A young rugby star who made his senior debut for Worcester Warriors only for the Premiership outfit to go into administration has found a new club in the Welsh Championship.
Back-rower Theo Mayell from Ross-on-Wye, who was last year’s Monmouth School for Boys 1st XV captain, has teamed up with former coach Ceri Jones at North Wales club RGC, and made a scoring start in a 27-13 win over Bridgend.
The talented 18-year-old back-rower made his senior Warriors debut in September against Gloucester only for the club to go into administration days later.
RGC head coach Ceri said: “Theo is someone I know from his time at Monmouth School, and he is a great addition to our group.
“From Theo’s perspective, it’s great to have him up here after what went on with Worcester Warriors. He is a player that can play all across the back row and gives us some options and adds competition for places in the starting squad.
“After coming up to North Wales to see the training and set up Theo is looking forward to getting out and playing some rugby for RGC,” he added.
Theo said: “I’m really excited for the opportunity to play in a different league, and get stuck in when I get the chance.
“It should be a great experience and good for some personal development as well as hopefully helping the team out.”
Meanwhile, former school team mate Joe Jenkins, a product of Hereford RFC, has become the youngest rugby player to start for Bristol Bears in a Premiership fixture.
The 19-year-old centre started against Saracens in the top-tier of English rugby at Ashton Gate last week in the No 13 jersey and played for 70 minutes in Bristol’s 25-10 home loss.
And he followed that up with a starring role in an Anglo-Welsh friendly win over visitors Cardiff Blues on Friday night, scoring a try in the 31-12 victory.
He said of his selection for the Saracens game: “I didn’t know it was going to happen, so I was sort of sat there wondering what the team was going to be.
“And then I popped up on the screen and I thought ‘ooh’. The first thing was quite a lot of shock, and... then everyone’s congratulating me. It was quite a nice feeling, but initially shock as well.”