Northampton Saints: Behind the scenes at Premiership club’s academy

This year, the Saints Under-18s won the Premiership Academy title. They beat last year’s winners Bath 31-14 in the final at Kingsholm.

A few weeks later, the senior coaching group at Saints met to discuss who they should sign and who should be released.

“We are looking for character and work ethic over everything,” said Hopley.

“Sometimes it’s position specific, we look at physical athletic potential but it’s never one thing. But I can never coach how hard a young man is willing to work.”

Head coach Reed added: “I want authenticity, self-awareness.

“Do they want to get better through their actions, to drive their own development? If they have these traits at a young age, they will have them at an older one too.”

Hopley admits that selecting players is a real challenge and they can make mistakes.

“We’ve kept players too long and probably been too nice and stopped them getting opportunity elsewhere and we won’t do that again,” he said.

“The responsibility we have is to those players who don’t get a contract. Have we added to their lives, developed them as people, so when they do go forward to their different environments, are they a better person?

“We have to be honest, but telling them bad news isn’t easy to take. When it comes to the crunch, it’s the worst part of the job.”

Saints have handed seven players first-team academy contracts for the 2025-26 season.

At their final home game of the season, the chosen players and their families were invited to Franklin’s Gardens for the signing of contracts.

The new players were unveiled to the crowd and given a framed signed jersey with their name embossed on the back.

Jack Lawrence looked in shock. His parents beamed with pride.

“This is something I wanted for a while,” said Jack. “I have wanted this so much, my mum and dad too, it means so much to them as well.”

Watch: Saints Ascending – Behind the scenes with Northampton Saints Academy on BBC iPlayer