Connor & Declan Treacey are set to be at the centre of a rare moment in English rugby. When people think of famous rugby families in the modern game, the Barrett brothers immediately spring to mind, with three siblings currently representing New Zealand at the highest level. But down in Bath, another pair of brothers are beginning to write their own family story. Both products of the club’s academy system, Connor and Declan Treacey have been named captains of England’s U20 and U18 sides respectively ahead of their fixtures against France.
A family story unfolding in English rugby
Family connections are nothing unusual in modern rugby, but seeing two brothers wearing the captain’s armband for England in two different age-grade sides on the same weekend remains a remarkable occurrence. Connor Treacey, a Bath back-row forward born in 2006, is already a familiar name within England’s youth pathway.
He first picked up a rugby ball at the age of five with New Milton Rugby Club before quickly progressing through the ranks. His talent soon caught the attention of Bath, and he joined the club’s academy at just 15 years old. From there, his rise has been steady and assured, the path of a player who has gradually established himself as one of the natural leaders of his generation.
Treacey captained England U18 to a Six Nations Grand Slam in 2024, an early sign of the authority and composure he brings on the field. Since then, he has stepped up to the U20 setup, where he has quickly become one of the cornerstones of the squad.
Standing at 1.89m and weighing 103kg, the powerful flanker has made a significant impact during this year’s U20 Six Nations with his tireless work rate across the pitch. Defensively, he ranks among the most effective tacklers in the competition with 56 successful tackles. Yet it is with the ball in hand that he has truly stood out.
Treacey leads the tournament for metres gained after contact, sits third for carries, and has crossed the try line twice in four appearances. Impressively, many of the players ahead of him in attacking metrics tend to be backs or wingers, highlighting just how influential the Bath forward has been. His all-round contribution epitomises the modern back-row forward: powerful in contact, relentless in defence, and capable of making decisive contributions in open play.
Following closely in his footsteps, his younger brother Declan is beginning to carve out a promising career of his own. A dynamic centre and now captain of England U18, the Bath prospect has already collected several international caps despite being only 18 years old.
Like Connor, Declan developed his rugby at Beechen Cliff School in Bath, a well-known breeding ground for young talent in the region. For several years he has been regarded as one of the brightest prospects in his age group, combining strong technical ability with an instinctive leadership presence that has long caught the eye of coaches.
In a recent interview, Declan explained that leadership has always felt natural to him.
“Ever since I was young, I’ve liked encouraging my teammates and trying to make them better players,” he said. “On the pitch and off it, you have to lead by example. It’s not just about talking – it’s about doing the little things properly as well.”
Connor’s influence on Declan’s development has also been significant. The two brothers have occasionally played together in Bath’s age-grade teams, and Declan has never hidden how important that guidance has been for him.
“Whenever I need advice, I go to him,” he admitted. “He’s already been through all those stages.”
And the Treacey story might not end there. The family’s youngest brother, Oscar, is only 14 but is already progressing through Bath’s junior ranks. Inevitably, comparisons have begun to emerge with New Zealand’s famous Barrett brothers — Beauden, Scott and Jordie — who have all played for the All Blacks.
Of course, there is still a long road ahead before the Treacey brothers could reach the summit of international rugby, perhaps one day sharing the field together in the white shirt of England’s senior side.
But as Connor continues to lead the U20s this sunday and Declan prepares to captain the U18s against France tomorrow, the Treacey family will already have written a small yet memorable chapter in the story of English rugby.
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