Three King’s Ely students have been selected to join the Northampton Saints Rugby Player Development Programme.

George Nearney, Bertie Whymark and Daniel Kember, who are all pupils in Year 8 at King’s Ely Junior, qualified for the scheme following a series of trials.

The trio were also standout players for the junior school’s 1st XV team during the Michaelmas Term.

The Saints Academy has helped develop World Cup winners Steve Thompson and Ben Cohen, England captain Dylan Hartley, and British and Irish Lion Courtney Lawes.

Over 100 young players aged between 13 and 20 receive coaching from the club – ranging from the bi-weekly player development groups, based in Northampton and Colchester, to the senior academy who train full-time at Franklin’s Gardens.

Jim Thompson, director of sport at King’s Ely, said: “It’s fantastic - they all have worked hard to gain these honours and I am very proud of their selection.”