Freddie Stewart - U18 Rugby Player Profile
Full name: Freddie Peter Stewart
Age: 16 (End July 4th Qtr.)
Position: Fullback or Wing
Height & Weight: 6ft 1, 85 KG
Club/Team: U18 Saracens Academy
Nick Name: Fast Freddie
Current Commitments
Proudly representing Berkhamsted Boys School Rugby and the Saracens Academy, where training alongside elite peers has sharpened my technical and tactical edge. Competing a year above my age group has been a defining challenge, and I’m determined to help Saracens Academy dominate the 2025/26 Academy League.
I’m committed to driving consistent success through relentless work ethic, defensive leadership, and a team-first mentality.
Academic & Career Focus
Grades: Pursuing straight A’s while balancing high-performance rugby.
University Goals: Targeting Loughborough, Durham , Bath, Exeter or Nottingham to combine a top-tier degree with BUCS Super Rugby competition.
Post-Rugby Vision: Building a career that leverages my passion for sport—ensuring excellence both on and off the pitch.
Playing Journey
Junior Club: Old Verulamian's RFC (St. Albans) – Key member of their most successful Hertfordshire Div. 2 side.
Pathway: Earned selection in a hyper-competitive DPP/PDG squad stacked with London Irish and Wasps pathway players, securing key fixtures through consistent performance.
Saracens Academy (U16/U17): Trained with U18s at just 15, laying the foundation for current England U18 aspirations.
Mindset:
Inspired by Saracens’ world-class backs, I thrive under pressure. My goal is clear: prove I belong among the nation’s best—through actions, not words.
Strengths & Work Ethic:
Defensive Specialist: Pride myself on game-changing tackles and outworking opponents in every collision.
Physical Edge:
Regularly top max speed and max distance above 7Ms (targeting 10.1–10.3m/s), acceleration, and VHSR metrics with a 4:40 Bronco (aiming for 4:30 at 90kg). Some wingers can run sub 11 seconds a few minutes into a game, I want to do it in the 80th minute to score a try or better still make a try saving tackle.
Tactical Growth:
Sharpening game IQ, communication, and defensive leadership (refining my "game voice" to command structures).
Attack Instincts: Natural running lines create opportunities—whether carrying, creating space, or finishing tries. Constantly endeavoring to make the right decisions for my team, whether that is to back myself or draw and pass.
Team First: Whether starting, benching, or supporting, my focus is team success over individual accolades.
Leadership & Impact
Mentorship:
Coaching juniors at my local club, transferring lessons from Saracens’ elite environment.
Discipline:
Balancing training, academics, and volunteering—relentless consistency is non-negotiable.
Mindset: Lead by example, elevate teammates, and embrace pressure as fuel.
Goals
Short-Term:
Secure England U18 Rugby honours and clinch the Academy League title with Saracens.
Long-Term:
• Professional career with Saracens (Premierships & European Cups).
• British & Irish Lions Test victories in South Africa & New Zealand.
I’m chasing challenges that force me to outwork, outthink, and outperform the best. Enjoying the now whilst striving to
Coach Refences: See below
School Rugby Contact / Reference:
Mr Richard Pryor
[email protected]
01442 358000
07761046497
Media & Highlights
Recent Highlight a Trip to Wellford Road
It was great to play up with Saracens U18s away at Leicester such holy ground. A great win especially with so many of our England boys away.
Instagram's
Explore Freddie Stewart's own and Favourite Instagram Accounts
Freddie Stewart
Some of my reels and highlights.
Saracens Academy
The official page of the worlds best rugby academy
#builtfromwithin
@saracensofficial
U15s U16s U17s U18s Senior Academy
Berkhamsted School Sport
The home of sport at Berkhamsted School.
Sports fixtures, news and results from Senior Boys, Girls, Sixth and Prep
@berkhamstedschools
Next Gen XV
The home of grass roots rugby! Bringing you news and views as well as live streams
Saracens Official
The official Instagram of Saracens Rugby Club.
#YourSaracens💫
StoneX Stadium, Greenlands Lane, Hendon, Barnet, United Kingdom NW4 1RL
Coaches Comments
Adam Rees
(Head Coach Age 6-16)
Freddie declared his destiny to play professional rugby at the ripe age of 4—back when his ‘tackles’ were less ‘bone-crunching but equally as distressing for the oppo.
Known as "The Scarf" his early technique threatened more collarbones than trophies, we’ve since perfected his approach. These days, opponents might lose their dignity, but they’ll keep their heads—progress!
Not every kid starts as the biggest or strongest (shoutout to the 4th Quartile squad!), but Freddie’s grit has turned ‘underdog’ into ‘overachiever.’
These last 3 years have seen incredible growth, he’s a Swiss Army knife of rugby talent: silky hands, aerial dominance, great ambidextrous passing, and feet so quick they’d embarrass a tap dancer. Oh, and good luck outrunning him—spoiler: you won’t.
Coaching him has been a pleasure.
So, Fred—when you’re lining up for England and the Lions in a few years, remember: my ticket’s are front row.
"The Scarf always delivers."
Reach out to me on LinkedIn or via Freddie if you want any further information.
Phil Clerk
(Team Manager Age 7-16)
I've had the privilege of managing Freddie through mini and junior rugby since his early days — when he’d spend moments gazing at the clouds, only to explode into action and change the game in an instant.
That contrast captures him perfectly: a player with natural instinct, patience, and the ability to deliver when it matters most.
Freddie is the ultimate team player. Never one to question where I needed him to play, he stepped seamlessly into any role for the benefit of the side, showcasing adaptability and selflessness.
His commitment is always 100% and he set the standards in training and matches. He was always the last to leave the training pitch.
As a cornerstone of our club’s most successful junior team, Freddie played a pivotal role in securing 3 back-to-back county trophies and multiple league titles. We relied on both his dominant defence and devastating speed and line breaks in attack and he never let us down.
While we’ll miss having Freddie at our club, we have no doubt he is destined for the biggest stages in rugby and I know he will remain in touch with all the friends he has made at the club.
We are all very proud of him, and can’t wait to watch him soar.
Go well Fred!
Nathan Stewart
(Coach Age 11-16)
Fred is a self-driven and determined rugby player who possesses the rare ability to reverse-engineer his goals, breaking them down into actionable steps to ensure success.
His work ethic is unmatched—he thrives when others rest, training relentlessly in the pitch black of winter mornings, through pouring rain, when comfort would be the easier choice.
Fred understands the importance of honing his strengths while continuously developing his game. His mindset is one of relentless improvement, balanced with a deep appreciation for the daily grind and the camaraderie of the sport. He is both fiercely accountable for his progress and humble in his pursuit of excellence.
With over 20 years of coaching experience in mini and junior rugby, I have seen many players, but few with Fred’s combination of dedication, self-motivation, and passion for the game. He has the discipline and mindset of a professional—not because he’s told to train, but because he demands it of himself.
Fred continues to elevate himself and those around him.
Freddie helped his junior team achieve:
3 x Back To Back County Trophies
2 x Tour Cup Titles
Numerous League Titles
