GLOUCESTER'S five new senior academy recruits have bright Kingsholm futures ahead, believes Simon Lane.
Jonny Hill, Reece Boughton, Ryan Charles and Lewis Ludlow step up from Gloucester's Under-18s programme, while Tom Hicks has made the switch from Northampton Saints.
Assistant academy manager Lane hailed the new batch as potential Cherry and Whites mainstays.
Imposing 6ft 8in lock Hill, goal-kicking scrum-half Boughton and physical flanker Ludlow helped Hartpury College lift their fourth consecutive AASE League title in April.
Hill joined Hartpury two years ago and has improved rapidly since.
Boughton and hooker Charles came through Matson's junior ranks, while loose-forward Ludlow is a product of Bedfordshire club Ampthill.
Gloucester's new additions will join Ross Moriarty, Billy Burns, Elliott Stooke, Steph Reynolds and Gareth Evans in the senior academy group.
Will Graulich has joined Cornish Pirates, while Rob Langley could move to Exeter Chiefs.
Confident the new young recruits can flourish at Kingsholm, Lane explained: "The four who are stepping up from our Under-18s have come on in leaps and bounds in the last 12 months.
"Jonny Hill is a bit of a raw talent, but he's made good progress with us and Hartpury.
"He's got the physical attributes, the bits you can't coach, he's athletic and he is a real lineout presence.
"Reece played for the A League side up at Worcester at the start of the season just finished, and he was only just 17 at the time. He's got a good all-round game, he's a very good left-footed kicker, off the tee as well as out of hand.
"Ryan Charles is an aggressive ball-carrier who throws the ball well.
"Lewis has improved rapidly in the last 18 months, he trained with the first-team squad last pre-season and he's used that as a springboard.
"He captained our Under-18s and he led from the front.
"He's a good lineout option, he carries well and he's got a very good work-rate, as well as being a physical specimen.
"Tom Hicks is a middle jumper who looks a great prospect, and hopefully he'll really blossom in this environment. We're excited by the group we've put together, and what they can achieve.
"The amount of exposure our young players get in the first team, that's just underlines how valued home grown talent is.
"If players in our academy perform, they will get the opportunity."
Lane believes Gloucester's enduring pulling power for local youngsters and their families remains one of the club's most potent weapons.
As more sons and relatives of Kingsholm stalwarts start to move through the ranks, Lane continued: "It's a huge, huge honour for these youngsters to pull on the shirt, and long may that continue. It's a big weapon for us to call upon.
"There are youngsters coming through now who are the sons of Gloucester players, and that's part of what makes this rugby club so special.
"A lot of the top clubs have that strong identity running through everything they do.
"All the best players in the world have to start somewhere, so why not local boys from Gloucester?
"What makes your club different from the rest is that identity that runs through the middle of it.
"And still some of the best sides in the world have that homegrown core, even the likes of Toulouse."
