Hartpury College has been described as ‘quite simply unrivalled’ at producing England under 20 international rugby players.
The specialist rugby website, Next GenXV, worked out which schools and colleges had been attended by every England under 20 player since the start of 2008.
The college, near Gloucester, topped the 143-strong field with 23 players – nine more than second-placed Wyggeston and Queen Elizabeth I College.
It follows a previous Next GenXV study that found Hartpury College was also the best in the world at producing professional rugby players for the top leagues around the world.
‘35 England U18 internationals has converted into 23 England U20 internationals – that’s just incredible,’ according to Next GenXV, which has released its findings in a video.
‘Jonny May was its first (in 2010) and he’s obviously gone on to become an absolute star winger for England.
‘Since then, the full internationals that have gained U20 caps that attended Hartpury include Italy’s Callum Braley, Ireland’s Billy Burns, Ellis Genge and Dan Robson for England, and Wales’ Ross Moriarty, who also became a British and Irish Lion.’
More than 200 Hartpury alumni have played international rugby or signed professional contracts worldwide, including Wales and Gloucester Rugby’s latest wing sensation Louis Rees-Zammit.
And while this study was all about the up-and-coming men, Hartpury women also shine – with World Cup winner Natasha Hunt; England Women’s 2020 player of the year Zoe Aldcroft; and the likes of Amy Cokayne, Ellie Kildunne, Alex Matthews, Holly Aitchison, Abbie Brown, Abi Burton and Megan Jones all studying at the college.
John Barnes, director of Rugby at Hartpury, said the college was ‘absolutely delighted’ the college’s impact on the game had been recognised.
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