FIRA-AER U18 Championship Update

Tigers prop Neale Farthing was an unused substitute as England retained their FIRA-AER U 18 European Championship in front of 15,000 fans in Grenoble's Stade des Alpes.  Farthing started the first match of the tournament as England routed Portugal 82-8, being replaced after 60 minutes, and came off the bench in England's 25-12 semi final victory over Scotland.

He was joined in France by Welsh wing wizard Rhys Williams.  Left wing Williams was an ever present in the Wales side that finished 5th with big wins against Portugal, 45-0, and Georgia, 50-0, following after a loss to Scotland in the first round ended their hopes of winning the tournament.  Williams grabbed a try in each of the Portugal and Georgia games.

Also on show was Francois Fontaine the young outside back from Clermont who was part of the player exchange programme between the two clubs and came off the bench for the U 18s in their final league match of the season away to Northampton.  Fontaine was another ever present playing every minute of the tournament in Les Bleus 13 shirt as they beat Italy 32-0 in the first round, Ireland 23-18 in the semi finals and as they lost the final 22-27 to England.  Fontaine grabbed two tries in the tournament, one each against Italy and England.

Academy win friday night derby

Tigers bounced back from their recent poor form with a four try 24-11 win against local rivals Northampton.  The Saints marched into a 11-0 lead in the warm up game for the new Under 18s league, before Tigers struck back with tries from Eddie Milne and Henry Purdy in the first half to take a 12-11 lead.  Scouse lock Charlie Beckett claimed the third try before Wrexham winger Rhys Williams finished off the scoring with the final try.  Ollie Bryant scored two conversions to round out the scoring.

A new name is Will Andrews who appears to be a scrum half originally from Bath.

Tigers:
O Tom Bellak
N Henry Purdy
M Perry Humphreys
L Tom Hudson
K Rhys Williams
J Oliver Bryant
I Will Andrews
A Neale Farthing
B Jack Holmes
C James Thraves (c)
D Matthew Hubbart
E Joe Makswymiw
F Oliver Povoas
H Will Owen
G Ed Milne 
Replacements
P Jake Farnworth
Q Dan Hogan
S Charlie Beckett
T Josh Bevan-Brown
U Charlie Thacker
V John Hargreaves
W David Williams
X Gift Sankoh
Y Hershall Ward

Saints:
15 Jake Olley
14 Alex Wootton
13 Charlie Esam
12 Lewis Jones
11 Howard Packman
10 Sam Olver
9 Lewis Hall
1 Danny Hobbs
2 Reece Marshall (capt)
3 Harry Morley
4 Jordan Onojaife
5 Steve Arroyo-hover
6 Ollie Lyons
7 Sam Harry
8 Jack Allcock
Replacements
16 Owen Griffiths
17 Simon Uzokwe
18 Ollie Lamprell
19 Harrison Marshall
20 Ollie Hartfield
21 Jacob Conner
22 Eddie Parkins
23 Nico Defeo
24 Conner Bullivant
25 Harry Shepherd

Tiger Cubs down Leinster 18-16

Tigers' academy starlets survived a late Leinster onslaught to win 18-16.  Leinster scored a last gasp try but missed the leveling conversion.

Tigers tries came from Wrexham winger Rhys Williams and Old Millfieldian full back Tom Bellak.  Redruth's Ollie Bryant at fly half contributed the other 8 points from his boot.

Tigers side was:

O Tom Bellak
N Luke Jones
M Henry Purdy
L Pasqualle Dunn
K Rhys Williams
J Oli Bryant
I Scott Steele
A Riccardo Brugnara
B Jamal Ford-Robinson
C Tiziano Pasquali
D Jake Albon (c)
E Ryan Mason
F Joe Cousens
H Will Owen
G Oliver Povoas

Replacements
Harry Thacker
James Thraves
Jake Farnworth
Harrison Lee-Everton

It is worth noting Joe Cousens and Jake Albon were reported to have left the academy previously.  It is unknown what their current status is. 
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UPDATE: Joe Cousens will spend a year in Brazil working as a PRL community coach, he previously was expected to go to Cambridge but that is now on hold.