Alex Hearle graduates from Worcester Warriors academy to senior squad

Alex Hearle has become the latest player to graduate from the Three Pears Warriors Academy to the senior squad at Sixways.

The wing/centre has signed his first senior contract and will follow the likes of Ted Hill, Ollie Lawrence, Will Butler, Andrew Kitchener, Justin Clegg, Joe Morris and Tom Dodd in Warriors’ squad next season.

Hearle, 21, has already made seven senior appearances and started this season brightly, scoring his maiden try in the Premiership Rugby Cup win over Leicester Tigers in September, before being sidelined by a foot injury which required surgery.

“I’m really happy to have signed my first senior contract at the club,” said Hearle.

“It is a very exciting time for the club, with a new coaching team that I’m very excited to start working with.

“It’s great to be part of this young group of players that have grown up around Worcester coming through the Academy into the senior squad.

“I had an operation on my foot in October, which caused me to miss most of this season, but the club were outstanding in getting me back fit and it’s great to have the backing of the club.”

Hearle made his Warriors debut while he was still at Shrewsbury School when he came off the bench against Wasps in an Anglo-Welsh Cup match at the Ricoh Arena in 2016.

He joined the Senior Academy ahead of the 2017/18 campaign and made two more appearances for the first team that season, as well as impressing for Worcester Cavaliers in the Premiership Rugby A League.

Hearle has since furthered his rugby education on a dual registration with Birmingham Moseley in National One and, having impressed in three Premiership Rugby Cup matches at the start of this season, has been tipped for a bright future by Warriors’ director of rugby Alan Solomons.

“I am chuffed to see Alex, like many of our young home grown players, take the step up from the Academy to our senior squad,” Solomons said.

“Alex is a big, athletic young player, who is equally comfortable at 13 or on the wing.

“He had a terrific start to the season, playing some really good rugby in the Premiership Rugby Cup, until injury struck.

“He has though now recovered fully and will be good to go when we start playing again.

“He is a terrific young man, a Warrior through and through and I am really looking forward to working with him.” 

Photo caption: Alex Hearle.