Northampton Saints today confirm that eight talented youngsters are set to join the Club’s Senior Academy set-up for the 2026/27 season.
Noah Buxton, Sonny Goode, Jack Lewis, Alex Mead, Aiden Reid, Hugh Shields, Charlie Tamani and George Tonga’uiha will all join up with the men in Black, Green and Gold in the summer after signing their first professional contracts.
All eight have played a role in Saints’ Under-18 PREM Next Gen Academy League clashes this season, with back-rower Lewis also going on to make his senior Saints debut in February against Harlequins in the PREM Rugby Cup.
On the international stage, Goode, Lewis, Reid and Shields have all represented England at Under-18s level, with Tamani and Tonga’uiha having both featured for England Under-19s too.
“What the senior coaches are getting with this group of lads is a mixture of great personalities and a variety of talent across the board,” said Academy Head Coach, Charlie Reed.
“As an Academy, that’s what we want to keep producing: players that are authentic in their own way, but also people that are willing to compete and work hard. They’re a good bunch and tight knit as a set of lads.
“A lot of these players have been out through our Academy League fixtures through injury, but each of them, from a character point of view, has the potential to step up into a professional set-up.
“That’ll be the biggest challenge for them coming into the senior environment, making sure that they drive their own development to realise that potential and get to grips with a professional set-up. I’ve no doubt that these lads will cope with that challenge and I’m excited to see what they can achieve.”
NOAH BUXTON (PROP)
Buxton – whose rugby journey started at Milton Keynes RFC as a 12-year-old – has had a varied journey to the front row, beginning his career as a centre and later a back row as part of Wasps’ (latterly known as Midlands Central) pathway.
He made the move to Saints in his Under-17s season and shifted to tighthead prop in the process, quickly making a name for himself with his barnstorming strength and power.
Reed said: “Noah is one of the strongest young players who has ever come through the system. He’s been signed primarily around that physical potential, for him to come into the set-up here and try to kick on.
“He’s still very new to the front row; it’s only a position he’s been in for the last 18 months, but he’s an exciting prospect to have in our Senior Academy.”
SONNY GOODE (SCRUM-HALF)
A part of Saints’ Academy since 2020, Goode will provide Saints with a versatile option in their backline – having played right across the backs before settling on scrum-half at the close of this term.
First picking up a rugby ball at the age of just four, the Bloxham schoolboy captained Saints in the Academy League multiple times this season, and has also represented England at Under-18s.
Reed said: “Sonny is a very good unstructured game player; he has a fantastic feel for the game and has played in every single position across the backline in his Academy journey. He has been a bit of a Swiss-Army knife for us.
“He’s now settled on being a scrum-half, so is getting to grips with life there. It’s still new for him, but his ability to play what he sees and react to the state of the game is excellent and I’ve no doubt he’ll adapt well.”
JACK LEWIS (BACK ROW)
Lewis has already made a name for himself amongst the Saints faithful. The young back row debuted in Black, Green and Gold during this season’s PREM Rugby Cup to become Saint #2130 and marking himself as the Club’s second youngest player in the professional era – featuring at just 17 years and 240 days old.
Lewis’ performances through the Cup earned him Saints’ Player of the Month award before he returned to action within Northampton’s Academy set-up – a system he has been a part of since the age of 13.
Alongside playing for Saints, Lewis – whose father, Mark, played 51 times for Northampton in the 90s – featured heavily for Northampton School for Boys during his studies there, captaining the side to the Schools Cup Final this term where his try helped them to victory at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham.
Reed said: “Jack has got one of the highest intent levels I’ve ever seen in a young player, everything he does, he does with purpose and that’s something we love about him.
“His performances through the PREM Cup showed that behaviour, as does his dedication to his time at NSB, where he commuted day in, day out to get himself into our region and make the most out of his education and his rugby.
“Jack’s hardworking and wants to consistently improve and prove himself, and he’s a good character to have around as well.”
ALEX MEAD (SECOND ROW)
Following in the footsteps of fellow Perse schoolboy Alex Coles, Mead is a towering figure in the second row with physicality and agility to boot.
A shoulder injury sidelined him for the majority of the 2025/26 season; however, Mead managed to recover in time to play in a Black, Green and Gold shirt on Academy Finals Day at Kingsholm.
“Alex is an extremely diligent lad,” Reed said of the powerful lock. “He’s had a long-term injury, but his diligence with his rehab and dedication to the gym has been exceptional.
“His want to go and hit things defensively is really pleasing to see for such a young age, and he already has a professional rugby player’s mindset.”
AIDEN REID (PROP)
Another product of NSB, loosehead prop Reid’s journey into rugby began aged eight when he came through Olney RFC’s ranks.
He played a key role in Saints’ victory in the Academy League Final in 2025 as an Under-17, and went on to help NSB to triumph in the Schools Cup Final alongside Lewis back in March.
“Aiden is a good ball-playing prop,” said Reed. “He’s a very handy player to have around the park, as well as his set-piece game.
“Aiden’s a great character off the pitch as well so he’ll be a great addition to the group.”
HUGH SHIELDS (FLY-HALF)
Another son of a former Saint, Shields follows his father Paul’s footsteps into the squad, though not positionally – with Shields junior opting to stay out of the pack and don a No. 10 shirt.
The NSB schoolboy featured for Northampton’s Under-18s as a 16-year-old, helping the side to the Academy League title in 2025. And though injury curtailed his contributions for the majority of this term, has been meticulous in his recovery and impressed Saints’ coaches upon his return.
“Hugh is the most diligent player that I have ever coached, he’s an out-and-out professional,” Reed said of the young fly-half. “He’s shown a great amount of physical resilience through his injury to get himself back fitter and stronger.
“Hugh maximises his physical potential even though he’s not the biggest player on the pitch. And he’s a player who wants to get better every day and doesn’t waste a single moment in doing that.”
CHARLIE TAMANI (WING)
Tamani’s journey into rugby began in the sport’s other code, with the fast-footed back first playing for rugby league side Eastern Rhinos before he was introduced to union at Finborough School.
Since them Tamani has gone from strength to strength, shifting from centre to wing and producing an impressive highlight reel in the Academy League last season, as well as turning out for England at Under-19s.
Reed said: “Charlie has a great ability to beat defenders; not only is he very quick, but he’s also very powerful, and we’ve seen that across the Academy League.
“He’s also a good character and someone who, given the right professional environment here at Saints, should kick on well in the future.”
GEORGE TONGA’UIHA (SECOND ROW)
Tonga’uiha is a name that Saints supporters are already familiar with, and now George becomes the latest with that surname to join the Club – following in the footsteps of his father and Saints legend, Soane, and his older brother and current Saint, Sonny.
The NSB schoolboy has been a part of the Saints Academy set-up since the age of 14, and has enjoyed international recognition already – having been involved in multiple England age-grade camps, most recently facing France with the Under-19s.
Reed said: “George is obviously Sonny’s younger brother, as a part of that Tonga’uiha dynasty and has got physical potential as well as some good skills on the ball.
“He’s had a few setbacks through his schoolboy career but we’re looking forward to seeing how he kicks on as a Saint.”
