ACADEMY CONTINUES TO PRODUCE

9 homegrown players in Matchday 23 against Harlequins

By Bath Rugby

February 9^th, 2021

A DAY TO REMEMBER FOR THE BATH RUGBY ACADEMY

Whilst it was a disappointing result on Saturday, it was a huge day for our Academy with the Bath squad consisting of 9 homegrown players in the Matchday 23.

Josh Bayliss (Millfield School)

Max Clark (North Dorset RFC and Bryanston School)

Tom de Glanville (Bath RFC and Beechen Cliff School)

Zach Mercer (Bath Rugby Academy - Under 18's)

Tom Dunn (Chippenham RFC and Sheldon School)

Miles Reid (Avon RFC and Beechen Cliff School)

Ewan Richards (Tor RFC and Millfield School)

Ethan Staddon (Dorchester RFC and Beechen Cliff School)

Kieran Verden (Taunton RFC and Beechen Cliff School)

This was the Club’s highest representation of homegrown players for a Premiership fixture, a feat that will surely be surpassed soon with an amazing group of young players coming through the system.

It was a special day for Ewan Richards who made his professional debut for the Blue, Black and White having joined the Academy as a 15-year-old after beginning his rugby journey at Tor RFC (based in Glastonbury). It was also a day to remember for Ethan Staddon, who was selected in the starting XV for the first time. Ethan is a product of the Bath Rugby x Beechen Cliff AASE programme (Achieving Academic and Sporting Excellence), who began his rugby journey in Dorset representing both at Bridport RFC and Dorchester RFC.

Ethan and Ewan are following in the footsteps of those who have already made a big impression in the senior squad, such as Tom De Glanville, Miles Reid and Gabriel Hamer-Webb. To find out more about the Academy and our partnership with local school Beechen Cliff, you can listen to the latest episode of 'The Scrum' where Academy Manager Craig Lilley and Tom de Glanville discuss the opportunities this programme creates.

Listen to 'The Scrum' now.

"It's nice to see local boys go on and represent their hometown club and seeing them pull on the jersey is extremely special"

ENGLAND INTERNATIONAL TOM DUNN THE PERFECT EXAMPLE FOR YOUNG PLAYERS

Tom Dunn was the first to congratulate Ewan on his first appearance for Bath Rugby on social media after the game, who sets a perfect example of what they are able to achieve in the game. Having gone through the Bath Academy and played senior rugby at Chippenham RFC, he now has over 100 appearances in the Blue, Black and White and earnt his first International Cap for England Rugby in 2020.

THE FUTURE IS BRIGHT

The Academy vision is to have a 50% homegrown first-team squad by 2023 and as we edge closer to that goal, it appears the future is bright with exciting young players consistently coming through the Academy set-up. Everybody from the Club is dedicated to turning recent results around and we are sure the emerging talent will play a crucial role in the remainder of this 2020-21 season!