Glasgow Warriors have today confirmed a new 26-strong senior academy intake ahead of the 2024/25 season, with a host of Scottish rugby’s brightest prospects set to train alongside the reigning BKT URC champions at Scotstoun
The extension of the Academy Group, which was previously limited to 15 “Stage Three” academy players, will now encompass youngsters up to the age of U23 in accordance with Scottish Rugby’s statement earlier this year regarding the new Performance Player Pathway.
In addition to supporting the continued development of homegrown players, the extended setup enables the inclusion of later developing individuals. The playing program will feature an expanded schedule of fixtures for Glasgow Warriors A in the 2024–2025 season.
The Performance Player Pathway’s fixture information will be released when they are ready.
Additionally, there will be an Academy & Pro Player Draft in August, where Academy players will be permitted to participate if appropriate.
Eight players, including talented back-rower Jonny Morris and tight-head Callum Norrie, who helped Scotland U20 win promotion back to the World Rugby U20 Championship earlier this month, are included in the 26-man playing group.
After winning medals for their nation this summer, Kerr Yule, Ryan Burke, Johnny Ventisei, and Mathew Urwin—all U20 stars and gold medallists at the 2023 Commonwealth Youth Games—return to the club’s academy for a second season in a row.
Amena Caqusau, a GHA product who scored a lot of tries in the last season of the FOSROC Super Series, and fellow winger Kerr Johnston, who was invited to train with the senior Scotland setup before last autumn’s Rugby Championship, will both strive to build on a successful debut season at Scotstoun.
Eight further players are set to be involved in the U20 academy cohort for the first time, including prop Jake Shearer, who came off the bench in Scotland’s victory over the USA in the final of the World Rugby U20 Trophy.
Former Scotland U18 captain Joe Roberts and fellow front-rower Ollie McKenna – comfortable at both loose-head prop and hooker – join Shearer in the intake, as do a brace of back-rowers in the form of Archie McMichael and Rory Purvis.
Dan Halkon will combine his academy duties with a Business Studies degree at the University of Strathclyde, with Dumfries Sains centre Alex Brydon completing the first-year intake amongst the U20 group.
Joining Morris and Norrie in the newly-expanded U23 contingent are an additional nine players, including Duncan Munn, who made his senior professional debut off the bench in Glasgow’s 17-13 victory over Cardiff at Scotstoun back in March to become Warrior #360.
Having impressed for Glasgow Warriors A and Ayrshire Bulls in the FOSROC Super Series Sprint upon his return from injury last season, Richie Simpson is similarly included in the U23 cohort, alongside loose-head prop Tom Banatvala and centre Ben Salmon.
A pair of Stirling Wolves alumni will link up with the Glasgow Warriors senior academy for the first time, having each trained with Glasgow Warriors during the closing stages of last season; former Scotland U20 and Ealing Trailfinders second-row Jare Oguntibeju and ex-Bristol Bears academy back-row Macenzzie Duncan each bring a dynamic athletic presence to the Glasgow Warriors pack.
Former Southern Knights winger Aidan Cross is also added to the Glasgow academy after impressing during training with the Warriors last season, whilst the cohort is rounded out by Scottish-qualified scrum-half Brent Jackson, who moves to Scotstoun from the Hollywoodbets Sharks U21 setup in South Africa, and Birkmyre RFC back-three product Harry Provan.
The full academy cohort will link up with Franco Smith’s playing group at Scotstoun ahead of the 2024/25 campaign, with Glasgow Warriors opening their title defence in the BKT United Rugby Championship with an away trip to Ulster on Saturday 21 September.
Leave a Reply