Young Gun: Steph Reynolds – Gloucester wing

There aren’t many silver linings from a lacklustre season at Gloucester but the emergence of pint-sized flyer Steph Reynolds is one.
Reynolds, 20, one of a host of youngsters to split their time between Kingsholm and Hartpury College, made three Premiership appearances this term, including 80 minutes on the final day of the season against Worcester.
At 5ft 8in, Reynolds is very much in the Shane Williams mould and while he’s still waiting for a first competitive Gloucester try, he has been razor sharp for Hartpury.
He ran in no fewer than 19 tries in Hartpury’s promotion campaign – having demonstrated his searing pace in the Premiership 7s last summer, guiding Gloucester to victory.
And having watched Jonny May, Henry Trinder, Freddie Burns and Elliott Stooke graduate to the Gloucester first XV, he’s determined to be the next cab off the rank.
“This has been a fantastic season for me in terms of how much I’ve played and what I’ve achieved with Hartpury,” said Reynolds.
“Playing at that level really helps you develop. I’m not the biggest and there are a lot of big blokes in that division so you have to learn new ways to score tries.
“And then getting some game-time in the Premiership was an awesome experience and to start was the icing on the cake.
“To watch someone like Jonny May progress to the first team and then to England is such an inspiration and I hope I can be in the same team as him a bit more next season.”
Reynolds appeared for just two minutes on his Premiership debut against Harlequins in May but his next chance – 19 minutes off the bench – came at Twickenham, against Wasps in ‘The Stinger’.
Reynolds is no stranger to HQ, having spearheaded Gloucester’s assault on the World Club 7s last summer but a Premiership outing was all the more special.
“That was incredible. Against Quins I don’t think I managed to touch the ball but I had a decent run out at Twickenham,” he added.
“I had played there before but do so in front of such a big crowd was amazing. We lost which was a shame but on a personal level it was fantastic.
“Hopefully Gloucester can get to the stage where we’ll be back there again and I’ll get another chance.”
The departure of director of rugby Nigel Davies leaves Reynolds’ plans for next season unresolved but again he is likely to be one of Alan Martinovic’s chief weapons at Hartpury while Davies’ replacement will no doubt look to unleash him at Kingsholm.
He’s not alone in juggling his dual role – Ross Moriarty, James Gibbons and Billy Burns are among Gloucester youngsters who also played a key role in Hartpury’s success story this season.
Martinovic believes all four can establish themselves at Kingsholm but he loves having them at his disposal for the time being, and according to Reynolds the feeling is mutual.
“It’s fantastic to get the experience and the rugby education that you know will help your game so much,” he added.
“It’s a great help as well that there are a few of us and that plenty of older Gloucester players have done the same thing.
“The spirit in the Hartpury camp last season was unbelievable and we’re all really looking forward to seeing what we can achieve in National League One next season.”