Lock James Scott has been promoted from the Three Pears Warriors Academy to the senior squad at Sixways.
Scott, 21 today, has already gained valuable first team experience during his three years as a member of the Senior Academy having made two appearances off the bench in European Challenge Cup matches against Stade Francais and Pau in 2018.
Scott, an England Under-20s international, made his first senior start in the Premiership Rugby Cup victory over Leicester Tigers last September as well as three more appearances in the European Challenge Cup.
He is the second member of the Senior Academy to be promoted to the senior squad this week following Nick David.
Three more members of the Senior Academy, utility back Gareth Simpson, wing/centre Alex Hearle and back-row Tom Dodd have already signed their first senior contracts for the 2020/21 season.
“It’s a big step up in your career. Perhaps people outside the club don’t realise how big a thing it is,” Scott said.
“It means moving into the senior changing room, so you’ve got to find a good spot. But the transition is minimised by the fact that from the moment you join the Academy, you’re involved fully in sessions and meetings. So you soon get used to training and playing alongside Premiership players week in week out.”
“There are a number of us stepping up from the Academy. I remember playing against a lot of the boys at school level, before linking up for the Under-18s League.
“Then I lived together with all of them for two years in the Academy house, so being able to move up with them as a group is great.”
Scott, a product of two strong rugby nurseries in Bishop of Hereford Bluecoat School and Malvern College, joined the Warriors Academy system at Under-15s level and the Senior Academy in 2017.
He has represented England from Under-16s to Under-20s and has gained valuable senior experience in the Championship with Hartpury over the last two seasons on a dual registration.
Scott increases the number of homegrown players in Warriors’ senior squad joining other Academy graduates including Ted Hill, Ollie Lawrence, Will Butler, Joe Morris, Justin Clegg, Jamie Shillcock and Andrew Kitchener.
Director of Rugby Alan Solomons believes that Scott has the potential to become one of the Premiership’s top lineout forwards.
“Scottie now joins our other young homegrown locks, Kitch and Cleggy in the senior ranks. Like the other two, he has represented England at Under-20s level and is a terrific prospect, who, already, at this young age, has shown that he has the ability to become one of the top lineout performers in the Gallagher Premiership,” Solomons said.
“Scottie is a great young Worcester lad, who, I believe, will add huge value to the team in the years to come. I have enjoyed working with him and look forward to continuing to do so.”