This Saturday at Twickenham the Lancashire Under 20’s side play Devon Under 20’s in the final of the Jason Leonard Under 20’s Championship. In the Lancashire side there are two former AKS students and Fylde members who have been regular members of the team in this, the sides all conquering team – Dan Slawson and Max Senior.
And another former AKS student and Fylde member who played alongside Dan and Max at school, Cam McIntyre, has been playing in the same competition but, in his case, representing and captaining Warwickshire. Cam was denied the opportunity of playing against his former schoolmates by losing to the eventual Midlands Division winners, East Midlands, the team that Lancashire defeated in one of the semi finals to progress to the final at Twickenham on Saturday.
Many congratulations from all at Fylde and AKS to all three lads who have each represented their teams with distinction this season.
Here is a short synopsis of the three.
Dan Slawson.
Dan hails from Fylde rugby royalty being the grandson of Rodney Hoskisson, a player of immense distinction for Fylde and Lancashire in the late 50’s and early 60’s. Dan was a member of the MJs from the age of 5 where he was originally coached by Dad, Don. He has been selected for both Lancashire Under 17’s and 18’s as well as for the current side travelling to Twickenham.
He plays at 10 and is the principal place kicker for the Lancashire side. In fact, in the semi-final, in very testing windy conditions, his success rate was 100%, a truly remarkable achievement that even Owen Farrell could not better! Dan has recently been invited to join the North of England Training Squad, another feather in the cap of a young man with great potential. Dan is currently in the second year of his studies at Lancaster University and hopes, one day, to establish himself in the Fylde 1st XV.
Max Senior
Max arrived in the 6th form at AKS from St Aidan’s, Preesall, having been a member of several MJ sides at Fylde for a number of years. He immediately established himself in the 1st XV and his progress has been both rapid and impressive. Initially a 2nd row Max has this season been playing at no 6, a move which he has relished, and which transition has seen his confidence and expertise grow impressively.
In his second year at AKS he gained a place in the Lambs representative side who played a series of games in the UK before touring in South Africa in the summer of 2024. In one of Lambs fixtures in the UK, at no less a ground than that of Pontypool RFC, he was awarded Man of the Match, a massive achievement. Max is currently in his first year at Lancaster University reading Nuclear Engineering. Max hopes one day to play for Fylde 1st XV, hopefully alongside Dan and Cam
Cameron McIntyre
Cam is the son of AKS teacher and MJ coach, Graeme McIntyre and so it was no surprise that he played for the MJ’s for upwards of 10 years. He is a powerfully built and extremely mobile no 8 who, despite a serious injury whilst playing for AKS, has developed into an outstanding talent.
Since leaving AKS in the summer of 2024 he has spent a gap year as a sports coach at Bilston Grange Preparatory School where he has been playing for Old Laurentians 1st XV. He has ben captaining the Warwickshire Under 20’s side, where he was awarded Man of the Match after the side’s loss to East Midlands. At only 19 years of age he stands at 6’2″ and 105kg and has an assured future in the game. Cam has an ambition to play rugby in Australia and to play National rugby in the UK upon his return. Two photos below show where it started for Cam through to current times [courtesy of AKS senior teacher and Cam’s father Graeme McIntyre].
All three players have mentioned that Alan Holmes, their coach at AKS, has been their greatest inspiration and mentor during their formative years and wish to thank him, and Mr Dawes, for their help, encouragement and support which they have shown to each of them over the past few years.
