\n<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
A few weeks later, the senior coaching group at Saints met to discuss who they should sign and who should be released.<\/p>\n
“We are looking for character and work ethic over everything,” said Hopley.<\/p>\n
“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.”<\/p>\n
Head coach Reed added: “I want authenticity, self-awareness.<\/p>\n
“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.”<\/p>\n
Hopley admits that selecting players is a real challenge and they can make mistakes.<\/p>\n
“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.<\/p>\n
“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?<\/p>\n
“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.”<\/p>\n
Saints have handed seven players first-team academy contracts for the 2025-26 season. <\/p>\n
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. <\/p>\n
The new players were unveiled to the crowd and given a framed signed jersey with their name embossed on the back.<\/p>\n
Jack Lawrence looked in shock. His parents beamed with pride.<\/p>\n
“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.”<\/p>\n
Watch: Saints Ascending – Behind the scenes with Northampton Saints Academy on BBC iPlayer <\/b><\/i><\/p>\n<\/div>\n