Ahead of the start of the 2025 Academy season, young hooker Tom Humphreys has been named as the Saints' Under 18s captain!
St.Helens Academy will kick-off their new campaign at the Totally Wicked Stadium this Friday (21st March) against Warrington Wolves as a curtain raising fixture before the Betfred Super League meeting between Saints and Wire.
Turnstiles for our double header open from 4:45pm on Friday, with kick-off of the Academy clash scheduled for 5:15pm. Get down early and support our young players and cheer on some future First Team stars!
Plus, as part of our fundraising efforts for the ASW Solicitors 2026 Australia St.Helens Academy Tour, we are raffling a signed and framed 2023 World Club Challenge shirt – click here for the full details and how to get your tickets!
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17-year-old half-back & hooker Tom Humphreys joined the Saints Scholarship from local community side Newton Storm and has progressed into our the Academy ranks after impressing. Now, he will lead the team out, following in the footsteps in the likes of George Whitby, Leon Cowen and Sam Royle from recent years.
“I’ve loved being here, at the club I’ve supported my whole life – it’s such a great environment with the players and the staff all working together.”
Now, Tom has an important role to play with our young troops looking to him as a leader on the field. And fittingly, he found out he would have the armband at the same time his peers did.
“Derek told me at the Captain’s Run before the friendly against Bradford, in front of all the lads it was mad to be honest with you, and it meant a whole lot to me.
“My mum almost cried to be honest, but all my family we so buzzing for me. I got a few nice messages off my grandads and my uncles about it. So yeah they were all so made up for me.
“It means the world, my hometown club, and its one of the biggest honours you can get at this level in my eyes to be captain. I want to go and push on this season even more so now.”
Opportunities for our young guns will now come thick and fast with the Academy and Reserves alternating weeks, meaning regular match minutes can be regular for the likes of Humphreys – who has his goals already set.
“Reserves will see us come up against some bigger bodies, likely will be a faster game too. I got a taste of it last year but this year I am going to try and really crack on and get my name on that team sheet as much as I can. Having First Teamers who might not be playing at the moment, that will be great to be alongside them.
“For the Reserves, we won the Grand Final last year so it would be nice to go and do that again. That will be our aim. In the Academy, we fell just short at the very end in the Grand Final, so the lads are disappointed by that from last year and it will spur us on to try win it this year.”
Good luck Tom, and the rest of our young Saints for the year ahead!
Check out the full Saints Academy fixture list for 2025 by visiting saintsrlfc.com/matches/academy
