The influence of home-grown players at Leicester Tigers remains as strong as ever after the Goldsmiths Player of the Month Award this season was dominated by Academy graduates.
Players who have come up through the Tigers ranks picked up the monthly award on six occasions out of eight during the 2015/16 season.
Supporters voted Harry Thacker the Goldsmiths Player of the Month twice during the campaign, the Young Player of the Season picking up the award in February and April.
Sam Harrison won the first Goldsmiths Player of the Month back in September, with Fraser Balmain (October), Matt Smith (November) and Tom Youngs (January) the other players to win the award who have come up through the Tigers system.
Back three players Telusa Veainu (December) and Adam Thompstone (March) complete the list of Goldsmiths Award winners for the season.
Academy manager David Wilks said: “Tigers have a long and proud tradition of bringing players through. This season we have seen Ben White become the youngest player in Tigers' history to play in the Aviva Premiership while players such as Oli Bryant, Will Evans, and George Worth have earned their league debuts for the club.
“It is great for the players, for the club and for the supporters to see that tradition continuing. It also has a really positive impact on the players currently in the Academy because they can see that the pathway works.
“Players who come through the club are the bedrock of the squad, and the fact that the Goldsmiths Player of the Month Award has been won by so many home-grown players underlines how important they are.”
Players who have come up through the Tigers ranks picked up the monthly award on six occasions out of eight during the 2015/16 season.
Supporters voted Harry Thacker the Goldsmiths Player of the Month twice during the campaign, the Young Player of the Season picking up the award in February and April.
Sam Harrison won the first Goldsmiths Player of the Month back in September, with Fraser Balmain (October), Matt Smith (November) and Tom Youngs (January) the other players to win the award who have come up through the Tigers system.
Back three players Telusa Veainu (December) and Adam Thompstone (March) complete the list of Goldsmiths Award winners for the season.
Academy manager David Wilks said: “Tigers have a long and proud tradition of bringing players through. This season we have seen Ben White become the youngest player in Tigers' history to play in the Aviva Premiership while players such as Oli Bryant, Will Evans, and George Worth have earned their league debuts for the club.
“It is great for the players, for the club and for the supporters to see that tradition continuing. It also has a really positive impact on the players currently in the Academy because they can see that the pathway works.
“Players who come through the club are the bedrock of the squad, and the fact that the Goldsmiths Player of the Month Award has been won by so many home-grown players underlines how important they are.”
