The Head Coach of Hartpury University RFC – the only student-led side in the Greene King IPA Championship – has spoken with pride about the two former Hartpury College students named in the 2021 British and Irish Lions rugby squad.
Mark Cornwell monitored the progress and development of Jonny Hill and Louis Rees-Zammit in his key role at Hartpury during their double championship-winning seasons within the renowned Hartpury College and Men’s Rugby Academy programme.
The duo won their places in the 37-man Lions squad for the summer tour of South Africa after impressing for club and country, Hill with Exeter Chiefs and England and Young Player of the Year Rees-Zammit with Gloucester Rugby and Wales.
Their Lions call-ups are another huge success for Hartpury College’s Rugby Academy, ranked number one in the world for producing professional rugby players for the top leagues around the globe, in a recent study.
Mark Cornwell, a former Gloucester Rugby second-row forward, said: “Jonny has established himself in one of the best teams in the country at the moment – he’s getting picked every week for the Chiefs – and he’s certainly justified his selections by England.
“He was up against players like Tadgh Beirne and Jonny Gray for that Lions slot, but Warren Gatland and his coaches have gone for Jonny, so fair play to him. It is great news for him and it’s great for us here at Hartpury.
“Louis was obviously far less of a shock. In the two years since he left Hartpury he has literally hit the ground running. He’s making all the headlines and scoring all the tries.
“He’s made his Welsh debut and, again, he’s gone flat out – scoring tries and showing everybody how quick he is.
“But it’s not only about his pace. It’s great to see just how much is overall game has developed.
“He’s always had the wheels, but now his aerial game is very strong.
“So, it’s no surprise at all that he made the squad and he must have real chance, now, of making that starting line-up.
“He’s the sort of player that can make something from nothing, as we’ve seen plenty of times with Gloucester, and he’s got the sort of pace that the South Africans will have to be very wary of.”
More than 200 Hartpury alumni have played international rugby or signed professional contracts around the world.
The rugby pathway at Hartpury – a RFU University Partner – means that alongside their studies, students can play for Hartpury College, then Hartpury University and its Championship club Hartpury University RFC.
Picture: Jonny Hill (left) and Louis Rees-Zammit
