Sunday’s Academy League Final the crescendo of U18s’ journey, says Reed

Under-18s coach Charlie Reed has urged his Northampton Saints side ensure that ‘nothing changes’ for them this weekend, despite the Premiership Rugby Academy League trophy being on the line in Sunday’s final match.

The boys in Black, Green and Gold made it five wins from six games last weekend as they defeated Newcastle Falcons 54-17 at cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens, finishing the Academy League season atop the Northern Conference and earning a shot at glory against Bath Rugby at Kingsholm.

Saints were 28-12 up at the break thanks to tries from Edoardo Todaro, Rafe Witheat, Henry Lumley and Tom Ross. The tries continued for the home side in the second 40 as Witheat got two more to complete a hat-trick, along with one try apiece from Alfie Hoyles and Rhys Harries.

“It was a great result all around,” Reed said. “There was a lot of excitement in the air with the boys playing at home for the first time in 2024.

“We had the likes of Mark Miska Alvarez making his Academy League debut, and he got to do that at cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens, along with Aiden Ainsworth-Cave who came back from a long-term injury and also got his comeback game to be at the Gardens as well. 

“There was a lot to play for and in the first ten minutes the boys certainly showed how much they wanted to win, so credit to them.

“Coming out of that game, what I was most proud of as a coach would have been how much of a team the boys looked. That genuinely looked like a team effort to go and get that win. 

“We have spoke a lot around not relying on individuals within this Academy League campaign, it simply doesn’t work. I know as a team we always want to get better, and as a team, we always want to come out on the right side of the result. We did that together last weekend so that was a really good feeling.”

This Sunday’s winner-take-all showdown against Bath will be Saints’ third appearance in the Academy League final in as many years,

Northampton have fallen just short in the previous two campaigns, and despite the trophy being on offer again this week, Reed explained that his side must approach the contest in exactly the same way they have the rest of the season – with complete belief in themselves and the way they want to play.

He said: “This week, the messages around the way that we play and how we are as a group will never change. Everything is about how we can get better.

“This final for the boys will be a fantastic story that they can tell for the rest of their lives and it will be a fantastic memory that they can share together.

“In terms of the performance and the way we play, the main question I will ask the lads is how do we get better from the Newcastle win, it is a simple as that. We will enjoy the occasion if we believe in the way that we play. We will get nervous about the occasion if we lose our identity and go within ourselves.

“We have created some fantastic memories along the way, with a really close game against Midlands Central, we learnt a lot in the Sale loss, and all their parents got to sit in cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens and watch them play.

“So, it has been a fantastic journey for these lads, and Sunday is the crescendo of that journey. Either way, I want the boys to come away knowing it was a fantastic experience for them and they have left as a better player after this weekend’s final.”

This is Reed’s debut season leading Saints’ Under-18s side, and the young coach – who represented Loughborough Students, Bedford Blues, and Bury St Edmunds during his playing career, winning the National 2 East’s Fullback of the Season award as recently as last season – admits he is relishing every moment so far of shaping the Club’s stars of the future.

“This season has made me better as a coach,” he added. “I feel so privileged to be in the position where I can not only have an influence on making lads better players, but also better people.

“They have let me coach as freely as I like and develop as I go, and have been a fantastic support network to get the boys to where they are. It really is a group effort, and it great to be part of a team that only wants the best for you and to do well.”