Ampthill, Bedfordshire — Ampthill Rugby is proud to announce that three of its most promising academy talents have officially signed junior pro contracts with the club, marking a major milestone in their rugby careers. The signings were confirmed this week by Head Coach Dave Ward, who praised the players’ development, dedication, and potential to contribute at the professional level.
The trio – Aaron Gear (20), Noah Fawcett (19) and Albie Mathews (18) – have played throughout the ranks of the Ampthill youth system, impressing coaching staff and supporters alike with their performances in the Academy programme.
“We’re absolutely delighted to see these young men take the next step,” said Head Coach Dave Ward. “They’ve worked incredibly hard, shown maturity beyond their years, and fully earned this opportunity. They represent everything our club stands for—homegrown talent, a strong work ethic, and a passion for the game.”
The players will join the senior squad ahead of the upcoming season when pre-season training starts this week. Each brings unique strengths to the squad:
- Aaron Gear a powerful lock/back row forward and highly effective line-out operator
- Noah Fawcett a dynamic hooker who represented every Senior team last season including a 1stXV debut at Nottingham in pre-season.
- Albie Mathews, a skillful, fearless full back who impressed with the 1881s when given an opportunity at the end of last season
Director of Rugby Mark Lavery adds, “This is a proud moment for everyone involved in the Ampthill Academy pathway. These signings show the strength of our player development programme and our commitment to giving local players a route into professional rugby. Noah and Albie captained very successful Academy teams in the past two seasons and we’re excited to see them kick-on at this level under Dave’s guidance”
The first opportunity to see Aaron, Noah and Albie involved with the 1st XV will be the visit of Worcester Warriors on 13th September. Tickets available via TicketCo
