Jon Newcombe talks to Matt Williams about the challenges of running coaching academies for up and coming players

London Irish junior academy players worried about their futures can take solace from the success of the three RFU run regional academies operating in Yorkshire and Midlands West and Midlands Central.
As they did when Yorkshire Carnegie hit the buffers a few years ago and Worcester and Wasps folded, the RFU have pledged to step in and ensure the pathway of 14-18 year-olds in Irish’s former catchment area – Middlesex, Hampshire and Berkshire – doesn’t hit a dead end.
Wasps academy ...