Youth given its head at Sixways

8:17am Saturday 14th June 2008

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ONE of the key features of life under Mike Ruddock is the Welshman's confidence in the Warriors academy system.

Since taking the helm at Worcester, Ruddock has given first-team debuts to no less than eight youngsters from the thriving Sixways academy.

Home-grown aces Chris Pennell, Tom Wood, Matt Mullan, Joe Carlisle, Jonny Arr, Matt Cox, Graham Kitchener and Miles Benjamin have all impressed for Ruddock's men on the big stage in the Guinness Premiership.

Against London Wasps at Adams Park in April, the club fielded seven starters and three replacements who had come through the academy system.

Former academy players James Collins, Callum Black, Will Bowley and Nick Runciman have also made an impact and academy boss Andrew Stanley has been delighted that the promising youngsters have been given a chance to shine.

He said: "The number of young players coming through is testimony to the support that the club has given the academy in the last few years.

"That is beginning to bear fruit with the player resource and the way the academy is incorporated into the way the rugby department plans.

"In the academy, we've been able to create an environment in which the players are able to develop and progress if they have the right attitude.

"The group of players that have come through in recent times have the right attitude in abundance and have created a culture and benchmark.

"Now academy members joining the club from school have to achieve that again.

"The other real positive thing is that all of these players that have come through over the last couple of years have been products of the elite player development schemes.

"That is an indication that our talent ID programme, which is supported throughout the West Midlands, is working in preparing these players for a full-time career in rugby."

Stanley has also paid tribute to the coaching staff and the supporters who have backed the work of the academy.

"Behind every team is a great backroom team and that is very much the case here," he said.

"Gary Meechan, Lee Cleaver, Lee Douglas, Matt Sherratt and Mike Lancaster have all done a fantastic job and are a real credit to the club."