Best and worst PREM Rugby academies ranked in revealing study

PREM Rugby’s Academy system review has revealed that Saracens have put their trust in homegrown talent more than any other club in the 10-year period analysed by the league’s organisers.

Meanwhile, Gloucester are top in class when it comes to producing academy players who’ve gone on to play PREM Rugby, either at Kingsholm or further afield.

Twelve per cent of the 3,127 academy players (366) assessed as part of the Player Development Project, through centrally held registrations between 2012-2022, achieved their dream of playing in English club rugby’s top division, and the vast majority were English qualified (94%).

The England Academy Player (EAP) conversion rate varied wildly from club to club, ranging from 14.6% (the RFU-owned Yorkshire Rugby Academy) to 45.2% (Saracens). Sale Sharks were a close second and out-of-business London Irish, whose former players are scattered all over the PREM, ranked third.

Saracens’ academy is also the most ethnically diverse, with 29.5 per cent of their academy population in 2025 made up of non-white players.

Of the 10 active clubs assessed over that decade, Bristol Bears fared the worst, although they spent some of that period outside of the top flight, which will have had an affect on the numbers.

Based on appearances over a rolling three-year period, the report finds that Bath’s academy graduates have had the most impact overall. But Sale possess the individual champion of the academy system in England and Lions star, Tom Curry.

Gloucester’s academy influence has extended well beyond their own walls, with a best-in-class 12.8% of their academy players going on to grace the PREM.

Northampton back-rower Tom Pearson is one example of many who initially learnt their trade at Kingsholm before making a name for themself elsewhere. Person left Gloucester to study at Cardiff Met and was then picked up London Irish.

Once again, Yorkshire and Bristol were the lowest-performing academies in terms of net output over that period.

The extensive report also covers the success of the academy system in terms of developing talent for the England senior men’s national team. Of the 90 players capped between 2016-2024, 87 per cent (78) came through a PREM academy. Eight came from other countries and three came from either Sevens or Rugby League.

Other findings show that the percentage of state school academy players is trending upwards, which has been helped by the nationwide success of schools such as Northampton School for Boys and Beechen Cliff in Bath.

A total of £95.2million was invested by the RFU and PREM Rugby into the academy system between 2016 and 2024.