Seven Players From Bishop Burton Make Under 20s County Squads

Bishop Burton College is set to have the biggest representation in the Yorkshire team for the rugby union under-20s county championship game against Cheshire in Hull this Sunday.

Six players from the college’s rugby academy – forwards Mike Jobling, Stuart Nell and Ben Sullivan, halfbacks Rob Smith and Josh Walker and centre Ali Heard – have been picked for the championships squad.

After opening up with a 25-10 win over Lancashire, they go into the game with Cheshire at Hull RUFC (2.15pm) with plenty of confidence.

In addition, another Bishop Burton academy team member, prop forward Connor Weetman, is playing for Dorset and Wilts in the same competition and hoping to clash with his academy teammates in the Twickenham final on May 4.

James Earl, the college’s director of sport, said that having so many players in the county squads was a tribute to the success of the academy, which was still only in its fifth year, and to the work of departed director of rugby Simon Middleton.

“Our vision is to provide an elite rugby environment that will attract and then realise the potential of up-and coming rugby talent while at the same time knowing they are safeguarding their future through attaining a first class education,”

said Mr Earl.

Academy captain Ben Sullivan said:

“Our players’ achievements are testament to the strength and depth within the team and to the commitment of the players and coaches who have worked so hard this season to ensure that we’re constantly improving.”

Yorkshire are in a three-way competition for a quarter-final place and travel to Northumberland for their final pool match on March 16.

Other Bishop Burton students playing for Yorkshire this season are James Wright and Keane Naylor, who have been selected for the under-18s, and Ryan Murray, Jack Houseman, Harry Newborn and Joe Redding in the under Under 17s.