The new crop include Cambridge University student Joe Ansbro, England U19s scrum-half Danny Pointon and Ampthill RFC’s lock Philip Hoy, fly-half Dan Lavery and flanker Matthew Burke. Wing David Smith has joined the Academy after leaving Colchester Grammar School and centre John Brake is the latest recruit from Millfield School, where former Saints captain and hooker Peter Johnson is the principal.

The seven will join Adam Barnard, Charlie Beech, Will Harries, Tom Laws, Tom Powell and Alex Rae, who were all part of the senior academy last season.

Brake, Burke, Hoy, Lavery and Smith were promoted from Saints’ junior academy, which is run on a part-time basis while the young players complete their education. The senior academy trains full time with the 1st team, squad.

Academy director James Sinclair said: “All the players worked very hard last season in our junior academy and I am delighted that some of our new recruits have progressed from this level to the senior academy.

“The club has invested extra resource in the junior academy and to have a number of the core group come through from our region in the first year is excellent. They will enhance the quality of players retained from last year and ensure that we continue to develop high quality future Saints players following in the footsteps of Dylan Hartley, Mark Hopley, Mark Easter and Paul Diggin, who moved up last year.”