at the World Cup has added to his motivation to star for the national […]

Young Guns: Bath flanker George Timmins

29 October 2023 0 comments

Tyro flanker George Timmins trained with the England first team during the Rugby World Cup earlier this month in a once in a lifetime opportunity. […]

Young Guns: Leicester second/back row Osian Thomas

22 October 2023 0 comments

Having played rugby in Dubai for three years growing up, non-traditional forward Osian Thomas is hoping his silky handling can set him apart from his […]

Young Guns: Gloucester hooker Gareth Blackmore

15 October 2023 0 comments

From playing barefoot rugby in South Africa to battling in England’s west country of Gloucester, tyro Gareth Blackmore has already enjoyed quite the rugby journey. […]

Young Guns: Bath Academy and Bath Uni centre James Short

8 October 2023 0 comments

After excelling in Bath’s successful U18s side, James Short is hoping to impress the England age grade selectors while performing in BUCS Super Rugby. The […]

Young Guns: Montpellier and Scotland U18s second row Charlie Moss

1 October 2023 0 comments

Having been made redundant at both Wasps and London Irish in a matter of weeks, Charlie Moss decided to move to the south of France […]

Young Guns: Cardiff Met hooker Aneurin Jenkins

24 September 2023 0 comments

Having starred in the Welsh Championship last season, Aneurin Jenkins is hoping to break into the Cardiff Met University first team and go on to […]

Young Guns: Glasgow Warriors fly-half Richie Simpson

17 September 2023 0 comments

Former Scotland U20s fly-half Richie Simpson is hoping to earn some minutes at URC franchise Glasgow Warriors this season. The 20-year-old received plaudits for […]

Young Guns: Harlequins and England U18 scrum-half Lucas Friday

10 September 2023 0 comments

Lucas Friday starred for Jonathan Pendlebury’s England U18s in their tour of South Africa this summer and is aiming to progress through the age groups […]

Young Guns: Bristol Bears back row Aaron Tull

3 September 2023 0 comments

Aaron Tull is hoping to flourish in the new-look Premiership Cup that kicks off this weekend. Tull made three starts in four appearances across the […]

Young Guns: Scotland U20 Prop Max Surry

27 August 2023 0 comments

Max Surry has completed his time in Scotland U20s and is now focused on becoming a starter for Cardiff Met University in BUCS Super Rugby. […]

Young Guns: Bristol Bears full-back Matt Jones

20 August 2023 0 comments

After enduring a brutal pre-season, Matt Jones is hoping to capitalise on the mass exodus at Bristol Bears and become a first team player. Jones, […]

Young Guns: England U20s & Sale scrum-half Nye Thomas

13 August 2023 0 comments

Nye Thomas has completed his time in the England U20s set up and is hoping to continue developing at Sale Sharks as he targets more […]

Young Guns: Harlequins & England U20 back row Zach Carr

6 August 2023 0 comments

Zach Carr was planning a holiday in Asia with his family this summer but was drafted into the England U20s camp for the World Championship […]

Young Guns: Ealing Trailfinders wing Epi Rokodrava

30 July 2023 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK After being made redundant at Wasps last year, Epi Rokodrava fell off the radar of England U20s but the hefty Ealing Trailfinders […]

Young Guns: Harlequins & England U20 fly-half Connor Slevin

23 July 2023 0 comments

Having made the recent transition from 15 to 10, Connor Slevin is hoping for consistent rugby next season with Harlequins and London Scottish. Slevin, 20, […]

Young Guns: England U20s and Leicester second row Finn Carnduff

16 July 2023 0 comments

Despite being 6ft 5in and almost 17 stone (107kg), Finn Carnduff is looking to take steps forward in his physicality as he prepares for another […]

Young Guns: Newcastle fly-half Louie Johnson

9 July 2023 0 comments

Instinctive Newcastle fly-half Louie Johnson has set his sights on breaking into the Falcons first team after finishing his final tournament with England U20s. Johnson, […]

Young Guns: Loughborough centre Chris Preen

2 July 2023 0 comments

Loughborough Students’ Chris Preen has been on a rollercoaster journey so far in his career that has seen him change sports, suffer horrific injuries and […]

Young Guns: Ampthill hooker Ben Pogson

25 June 2023 0 comments

Ben Pogson is “ecstatic” he has managed to land a contract at Championship side Ampthill after the difficult news last October that his academy team […]

Young Guns: Sale Sharks winger Alex Wills

18 June 2023 0 comments

Having gone through the heartache of being made redundant by Worcester Warriors, Alex Wills has found a new and improved lease of life at Sale […]

Young Guns: Saracens & England U18 full-back Jack Bracken

11 June 2023 0 comments

Jack Bracken is hoping to replicate his father Kyran’s career but has switched positions from scrum-half to full-back. Bracken, 17, made his England U18s debut […]

Young Guns: Scarlets & Wales U20 scrum-half Archie Hughes

4 June 2023 0 comments

Archie Hughes is looking to show the Scarlets and the world what he can do at the U20s World Championship later this month in South […]

Young Guns: Harlequins & England U20 wing Cassius Cleaves

28 May 2023 0 comments

With effervescent characters like Joe Marler and Danny Care, Harlequins from the outside is seen as a fun environment but academy graduate wing Cassius Cleaves […]

Young Guns: Bath & England U20s fly-half/full-back Sam Harris

21 May 2023 0 comments

Sam Harris was delighted with his match-winning conversion for England U19s earlier this month, but is keeping his feet firmly on the ground as he […]

Young Guns: Exeter University fly-half Josh Barton

14 May 2023 0 comments

Back-to-back BUCS Super Rugby winner Josh Barton is hoping Premiership clubs can find space for him this summer in their reduced salary cap. The Exeter […]