Hartpury College students win contracts at Gloucester Rugby

The rugby roll of honour at Hartpury College has grown again with a number of talented young players having recently secured contracts with professional clubs.

Hartpury Under-18s skipper Joe Batley has signed an Academy contract with Gloucester Rugby, along with his Hartpury colleagues, Will Hayward and Alex Woodburn.

Batley and Hayward will also be dual registered with Hartpury RFC, who will be plying their trade in National League One next year after clinching the National Two title.

Batley could also potentially feature for Hartpury’s university side as he will continue his studies at Hartpury next year.

They will join exciting second row prospect James Voss at Kingsholm, who has become the first Gloucester-Hartpury scholar and will also be dual registered next season to both clubs. He has joined from Championship side Jersey.

That quartet will be looking to follow in the footsteps of the likes of Billy Burns, Gareth Evans, Jonny May, Ryan Mills, Steph Reynolds, Dan Robson, Tom Savage, Charlie Sharples, Elliott Stooke and Henry Trinder, who have all studied at Hartpury and starred for Gloucester Rugby.

Loosehead prop George Edgson, who has had an excellent season with Hartpury’s

Under-18s side and been involved with the England Under-18s set-up, has signed a contract with Aviva Premiership side Wasps, having been a member of their academy.

Along with captain Batley, Edgson helped Hartpury to their fifth consecutive AASE Championship national title this season.

Hooker Nathan Taylor, who captained Hartpury’s university side to their fifth BUCS national title at Twickenham this year, has now completed his degree and has signed a professional contract at London Welsh.

He will be joined at the club by tighthead prop Jimmy Litchfield, who has also now finished his studies at Hartpury.

Alan Martinovic, director of rugby at Hartpury, said: “At Hartpury, we take great pride in developing young sports men and women and helping them on the path to their dream career.

“For our elite athletes, securing a professional contract is their ultimate ambition, along with representing their country, and hundreds of our students have gone on to achieve both.

“Congratulations to all of those Hartpury players and students who have secured professional contracts for next season. We’ll continue to closely follow their careers, whether they remain a part of the Hartpury set-ups or not, and celebrate their successes.”

Article source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/23278085

Hartpury College students win contracts at Gloucester Rugby