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Northampton Saints U18s defence coach, Reece Marshall, highlighted the importance of the Saints partnership with local state school Moulton College.
In August 2023, the strong links between Moulton and Saints were formalised in a new partnership agreement, which included former Saintsman Reece Marshall rejoining the Club as Moulton College Head Coach.
Marshall made 60 appearances for the men in Black, Green and Gold over seven seasons after making his senior debut in 2015.
During the majority of his professional rugby playing career, the 31-year-old held numerous coaching roles at Dunstablians RFC, Northampton BBOB RFC, Northampton University and as a player/coach at Chinnor RFC upon leaving cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens in 2022.
Marshall also progressed through the ranks at Moulton College and captained the rugby team, leaving him in the perfect position to lead the excellent programme at the college.
“This is my third season with the Moulton programme,” Marshall explained.
“I do the job alongside coaching the Northampton Saints academy U18s forwards and defence. We [Moulton] have been a part of the ACE league for two years, and in our first year, we came in last place; however, this season we’ve progressed massively and finished mid-table, with some massive wins along the way.
“This programme pathway is incredibly important. Rugby is often seen as an upper-class sport with a lot of players coming from private schools into academies and then onto professional set-ups, so it’s really important that we keep state school partnerships like this going.
The college, which has produced the likes of current Saints Tommy Freeman and Ed Prowse, has continued to provide a pathway for students to develop their skills in a professional rugby environment with the highest level of support and coaching available.
Furthermore, ahead of the 2024/25 campaign, Moulton joined the ACE League, the elite level of English college rugby, allowing them to test themselves against the best competition in the country.
“I’d recommend the programme to other people because if you’re just playing at your local club, you may not have had access to that higher level of coaching and mentoring,” said Archie Marshall-Heard, Moulton College Rugby captain.
“This is the highest level of coaching you’re able to get, as a step up from club rugby and a level of development that is very rare.
“The programme at Moulton has developed me as a rugby player through changing my position, which has helped me identify where my strengths and weaknesses are; it’s taken me from a fairly average skill level to a lot higher.”
Marshall added: “It’s a fantastic programme for state school students to go into and get a full-time rugby programme that would be equivalent to a private school programme.”
The partnership with Saints allows students to receive the highest level of coaching and support possible in their athletic development, as well as being completely aligned with the Saints’ DNA and style of play.
“The coaching is totally aligned with what the Saints academy does with their training sessions as well,” Marshall continued.
“All of the principles and Saints’ DNA are embedded into these players, and it provides a brilliant opportunity for everyone to get the same type of coaching.
“Being a part of the Saints academy and Moulton College programme has a cohesiveness in the way we play and are coached,” added Lucas Veevers, who started at loosehead prop for the Saints U18s in their fifth-place playoff game at the PREM Next Gen finals day last Sunday.
“It makes it easy to transfer across both teams. Reece coaches me at both Saints and Moulton, so it helps to have that cohesive voice and information.”
Whilst the athletic development of the players is a key component of the partnership, the development of the individual and their education is also a top priority.
“What’s really important with us at Saints is that we always put the students’ education first,” Marshall added.
“It’s vital that they go after that first before any rugby comes into the thinking. Most boys may not make it as professional rugby players, so it’s important that they focus on their academic studies.
“Our aim is to make sure we bring out the best person through the programme, not just the best rugby player.”
Marshall-Heard continued on Marshall’s comments, saying: “During the programme, there’s a big focus on getting athletically better as a rugby player, but the coaches and the rest of the staff around the programme are incredibly understanding in helping you get better in your education and make sure you prioritise that as well as the rugby.”
Click HERE to sign up to Moulton College’s next Rugby academy taster event or email reece.marshall@moulton.ac.uk for more information.