Two year 8 students from Bancroft's School in Woodford Green have been selected in Saracens’ u14s as part of their developing player programme (DPP) for the 2018/19 season.

Nathan Strover and Max Pollard were among just 45 players who were selected to be a part of the scheme, having impressed Saracens’ coaches during Essex DPP trials.

Over 200 boys from across the region attended the trials as part of the programme, which aims to identify and develop young players, while also providing youngsters with an entry point into Saracens’ academy.

Bancroft’s Strover and Pollard currently play for Woodford RFC and they were a part of the team which lifted the u13 Essex Cup recently.

The duo will now get the opportunity to work with Saracens’ coaches during training sessions and Bancroft’s head of rugby Rob Faiers believes the programme represents a ‘huge opportunity’ for the boys to progress.

He said: “This is a huge opportunity for the boys to develop as individuals and also to develop skills which they can bring back to school and pass on to their peers. As part of the programme they will receive insights into the most up-to-date coaching and philosophy from Saracens’ coaches, which will complement what they already receive at school."

Strover added: “I’ve been playing rugby for Woodford RFC for about two years now and we have recently been crowned the u13 Essex Cup champions and then, within the space of a month, we won another trophy in a rugby festival in Great Yarmouth. I also played for Eton Manor prior to Woodford. It’s been an amazing couple of years and I’m really excited about the challenges coming my way after being put forward by Bancroft and getting through to the next stage of the DPP.”