Northampton Saints are delighted to announce the formation of a new partnership with Sigma Sixth Colchester, located at Philip Morant School and College.
The partnership marks the Club’s first formal collaboration with a state school in the east of its catchment area, complementing Saints’ long-standing and successful partnership with Moulton College in the west.
This agreement strengthens the connection between the Club and the College by creating an aligned development pathway for aspiring rugby players and coaches.
Sigma Sixth will adopt Saints’ coaching curriculum and playing philosophy, ensuring students are exposed to a high-performance environment from an early stage.
Moreover, from the 2026/27 academic year onwards, Sigma Sixth will also compete in the RFU ACE Boys League – providing valuable game time and expanded competitive opportunities for students striving to progress within the sport.
“We’re incredibly excited to launch this partnership and to see another state school become part of our Academy pathway,” said Mark Hopley, Head of Academy at Northampton Saints.
“This partnership gives talented players the chance to develop their skills in a performance-led environment while still receiving an excellent education.
“Just as importantly, it shows young athletes that a state school can absolutely be a pathway into elite rugby. We’re proud to help open that door and we can’t wait to see the next generation come through.”
Sigma Sixth Colchester is part of The Sigma Trust’s post-16 offer at Philip Morant School. The College operates a thriving Sports Academy supporting school leavers to pursue further education – and its growing rugby programme is now poised for significant growth with Saints’ input.
“We’re incredibly excited to start this partnership with Saints,” said Stephanie Neill, Headteacher at the Philip Morant School and College.
“We want our students to be the best they can be, both academically and in sport, and this partnership creates a fantastic pathway for their development in rugby.
“It enables us to build a really strong rugby programme throughout the whole school, not just for post-16 students, while also giving our staff enhanced training opportunities.
“It’s very important for us that any partner shares our values – and in speaking with Mark and the team at Saints, that alignment was clear from the outset.”
The Sigma Sixth Sports Academy comprises approximately 250 students, supported in both their sporting and academic development through A-Level and BTEC programmes.
Director of Rugby at Sigma Sixth Sports Academy, Peter Le Marquand, who is also a Saints Foundation Phase coach, added: “This partnership validates the work we are doing and helps us lift our standards even further. It’s encouraging that a professional club sees the value in our programme.
“We hope this collaboration continues to grow, helping us attract young talent locally and demonstrating that a state school can offer a genuine pathway into elite rugby.”
Sigma Sixth Colchester: Rugby Programme
Sigma Sixth Colchester’s rugby programme is designed for school leavers with a real passion for the sport, offering development opportunities for players of all abilities and clear progression routes into the professional game.
The programme benefits from a partnership with Colchester Sports Park, giving students access to top‑class playing surfaces and training facilities, alongside a purpose‑built strength and conditioning centre with tailored programming.
Students receive professional coaching, individual development plans, video analysis, sports therapy support throughout the week, and nutrition guidance – all delivered within an academic timetable of A-levels or BTEC, structured around fixtures and training commitments.
The programme has already produced players who have progressed into county, representative and professional environments, and its competitive record continues to grow.
Sigma Sixth has secured promotion into the RFU’s ACE League, and supports students pursuing university scholarships both in the UK and the US. With subsidised kit bundles, overseas tours, and an emphasis on developing not only strong athletes but strong characters, the rugby pathway at Sigma Sixth offers a comprehensive and ambitious environment for young people striving to reach the next level.
The newly announced formal link with Northampton Saints further strengthens this offer, opening even more doors for aspiring players across the region.
Get involved
To take part in the 2026 Sigma Sixth Sports Academy taster sessions, please complete this FORM.
Representatives from Sigma Sixth will also be in attendance from 11am on Saturday 24 January to talk about the partnership and rugby programme before Saints U18s and U17s Academy friendlies against Saracens at Colchester Rugby Club (kicking off at 12pm and 2pm).
To find out more about the rugby programmes available at Sigma Sixth, please email peter.lemarquand@pmsc.school or MarkHopley@northamptonsaints.co.uk.