Newbury's Luke Boyt ready for new challenges with Bath Rugby Academy

Luke Boyt has secured a boarding place at the rugby school of Beechen Cliff in Bath, where he will participate in the prestigious ACE rugby programme and also as part of the Bath Rugby Academy team.

The 16-year-old, from Wash Water, Newbury, has previously spent time in the London Irish Academy set-up.

A former St. Bartholomew pupil, Boyt gained top-level GCSE results earlier this year to guarantee his acceptance onto the programme where he will now study Business, Economics and Law at A-Level alongside twelve hours of structured rugby development each week.

He said: “I have always had a passion for rugby from a young age when I started playing tag at Hungerford Juniors aged just five.

“This continued throughout secondary school at St. Barts where we went on rugby tour to Canada and later as I had fantastic opportunities to play for Newbury, Berkshire and London Irish DPP.

“I have enjoyed the comprehensive pre-season training sessions, which have been held over the summer and can’t wait for our first league match against Exeter next week.

“I’m grateful to all the coaching staff who have worked with me over the years to offer support and guidance so far and I am excited to embrace this next challenge which I recognise is an amazing opportunity for me.

“I hope that my future career with Bath is a long and successful one,” he added.