More great news from our highly successful U16 squad!

Ed Simmons of Lord Wandsworth, Alton and Hampshire has secured a much coveted place on the London Irish Advanced Apprentice in Sporting Excellence or AASE programme at St Paul's Catholic College beating off considerable competition.

Everyone at Alton RFC wishes Ed all the very best on the challenging course where he will study A Levels and an NVQ Level 3 in Sporting Excellence (equivalent to 2 A Levels in UCAS points for university) through an intensive 22 hours per week of rugby training. Ed has played at Alton with his current age group since U9.

U16 Head Coach David Bugler says "Ed has a tremendous amount of natural ability and physicality, and he has worked hard at his game through the trials to secure this place. He has been an outstanding performer for us over many seasons and with Hampshire at U15 and U16. This season he has made the step up to playing Colts rugby effortlessly. It has been a great pleasure to see him mature both as a player and as a person since he joined us at nine years old, he's such a great lad and a credit to his family and the club. Everyone at the club wishes him every success with London Irish."

More about the AASE programme here.