The large group of around 30 players began their engagement with the Gloucester programme back in July 2011, when they were identified through the Gloucester Rugby Talent Identification programme run in partnership with the Gloucestershire Rugby Football Union.
Over 160 U14s were nominated to attend the Talent ID event, with 45 being selected to join the North Gloucestershire School Of Rugby programme.
After working together for 4 months, 30 players were selected to join the Gloucester Academy U14 Elite Player Development Group and have been training hard to improve their core skill set since the New Year.
The fixture on Sunday gave all of the players the opportunity to demonstrate some of their new skills, as well as the honour of wearing the famous Cherry and White shirt for the first time.
The fixture was played in 3 x 20 minute thirds against the Independent Schools XV, a team selected from Independent schools nationally, with a real emphasis on trying things and playing with confidence.
The game was hugely competitive with every Gloucester playing taking their opportunity on the pitch to make an impact and impress the considerable crowd that had made the effort to support the tow sides.
Gloucester ran out eventual winners by 19 points to 17 but needed a last ditch length of the field try and subsequent conversion to clinch victory.
Billy Clark, Junior Academy Manager, said afterwards:
"It's great to see these guys run out in the famous Gloucester shirt and see the pride they take wearing it.
"They've worked really hard throughout the year, shown real commitment to their training and experienced the first rung of the Academy ladder, so it's great to be able to finish the year like this.
"The result of the game was not really a motivating factor in playing the fixture. It was about trying to reinforce the values of this great club in our players of the future.
"These guys now know that Gloucester Rugby is all about hard work and dedication.
"These traits will reap rewards and, if these players want to fulfil their dream of playing for Gloucester at Kingsholm, then it can be achieved if they are prepared to work for it."
