So far this season the Academy has fed a massive 14 NEW players into the ranks of the senior game and more will follow as a result of returning Uni guys overlapping an extended playing sesason due to the weather.

By name Danny Carter, Lyndon Stewart, Ben Charman, Tom Cooper, George Ludlow, Jake Moore, Sam Kimberley, Jon Ryder, Maduka "Dukes" Tudawage, Ross Henderson, Tom Branch, Alex Ridley, Harry Holland and Alby Madekwe have all turned out for the senior ranks from 2's to 4's this season and most are now regular faces reducing the average age of the 3rd XV by a massive amount.

Two weeks ago, the average age of the back line in the 3's was barely 20 years of age!

As pleasing as this is, even more remarkable is the fact that some of these players have done so at just 17. Some have also begun regular training with the 1's and 2's on a Tuesday / Thursday evening by invitaion and on merit and many now consider Saturday rugby at the club to be their primary rugby playing at the weekend.

Add to this Reece Conlon, Ryan Hackett, Harvey Young, Josh Penney and Ben Hennah from the previous Academy ranks of the last two seasons all of whom have reached the dizzy heights of 1st XV National League competition plus Angus Wilson and Alex Tagg both from last season's successful NCC winning side and now at Uni, and the Academy has to be considered as a major step forward in the club's evolution.

Whilst our U18 Colts were unable to add a 3rd successive National Colts trophy to the cabinet this season, the players coming through our ranks are amazing and the future within the Academy and at Senior level at Combe as a whole, looks increasingly rosy indeed.

Special thanks need to be extended to Graham Purdy, who has been instrumental in this monumental success and particularly in breaking down the barriers that have existed for far too long between Senior and Junior rugby at the club. "One Club - One Goal".

Here's to a very successful 2014/15 season.......should be good.