Warriors have named their Three Pears Senior Academy squad for the 2017/18 season, which includes six new faces who have all come through the Junior Academy system.
Beck Cutting, Nick David, Alex Hearle, Ted Hill, Nick Rigby and James Scott will all come into the squad, where they will train alongside the Club’s Senior squad.
The sextet all played a key role in Warriors Under 18s’ run to the Premiership Rugby Academy Finals Day earlier this season, where they beat Saracens at Sixways.
Alex Hearle will already be a familiar face to Warriors fans, having made his first-team debut against Wasps in the 2016/17 Anglo-Welsh Cup, while the other five players have all represented England at various age-group levels.
The six players will join up with current Three Pears Senior Academy youngsters Will Butler, Justin Clegg, Tom Dodd, Afeafe Haisila Lokotui, Andrew Kitchener, Joe Morris and Zac Xiourouppa as part of a new-look 13-man squad.
Warriors’ thriving Academy system has already seen four players graduate to the first-team in the past year, with Jamie Shillcock, Josh Adams, Jack Singleton and Huw Taylor all penning deals to commit their futures to the Club.
And with another exciting crop of talent coming through, Warriors Director of Rugby Gary Gold believes the Academy will continue to go from strength to strength.
Gold said: “We have been delighted to see a whole host of young players receiving first-team and international recognition this season and that is testament to the strength of our Academy system.
“The new group of players coming in have been tremendous for the Under 18s and now they have a fantastic opportunity to develop their game and reach a level where they can play first-team rugby in years to come.”
Warriors Academy Manager Chim Gale said: “I am delighted for these young players, who will get the opportunity to train in a full-time environment as they take their first steps into professional rugby.
“All the players are from within the Academy catchment area which is testament to the excellent relationships within the Constituent Bodies.”
Three Pears Senior Academy 2017/18
Will Butler (Centre, 19)
Justin Clegg (Lock, 20)
Beck Cutting (Hooker, 18)
Nick David (Full-Back, 18)
Tom Dodd (Back Row, 19)
Afeafe Haisila Lokotui (Utility Back, 19)
Alex Hearle (Winger, 18)
Ted Hill (Back Row, 17)
Andrew Kitchener (Lock, 20)
Joe Morris (Prop, 19)
Nick Rigby (Prop, 18)
James Scott (Lock, 17)
Zac Xiourouppa (Back Row, 19)
Beck Cutting | Bromsgrove School/Worcestershire/North Midlands
Position: Hooker
DOB: 04/09/1998
Beck Cutting has represented England at Under 16 to 18 levels and has won the NatWest Cup twice with Bromsgrove School, captaining his side during his final year.
Nick David | Warwick School/Warwickshire
Position: Full-back
DOB: 04/11/1998
Exciting young full-back Nick David is a NatWest Cup winner at Under 15 and 18 levels with Warwick School and has featured for England from Under 16 to 19 levels.
Alex Hearle | Shrewsbury Sixth Form College/Shropshire/North Midlands
Position: Winger
DOB: 08/11/1998
Warriors supporters will already be aware of Alex Hearle after the youngster made his first-team debut against Wasps at the Ricoh Arena in the 2016/17 Anglo-Welsh Cup. The winger has been part of the Warriors set-up since the age of 14 and has also been a regular for Worcester Cavaliers this term. Hearle has represented Shropshire from Under 13 to Under 16 levels.
Ted Hill | Worcester Sixth Form College/Worcestershire/North Midlands
Position: Back Row
DOB: 18/06/1999
Back row Ted Hill is another promising young prospect. Having joined the Warriors Junior Academy at the age of 14 when he was studying at Riverside School in Malvern, Hill moved into the Warriors AASE programme while studying at Worcester Sixth Form College. The forward has already impressed on the international stage, having represented his country from Under 16 to Under 20 levels. At the age of just 17 he was part of the England Under 20s squad which won the Under 20s Six Nations Grand Slam earlier this year.
Nick Rigby | Warwick School/Warwickshire
Position: Prop
DOB: 05/10/1998
Loosehead prop Nick Rigby recently captained Warwick School to the NatWest Cup title and has also featured for England at Under 17 and 18 levels. He joined the Junior Academy set-up at the age of 14.
James Scott | Malvern College/Herefordshire/North Midlands
Position: Lock
DOB: 18/06/1999
Lock James Scott, who previously studied at Bishops Bluecoat in Hereford before moving to Malvern College, joined the Warriors Academy at Under 15 level. Scott has represented Herefordshire County age groups and England at Under 16 to 18 levels.
