Three aspiring rugby players from Langley School will be among the first to be awarded places in the newly-restructured Leicester Tigers Academy programme that sees the establishment of an exciting new partnership between the Premiership club and the Norfolk school.

Eastern Daily Press: One of the three Langley School rugby players who have been signed up for the academy of the Leicester Tigers Club, Will Findlay, aged 16. Picture: DENISE BRADLEYOne of the three Langley School rugby players who have been signed up for the academy of the Leicester Tigers Club, Will Findlay, aged 16. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY (Image: Copyright: Archant 2015)

Joe Hegarty, Joe Milligan and Will Findlay have all been offered a two-year Academy contract with Tigers, who have won the Aviva Premiership title a record 10 times.

However, unlike in previous years, the players will not now have to relocate to the East Midlands.

A new partnership will mean that both club and school will benefit and the boys will work through a dual programme which will see them remain based in the county for their studies and rugby development in addition to their involvement with Tigers.

Tim Malone, sports director at Langley, said: 'It is exciting for the school to be involved directly in pioneering this new approach and it is a direct acknowledgement of where we are with our rugby development at the moment.

'Langley has reached the last 16 schools in the NatWest Under-15 Cup competition for the last two seasons, reaching the quarter-finals in 2014.'

The Norfolk trio, who have all been at the school since Year 7, provide a great basis on which to begin the new relationship and they will be available to train and play for Tigers in the Under-18 Premiership League next season as well as representing the school.