The Gloucester Rugby Academy U17s development side began their preparations for the RFU Festival in April with a convincing 7-34 victory over the Boys Club of Wales U18s at Porthcawl RFC on Sunday afternoon.

Tries from Harry Tovey, Caio James, Louis Callow (All Hartpury College), Jack Hopson (Dean Close), Harry Fernandez-Ford (Monmouth) and Tom Unsworth (Cheltenham College) and two conversions from Sir Thomas Rich's Ollie Rendell were too much for the home side.

Earlier in the week, Rendell was one of five Gloucester Rugby Academy players called up for the upcoming England U17s development camp in Bisham Abbey.

Gloucester Rugby U18s Head Coach, Matt Teague, was impressed with the perfromance from the young Cherry & Whites.

"It was a great start to the under 17s playing period with one of our stronger performances in recent years against the Boys Club of Wales. 

"We’ve used the experience to get a squad of 30 some game time in a Gloucester shirt. Undoubtedly they will now take a lot of confidence going into the RFU U17 Academy’s Festival next month, to further express themselves representing our great club."

The Gloucester Rugby Academy U16s were also in action against the Boys Club of Wales, suffering a narrow 15-12 loss.

The U17s return to action on 1/2 of April in the RFU U17 Academy Festival.

The Gloucester Rugby Academy is proudly sponsored by Reef Group.