Gloucester's youth movement

Lewis: Success story

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Gloucester have rewarded eight of their promising academy players with senior contracts.

Freddie Burns, Dave Lewis, Jordi Pasqualin, Tristan Roberts, Charlie Sharples, Yann Thomas, Henry Trinder and Dan Williams have all signed contracts to the end of the 2009-10 season.

Most are already well known to Gloucester fans, with Lewis making 11 first team appearances and Sharples scoring his first senior try at home to Bath in the Guinness Premiership.

Lewis, Sharples, Trinder, Williams and prop Shaun Knight also featured in England's Under 20 team that made the final of the junior world championship in recent weeks and academy manager Mark Cromwell believes the club's future is in safe hands.

"The production line seems to be working and I'm delighted that so may of the lads are moving upwards through the ranks. It seems to be working well and we all hope it continues," he said.

Gloucester head coach Bryan Redpath added: "A successful academy set up is vital for any Guinness Premiership club. It's good to have a steady progression of young, local talent coming up through the ranks.

"Some of them have already made the breakthrough and I hope that they'll all go on to become regulars in the first team squad."