Premiership Academy Power Rankings 2015/16

The term ‘power ranking’ is used frequently in American sports, but very rarely in a sport like rugby union.

In the multiple division and conference formats of US sports, power rankings give a subjective look at how every team in the competition ranks up against one another at that exact moment and attempts to give value more to form than overall records.

We’ve attempted to do the same for the academies of the Aviva Premiership, taking into account performance at U18 level, graduates and their respective success at both senior club and international U20 level, as well as the talent coming through those academies right now.

We’ve limited it to the work of the academies over the last three seasons, in order to keep the rankings as current and relevant as possible.

1. Saracens

Finally, the stereotype that Saracens are a conservative side filled with South African players is coming to an end. In reality, that stereotype should have been expunged two seasons ago, as the side from north London has developed into the finest producer of young English talent in the Premiership.

Although notably headlined by Maro Itoje, Saracens’ academy classes of recent years are filled with talent across the board. Biyi Alo, Matt Hankin, Nick Tompkins, Nathan Earle and Aaron Morris are all excellent prospects with Junior World Championship winners’ medals in their trophy cabinets.

The current class includes players such as Nick Isiekwe, Max Malins and George Perkins, all of whom have the potential to succeed at the very highest level. The job Saracens have done transitioning from heavy foreign importers to producers of English talent should be applauded by fans of all Premiership clubs.

2. Harlequins

Had these rankings existed over the last few years, Harlequins would’ve topped them in each and every edition. As it is, their last remaining London rival has pipped them to the post, but their positions as first and second in these rankings highlights what a hotbed of rugby London and the Home Counties continue to be.

Jack Clifford, Kyle Sinckler, Sam Twomey and Harry Sloan continue to cut their teeth with Quins’ first team squad, with Clifford in particular pushing for international recognition. James Chisholm and Kieran Treadwell have also featured for Quins this season and are promising players.

With Joe Marchant, Seb Adeniran-Olule and Sam Aspland-Robinson all furthering their claims with Championship, A league and international age-grade exposure, expect Quins to continue to lean heavily on their productive academy over the coming years.

3. Northampton Saints

In terms of quantity of players produced, no side in the Premiership matches up with Northampton. England’s recent U20 sides have been built on the back of foundations laid in the East Midlands, and Saints themselves are confident of maintaining their status as one of the best sides in England by utilising many of these talented players.

Two of the most promising young English opensides - Lewis Ludlam and Will Allman - are learning their craft at Franklin’s Gardens, while Alex Moon and Harry Mallinder are two of the brightest prospects in the country right now.

Recent academy standouts include Tom Stephenson, Tom Collins, Danny Hobbs-Awoyemi, Jordan Onojaife and Howard Packman, all of whom have big roles to play with Northampton over the coming seasons.

4. Exeter Chiefs

The Chiefs actually have the fairly dubious honour of having the smallest percentage of their first team squad graduate from their own academy in the Premiership. So, why are they so high on the list?

Three of those handful of players to emerge from their academy in recent years are Henry Slade, Jack Nowell and Sam Hill, three of the most promising backs English rugby has at its disposal. Throw in Luke Cowan-Dickie at hooker and it’s as good a quartet as any English team has produced in that time period.

The club’s current crop is also extremely talented, with players such as Sam Skinner, Stuart Townsend, Jack Stanley and Jack Innard all promising to ensure that percentage of home-grown players at Exeter skyrockets over the next few years.

5. London Irish

Unfortunately for Irish, this time period starts just after the likes of Jonathan Joseph and Alex Corbisiero came out of their academy, but Anthony Watson is included and may be the best back in the country right now, despite still being just 21 years of age.

A couple of dry years have been blown away by the ‘insta-midfield’ that is brewing in the current academy class. Fly-half Theo Brophy-Clews, inside centre Johnny Williams and outside centre Tom Fowlie could be the making of Irish going forward and already have a great understanding having played together in the academy.

6. Gloucester

The Cherry and Whites will never dip too far down these rankings thanks to their mutually beneficial relationship with Hartpury College, arguably the most prodigious producer of rugby talent in the country. Ross Moriarty, Elliot Stooke, Billy Burns and Henry Purdy are all currently featuring for Gloucester having learnt their trade in the club’s academy.

If the current academy crop can reach their potential, including Mat Protheroe, Joe Batley and Ollie Thorley, then Gloucester could quickly rise up these rankings.

7. Sale Sharks

Arguably no club relies more on their academy than Sale. The side from the North-West doesn’t have the funding or fanbase required to shop for the best players and therefore their success is usually a combination of home-grown talent and impactful veterans picked up by Steve Diamond.

Mike Haley is leading the way for Sale’s recent academy graduates and were it not for England’s enviable depth at position, the young full-back would almost certainly be receiving endorsements for international honours. Along with Sam James, Ciaran Parker and James Mitchell, Haley is demonstrating the calibre of rugby union talent available in the depths of rugby league country.

8. Worcester Warriors

Worcester produce plenty of talented players, but are yet to deliver a crop which can help them move from relegation battlers to European contenders. That may be about to be rectified, however.

The Warriors are contributing five players to the England U20 squad this season, which is the most of any club. Lock Andrew Kitchener and fly-half Jamie Shillcock are two players particularly worthy of keeping an eye on come the 2016 U20 Six Nations and U20 World Championship.

9. Bath

Bath’s academy is in good shape, producing plenty of talented players, but unfortunately the path to the first team has been stymied of late. Ollie Devoto and Charlie Ewels are the best examples of players emerging from that academy in the last few years but even with their considerable ability, appearances are hard to come by.

With Bath continuing to sign up Europe’s finest, it remains to be seen whether or not the likes of Zach Mercer, Darren Atkins, Adam Hastings and Rory Jennings will be able to breakthrough. In all honesty, the club’s current crop deserve a spot higher than ninth but unless they can force Mike Ford’s hand, Bath are unlikely to rise up these rankings.

10. Leicester Tigers

Similarly to Bath, Leicester have gone down the recruitment rather than development route. Leicester’s squad needed freshening up and strengthening, making it an understandable move, but it remains to be seen whether or not the club will return to leaning on its plethora of academy talents.

Harry Thacker has been one of the few to make the breakthrough into the first team and while Charlie Beckett and Will Owen have the ability to join Thacker, there is no shortage of depth in the Tigers’ pack blocking their way. Paolo Odogwu is the sole Leicester Tiger in this year’s England U20 squad and highlights the transformation at Leicester from developer to recruiter.

11. Newcastle Falcons

Like Sale, Newcastle also rely very heavily on their academy, but it seems to have just taken a slight step backwards over the last couple of years. With relegation a perennial threat for the Falcons, they lean heavily on foreign recruits to help ward off the ominous threat of Championship rugby.

Simon Hammersley came to the Falcons from Durham University and has now solidified his position within the first team squad. Zach Kibirige, Callum Chick and Will Witty are the current standouts and more than capable of developing into top quality Premiership players if given the opportunity to do so.

12. Wasps

The bumper crop of Elliot Daly, Christian Wade, Billy Vunipola and Sam Jones just miss out on these rankings by a year and unfortunately for Wasps, there’s been little to write home about since. Josh Bassett has provided depth on the wing, but that has been about it.

Like Bath and Leicester, Wasps have invested heavily in their squad, particularly since their move to the Ricoh Arena. The reputations of all three clubs as heavy producers of English talent are in real danger, with many of their English players signed from other Premiership clubs rather than developed in their own academies.