At the age of just 18, he has already showed his ability to play on both sides of the scrum. And the Saints Academy player, who started at tighthead for England Under-18s against South Africa on the final matchday of the 2024 International Series on Tuesday, is taking it all in his stride as he continues on his path to the top. Advertisement Advertisement Did you know with an ad-lite subscription to Northampton Chronicle and Echo, you get 70% fewer ads while viewing the news that matters to you.
Dye explained: "Saints see me as a tighthead but I'm able to play both loosehead and tighthead. "It was quite funny because on Academy signing day, I had a conversation with my Academy manager and you get given a shirt when you sign, but he had no idea whether I was going to get a number one shirt or a three, but I got given a one. "But I've been playing more tighthead this pre-season.
"Saints wanted me to learn both from the get-go so I've always just been playing both positions. In the Academy league I was playing loosehead because Ollie Scola, who also got a contract, unfortunately blew his knee out so he was ruled out for all of last season. "I was meant to be at tighthead but ended up playing loosehead all season.
Advertisement Advertisement "Now I'm playing at tighthead and I'm going up against Manny (Iyogun) and Tarek (Haffar) in training so I'm learning what they're doing to try to beat me. "It's definitely turning the tide and there are more and more props coming up who are a.