Talented Bedford School pupil selected for Saints Senior Academy

Kayde Sylvester, 18, joined the boys’ school in Bedford on a rugby scholarship when he was 16 years old after being spotted by the school’s sports department while playing for the Saints Junior Academy.

Director of Rugby at the school, James Hinkins was delighted to hear of Kayde’s selection.

He said: “It is such great news that Kayde has signed a full-time contract with Northampton Saints.

"He has worked incredibly hard to get to this point and thoroughly deserves this opportunity.

"His incredible skill set, natural athleticism and impressive leadership qualities make him such an exciting player to watch. His future in the game is potentially very bright indeed.”

It has not been an easy two years for Kayde who has been recovering from a nasty sports injury which saw him side-lined for 12 months.

However, his two years at Bedford School have, in Kayde’s words, “Been the best two years of my school life. I have been kept so busy, and I can’t believe the number of different people, from so many different cultures, who have supported me and become firm friends.”

Kayde, along with five other new recruits, will begin work with the club’s first team squad from July 1, providing it is deemed safe for rugby players to return to training.

Talking about Kayde in an article on the Saints Academy site, the club said: “His strengths are his aerial skills and his athleticism, plus he’s a really humble individual, and even having seen less of him than some of the other lads, I know he has the attributes to do well with us.”