Tom de Glanville, son of former Bath and England rugby union captain Phil de Glanville, was among those celebrating A-level results on Thursday.

Fly-half De Glanville, a member of Bath Rugby’s senior academy and an England Under-18 international, is “100 per cent” committed to a full-time rugby career.

But the 18-year-old also knows the importance of having other options after gaining A grades in all three of his subjects – biology, maths and geography – from Beechen Cliff School in Bath.

To that end, De Glanville will attend the University of Leeds later this year, where he will combine studies with playing for a local club, then returning to rugby action at Bath during university holiday periods.

Tom's dad Phil De Glanville playing for England against Italy during a Rugby World Cup match at Twickenham (Tom Hevezi/PA Images).
Tom’s dad Phil de Glanville playing for England against Italy during a Rugby World Cup match at Twickenham in 1999 (Tom Hevezi/PA Images).

His father won 38 caps for England between 1992 and 1999, captaining his country eight times, in addition to numerous successes with Bath that included winning the 1998 Heineken Cup.

“The plan is 100 per cent to be a full-time professional. I have grown up at Bath,” De Glanville told Press Association Sport.

“Essentially, the time I am at university I will be finding another place to play rugby, and then when I am back during the holidays I will be playing full-time at Bath.

“There was a tricky period at the back end of Christmas where I was kind of having to manage my studies along with the rugby commitments, but things have gone well.

A general view of Bath Rugby's Recreation Ground.
A general view of Bath Rugby’s Recreation Ground (David Davies/PA Images)

“It will be finding the best place to play rugby at Leeds, alongside doing my degree.

“A bad injury can set you back in a sport like rugby, and it is probably one of the main reasons why I am trying to get a degree.

“It’s just having something away from rugby that enables you to switch off and also have a different opportunity if something bad was to happen.

“I have a passion for biology and science, so something like marine biology would be nice.”

The chances are, though, that De Glanville will make it in his chosen profession, having already starred at England age-group level as a richly promising fly-half, and shone for Bath’s A League team.

“When I was 10 or 11, it was about having that dream to be a rugby player, and by the time I was 16 it was about having a shot at it.  Now, it is about pushing on,” he added.

Worcester Valkyries' Cara Clarke.
Worcester Valkyries’ Cara Clarke is celebrating her grades.

Worcester Valkyries player Cara Clarke gained A stars in mathematics and further mathematics, plus an A in physics, and she can now look forward to taking up a place at Bath University, studying integrated design engineering.

Clarke, who has represented England Under-18s at a sevens tournament in France, hopes to continue with her rugby and break through into the women’s national league Valkyries team during the new season.

“It was a pretty sleepless night last night, and I was straight on at 7.30 this morning to find out how I did,” said Worcester Sixth Form College student Clarke.

“Engineering is always something I have had an interest in, and this will be a four-year course with a work placement in the middle of it.

“It will only be a train journey back to Worcester for the rugby in the new season, and it is something I very much want to continue with.”

Great Britain swimmer Jacob Peters and his mum Rachael celebrate his A-level results.
Great Britain swimmer Jacob Peters and his mum Rachael celebrate his A-level results.

Swimmer Jacob Peters took his exams after representing England at April’s Commonwealth Games in Australia.

He achieved Cs in maths and physics, and is looking to get a re-mark in the former having been one mark off a B.

He was also studying biology, but decided after the two weeks in Australia it would be best to drop it and focus on the other two subjects.

Guildford-born Peters, who lives in Poole with his parents and turns 18 on Monday, told Press Association Sport after getting his exam results: “I’m actually quite happy with them.

Jacobs Peters in 200m butterfly action for Great Britain during the recent European Championships in Glasgow.
Jacobs Peters in 200m butterfly action for Great Britain during the recent European Championships in Glasgow (Ian Rutherford/PA Images).


“I wasn’t expecting them because I’ve had a lot of time off school this year. It’s been hard. It’s quite hard to juggle everything.

“I’m really passionate about my swimming, and I’m never going to miss a training session ever to do extra revision. I didn’t miss any training because I knew I had to to be on top of my game at major meets.”

Peters, who competed at the European Championships in Glasgow earlier this month, made the 50, 100 and 200 metres butterfly finals in Australia, and swam in the heats of a 4x100m medley relay event that saw England end up claiming silver.