Northampton Saints - News : Junior Academy take half-term lessons in Saints rugby

27 October 2005, 10:34 am

Junior Academy take half-term lessons in Saints rugby

The Junior Academy warm up ahead of training at Franklin's Gardens

Sixteen members of the Northampton Saints Junior Academy have made good use of their half-term by spending two days at Franklin's Gardens training with Academy coaches Rob Hunter and James Sinclair. The 16 to 18-year-olds have been selected from clubs and schools from across the region and all are hoping to be rewarded with a full-time senior Academy contract.

The sixteen Junior Academy players were also joined by some U16s players who attend the Elite Player Development Centre sessions on a regular basis. The Junior Academy players are monitored at their clubs and schools.

All the players were taken through fitness testing, game understanding, nutrition and recovery advice, strength training and rugby sessions.

Academy coach Rob Hunter said: "There were some outstanding players among the group and they are all incompetition for full Saints Academy contracts when they turn 18."

Some of the players will be selected for Saturday's Academy game against Rotherham U21s which is due to be played at noon at Herringthorpe.