Gloucester Rugby’s Gallagher Premiership fixture at London Irish saw two young scrum-halves, Charlie Chapman and Stephen Varney, become the latest products of the Academy make their Premiership bow.
Chapman had previously appeared for the first team in the Heineken Champions Cup and Premiership Rugby Cup. However, his start at the Madejski was his first at Premiership level.
Meanwhile, Varney, who was kindly released by Italy U20s to be available for the fixture, appeared as a second-half replacement. He won’t turn 19 until May this year, his only other first team appearance was also against the Exiles, but in the Premiership Rugby Cup.
In all, there were an impressive 11 Academy graduates in the matchday 23 - Louis Rees-Zammit, Ollie Thorley, Charlie Chapman, Freddie Clarke, Lewis Ludlow, Henry Walker, Ciaran Knight, Aaron Hinkley, Stephen Varney, Lloyd Evans and Tom Seabrook
Chapman had previously appeared for the first team in the Heineken Champions Cup and Premiership Rugby Cup. However, his start at the Madejski was his first at Premiership level.
Meanwhile, Varney, who was kindly released by Italy U20s to be available for the fixture, appeared as a second-half replacement. He won’t turn 19 until May this year, his only other first team appearance was also against the Exiles, but in the Premiership Rugby Cup.
In all, there were an impressive 11 Academy graduates in the matchday 23 - Louis Rees-Zammit, Ollie Thorley, Charlie Chapman, Freddie Clarke, Lewis Ludlow, Henry Walker, Ciaran Knight, Aaron Hinkley, Stephen Varney, Lloyd Evans and Tom Seabrook
