Glasgow Warriors confirm 2022/23 academy intake

Fifteen of the brightest prospects in Scottish rugby will be aligned to Glasgow Warriors for the 2022/23 season, following today’s confirmation of the FOSROC Scottish Rugby Academy intake for the new campaign.

The 2022/2023 cohort will be the third group of senior players in the FOSROC Scottish Rugby Academy who have benefited from the closer involvement with Scotland’s two professional teams, enabling each prospect to train daily with professional players, coaches and support staff to accelerate their personal development.

Bring the noise ?

2022/23 Warrior Nation Memberships are on sale now! https://t.co/jFGM4fFq4N pic.twitter.com/lKlTgW5kus
— Glasgow Warriors (@GlasgowWarriors) July 7, 2022

Five of the club’s 2021/22 academy talents will be full-time members of the Glasgow Warriors playing group, after Murphy Walker, Alex Samuel, Max Williamson, Gregor Brown and Angus Fraser all signed their first professional contracts ahead of the new season.

Scotland U20 captain Rhys Tait is one of six players returning to the academy this season, with the Boroughmuir Bears back-rower having caught the eye across the 2022 FOSROC Super6 Sprint Series.

Tait joins two fellow Bears in returning to the academy setup, as fellow Scotland U20 internationals Euan Ferrie and Duncan Munn – a mid-season addition to the academy during 2021/22 – continuing in the setup.

Ayrshire Bulls duo Jamie Drummond and Christian Townsend and Watsonians winger Ross McKnight are the three further players to retain their spots in the academy, having impressed in training alongside the senior squad during 2021/22.

A further seven of the new intake have also represented Scotland U20 during their fledgling careers to date, including GHA product Andy Stirrat who scored in last week’s clash with Georgia.

Prop Tom Banatavala and back-rower Archie Smeaton both come into the fold after previously representing the age-grade side, the pair having completed their studies at Durham and Cambridge University respectively.

Stirling Wolves trio Ben Salmon, Callum Norrie and Finlay Burgess will continue their development with the academy at Scotstoun, having each represented Scotland U20 over the course of 2022 so far.

Stirling County pair Logan Jarvie – the centre having represented the club since the age of 15 – and second-rower Harris McLeod, who came through the ranks at Kirkcaldy before moving to the Bridgehaugh outfit, are also included in the latest cohort of academy talents.

Scotland U20 Ben Afshar completes the new cohort, with the scrum-half moving to Glasgow to continue his studies.

Things you love to see ?

Christian Townsend with the opening score of the game for Scotland U20! https://t.co/zVQ54LAADl
— Glasgow Warriors (@GlasgowWarriors) July 6, 2022

Scottish Rugby’s Head of Player Transition Kenny Murray said: “It’s a really exciting time of the year for these players, and especially for the new boys who will be immersed in the professional rugby environment for the first time, benefiting from all the support that the academy provides.

“To have more than a third of last year’s group sign professional contracts in Scotland is great as it shows the players that there are opportunities there if they work hard and show professional behaviours both on and off the pitch.

“We’re really looking forward to seeing these 30 players from the Glasgow and Edinburgh academies in the FOSROC Super6 Championship later this summer, with 12 of the players eligible for next year’s U20 Six Nations it will give them a good platform to experience senior rugby on, some of them for the first time.”

FOSROC Scottish Rugby Contracted Academy Players for 2022/2023 season

Glasgow Warriors

Logan Jarvie (Stirling County)*
Callum Norrie (Stirling County)*
Harris McLeod (Stirling County)*
Ben Salmon (Stirling County)*
Finlay Burgess (Stirling County)*
Jamie Drummond (Ayrshire Bulls)**
Archie Smeaton (Ayrshire Bulls)*
Christian Townsend (Ayrshire Bulls)**
Ben Afshar (Ayrshire Bulls)*
Andy Stirrat (Ayrshire Bulls)*
Euan Ferrie (Boroughmuir Bears)**
Rhys Tait (Boroughmuir Bears)**
Duncan Munn (Boroughmuir Bears)*
Ross McKnight (Watsonians)**
Tom Banatavala (Watsonians)*

** Retained FOSROC Scottish Rugby Contracted Academy Player from 2021/2022

*New FOSROC Scottish Rugby Contracted Academy Player