Jacob Fewtrell, one of the 12 Bournville players who helped North Midlands win the Bill Beaumont Cup County Championship Division Two title on Sunday, is one of three fly-halves to confirm they are staying at Avery Fields next season.
Fewtrell kicked 15 points to helped North Midlands to a 30-28 victory over Northumberland in the Twickenham showpiece having also played a key role in Bourns’ Regional One Midlands title success.
Fewtrell has now re-signed along with 17-year-old prospect Oscar Fawkes-Underwood and Rhys Williams Goldman, who impressed in the closing weeks of the season.
All three have the ability to play in other positions in the backline, a versatility that is appreciated by Head Coach Alex Grove.
“I’m delighted that Fewts has re-signed with us. He played every minute of last season which is quite an achievement. That’s 22 games and I thought he got better as the season went on,” Grove said.
“He was instrumental in us winning the title and then to go and have the success with North Midlands was thoroughly deserved because he played a key role in their season and he had one of his best games of the season for them at Twickenham.
“Oscar had a number of appearances last season either at fly-half, full-bcck or the wing. He’s always stepped up and next season is going to be a real challenge because it will be his first taste of National League rugby.
“He’s got to develop all areas of his game but he has got the ability to do that and he’s certainly up for it. It will be a great challenge for Oscar and one I am sure he’s going to rise to.
“Rhys was injured for the first part of the season but he came in after Christmas and he had a particularly good game against Lichfield away.
“He played at 12 for us more than he did at fly-half but I think fly-half is his comfortable position. He will be looking for more opportunities next season and to build on the good performances he had a level five.”
Fewtrell is a former Leicester Tigers Academy player who joined Bourns from Birmingham Moseley in the summer of 2023 having previously played for Exeter University.
Fawkes-Underwood – still a student at Old Swinford Hospital School – was one of the success stories of last season having progressed through the minis and juniors at Avery Fields to the Under-18s then straight into the senior squad.
He was blooded in the first pre-season friendly against Silhillians last August which was his first-ever game of senior rugby. Having looked entirely at ease in that match he was given a league debut in the win at Dudley Kingswinford in October.
Williams Goldman stepped up from Counties One level with Eastern Counties when he arrived at Avery Fields at the start of the season although his debut was delayed until January by January.
Having made his mark with Bournville Blues in Counties Two Midlands West (East) Williams Goldman made his first team debut in the narrow defeat at Newent and made three more first team appearances including as the starting full-back in the 72-0 win at Nuneaton in the season finale in April.
