Academy Youngsters in U20s Final

Kane Nixon will captain the Notts, Lincs & Derbys U20s side in their Midlands final against East Midlands U20s tomorrow night.

The Paviors youngster has been involved with the Academy for the past three years and joins five Nottingham team mates in the squad for the match at Kesteven RFC.

Academy Manager John Widdowson is delighted to see so many playing representative rugby, he said: "The NLD U20s guys have had a really good season and there are a number of our Academy players who have been with the squad throughout the year and obviously the six that will be playing tomorrow.

"They have beaten Staffordshire and the North Midlands U20s to get through to the final and we wish them the best of luck.

"Over the season we have had 20 guys engaging with the NLD U20s set up, which is a huge credit to both the Nottingham Rugby Academy and to their parent clubs across the region who have been so co-operative with us and getting the guys right up there."

Nathan Burton (Derby), Joe Symcox (Mansfield), Russ Westcott, Danny Pickersgill and Luke Wilmott (all Paviors) join Nixon in the squad for tomorrow night's final match.

Other Academy players to play a part in the squad this year include: Joe Pass (Derby), Ollie Taylor, Liam Mather (both Newark), Doug Day (Paviors), Ollie Taylor (Nottingham Boots Corsairs), Chris Brelsford (Nottinghamians) along with former academy players Will Pridgeon and Matthew Thomas (both Nottingham Boots Corsairs).