Noah Heward has become the latest member of the Three Pears Academy to sign a full contract with Warriors.
Heward, 20, announced himself by scoring a try on his debut as full-back against Dragons in a European Rugby Challenge Cup match at Sixways in December 2019 and impressed as a wing when the 2019/20 Gallagher Premiership season resumed after the first COVID-19 lockdown.
After two years as a member of the Senior Academy at Sixways, Heward will move up to the senior squad at the end of the season, following a path trodden by the likes of Ted Hill, Ollie Lawrence, Andrew Kitchener, Justin Clegg and Nick David in recent years.
“We are absolutely delighted that Noah, another outstanding young home-grown product, has committed his future to the club,” said Warriors Director of Rugby Alan Solomons.
“At the tender age of 19 Noah established himself in the Warriors team. He is a brilliant young talent, who is equally at home at full-back or on the wing.
“I have no doubt that, in the fullness of time, he will play for England. He will certainly play a critical role in the Warriors’ team in the years that lie ahead.”
Heward, who played his formative club rugby for Birmingham & Solihull and who has spent time on a dual registration with Stourbridge in National Two North,
“It’s an honour to come through the Academy and get my first contract and move to a first team squad that is full of players who have also come through the Academy,” Heward said.
“I think we are building something here through the Academy that is going to help us to progress in the future.
“It was really good to get some senior experience – as it was for a lot of players – when we resumed last season after lockdown.
“This season has been frustrating because of a hamstring injury but I am keeping on top of things rugby-wise so that, when I do get back, I can hit the ground running.”
Head Coach Jonathan Thomas has been impressed – and pleasantly surprised – by the progress Heward made before his injury setback.
“I’m really delighted that Noah has committed his future to Warriors. Before we came in as coaches we had seen a few glimpses of Noah in the Premiership Rugby Shield so we knew he was a talented prospect,” Thomas said.
“He was one of those bolters who surprised us when we first came in. There were a couple of injuries out wide on the wing, we gave Noah an opportunity and he made the position his own.
“Unfortunately he has had quite a serious hamstring injury this season. It’s important we get Noah right because he is going to be an important player for us in the future.
“We are committed to developing our Academy and Noah is one of the players at the forefront of that and who we believe has the ability to go on to bigger and better things.”