Six academy stars step up for Leicester, including England legends son

Tuesday, 05 May 2020 at 17:15

bySteven Smith

Six of Leicester Tigers’ Under-18 League-winning Academy players will step up to senior rugby next season as members of the club’s Development Squad.

Sam Edwards, Harry Glynn, Emeka Ilione, Jack Rowntree, Kit Smith and Archie Vanes have been awarded development contracts, commencing in the 2020/21 season.

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Scrum-half Edwards, who has featured in two of the club’s three successive Under-18 League title wins and represented England Under-18s this season, joins fellow Tigers Academy graduates Jonny Law and Jack Van Poortvliet as the No.9s in the development programme.

Glynn, a fly-half capable of playing at centre, has represented the Development XV in this season’s Premiership Rugby Shield campaign, as well as National League club Leicester Lions, and is an Under-18 League winner at Tigers.

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Back-rower Ilione has also featured in the club’s two most recent League title wins and toured with England Under-18s last summer before entering his final season in the Tigers Academy, and is joined by fellow back-rower Smith, who also gained a representative call this year, in gaining promotion up the ranks in Leicester.

Front-rowers Rowntree and Vanes move into the development squad to join James Whitcombe and Osman Dimen as potential future members of the ABC Club – made famous by Rowntree’s father, Graham, during his decorated career at the club – and have both represented England at age-grade level while contributing to the club’s recent Academy success.

Leicester Tigers | Four perfect replacements for Jonny May

Leicester Tigers have already lost Jonny May to Gloucester and Jonah Holmes to Dragons, which severely depletes their wide-men ranks.

They have already signed Fijian powerhouse Nemani Nadolo for next season, but need reinforcements with Rory Hughes also set to depart when his loan from Glasgow expires.

Here's a list of four wingers who would be seen as great signings for Tigers:

1. Marland Yarde

Tigers were linked with the England international speedster before the quarantine began.

There was then a report from The Rugby Paper that he'd signed a new deal with Sale, but that hasn't been confirmed.

If Tigers can get him in, the 27-year-old would guarantee tries as long as he remains fit.

Absolutely a player to consider.

2. Dane Haylett-Petty

The 33-cap Wallaby is an international superstar who is available for Tigers to go sign on a short-term deal as soon as this is over.

This is due to Haylett-Petty, who was forced to take a huge paycut, being given the green light to take a leave of absence from Super Rugby and secure short term contracts in places such as England and the Japanese Top League before returning in time for the July 2021 Test schedule.

Would be an incredible signing.

3. Joe Tomane

If Tigers are looking for an experienced head to help bring on some of their young wide-men then Tomane is an obvious choice.

The Wallaby, who is out of contract with Leinster in the summer, has been consistently brilliant for the Irish province and there will be no shortage of interest in securing the 30-year-old's services.

Tigers should be at the front of that queue.

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4. Alex Lewington

With Saracens urgently trying to reduce their wage bill, Tigers should attempt to bring the speedster back to Welford Road.

He departed Tigers in 2013 as a lightweight winger who had failed to make his mark after progressing through the clubs academy.

Since then, he's bulked up a bit but kept his speed, developing into one of the Premiership's most deadly finishers for Saracens, who he joined following successful stints with Nottingham and London Irish.

Bringing him back to Welford Road would be a great piece of business.