COVENTRY Rugby have confirmed four of the club’s young players will make the step up to the senior academy next season.
The quartet of Elefio Vulimai-Igiladi, Charlie Stallard, Cornelius Nartey and Will Dorrell will all progress to the senior academy.
Vulimai-Igiladi became the first player to sign for the club from college partner St Regis School.
The strong ball carrier joined Coventry’s senior academy as an under-17 player 18 months ago and offers a serious physical presence.
Stallard proved a standout performer in the National Schools Vase final at Twickenham representing The King’s School in Gloucester.
The Bredon Star RFC product currently plays for Cheltenham Tigers has impressed as a utility back at under-18 level.
Nartey becomes the latest second row to emerge from Coventry’s academy pathway.
Following in the footsteps of 2025 academy graduate Sam Harding, Nartey has established himself as a physical forward with ability at the lineout and the ruck.
Under-18 captain Dorrell joins the senior academy after attending an England under-20 training camp and representing the first team against Cornish Pirates this season.
Dorrell will continue his development with Coventry on a dual-career pathway alongside club sponsors Bromwich Hardy.
Coventry have confirmed 2025 academy intake players Taio Varndell, Sam Gibson, Drew Johnson and Harding will all continue into the second year of their academy contracts.
Varndell is currently taking part in the Shute Shield with Southern Districts Rugby Club in Australia.
He scored a try for England under-19s against Japan earlier this season and also scored a memorable try for Coventry against London Scottish from 50-metres out.
Gibson made two senior appearances for Coventry at tighthead prop against Cambridge and Bedford Blues.
The 18-year-old also spent time on loan at Newport Salop RUFC and Macclesfield RUFC in National League Two.
Back rower Johnson gained experience on loan with Oxford Harlequins and Syston in the National Leagues.
He made more than 20 appearances in National League rugby this season alongside side training with Coventry’s first team.
Harding missed a large part of the season with a hamstring injury which also interrupted his loan spell as Oxford Harlequins.
However, he returned from injury for Coventry against Cornish Pirates and featured in Alex Rae’s final five Champ Rugby matchday squads.
