Neil McCarthy (rugby union) was effectively ended in 2002 by a serious knee injury. McCarthy spent two years attempting to come back from the injury which included a final spell with Orrell Rugby, eventually retiring in 2004 after further complications from the original injury. He was Leicester Tigers Academy director from 2007-2015 and produced current England players George Ford, Manu Tuilagi, Dan Cole, Tom Croft, Billy Twelvetrees and the Youngs Brothers Ben and Tom. On 11 March 2015, McCarthy returned to Gloucester Rugby to become their new Head of Academy. Having restructured and established the Gloucester academy as a leading programme McCarthy moved into
Tom Stephenson (rugby union) Tom Stephenson (rugby union) Tom Stephenson (born 5 May 1994) is an English rugby union player who currently plays for RFU Championship side London Irish. Stephenson is a former Moulton College student, and one of the most exciting prospects to emerge from the Saints Academy in recent years. Playing a year above age for England Under-18's, Stephenson captained the side as they returned home from the FIRA/AER tournament in Madrid as champions. He made his first senior appearance for Northampton Saints in 2012 against Harlequins and became a staple member of the senior team for the 2013/14 and 2014/15 seasons.