WRU assesses value of the Academy system

In March 2005, the WRU announced it had secured £1.62m in Objective 1 funding from the Welsh Assembly Government towards a £3.66m project (£1.9m in WRU money) to establish the four Regional men’s Academies and one Women’s National Academy; the Welsh Rugby Industry Project.

Today, it assessed the on-field benefits, ranging from undeniable improvements in strength and fitness results of the Academy players to their increased playing power for our semi-professional and professional sides.

It also outlined the off-field benefits of the Academy system, which enables players to make strides as elite athletes whilst pursuing educational and employment paths here in Wales in order to gain a second vocation. It argued that Wales as a whole benefits from the change in elite rugby development.

Enterprise Minister Andrew Davies said: “I’m delighted that the Assembly Government was able to help fund this ground-breaking initiative to identify and to develop potential star players into well rounded athletes; who also have opportunities to pursue careers outside rugby.

“I am convinced that this innovative and widely admired venture by the Welsh Rugby Union will be of huge benefit to the individuals themselves and to the future strength of Welsh rugby at all levels.”

Welsh Rugby Industry Project Update On-the-field

Facts

Statistically significant data shows improvements in average strength, speed endurance, size and speed at Academy level, for example Academy players’ weight has increased by, on average, 10kg in two years.

Better performers within the Academies are already achieving World Class Standards in a variety of areas. For example, Sam Warburton, an 18-year-old back row player has recorded a speed of 1.58 seconds for a 10m sprint; the measurement for speed endurance. This compares with Bryan Habana’s 1.55 seconds and Joe Rockocoko’s 1.56 seconds.

Academy programme now provides the players with an industry standard NVQ qualification in Sporting Excellence.

40% of Academy players playing regularly for Principality Premiership sides with one third having experienced Regional rugby.

Through improvements in strength, weight and speed endurance and skill, a number of players have already made the significant transition to regional rugby.


Success Stories

Bradley Davies A 19-year-old lock who has already made the step up to professional, regional rugby for the Blues. He already has a very high lean, body mass of 120kg, the standard for international locks.

Jamie Corsi A 19-year-old tighthead prop who has easily held his own for the Dragons. For a player in his position, this is remarkable.

Ashley Smith A first choice inside centre for his region and current Wales U20 captain.

Ken Owens Involved in the Scarlets 22 that have had a six-match winning run through the Heineken Cup Pool stages.

Tom James Excelled for Cardiff, the Blues, Wales Sevens and Wales U20 since joining the Blues Academy last summer.

The launch of the Project heralded the start of an ambitious process to develop our future internationals through the core elements of being a professional rugby player, which include conditioning, tactical skills, technical skills, sports nutrition and sports psychology. Intensive and individually structured training in these areas coupled with performance lifestyle support from the Academy programme now provides the players with an industry standard NVQ qualification in Sporting Excellence.

The emphasis within the Academies has been to foster a learning environment whereby players are not spoon-fed the different disciplines; instead, each player is encouraged to learn and think for themselves, thereby creating a well rounded athlete, ready at an earlier age for the physical and mental intensities of professional rugby.

At the inception of the project, two years ago, the WRU needed to build a structure that would foster such an environment. With the help of Objective 1 funding, the WRU now employs an Academy Manager, a Conditioning Coach and a Skills Coach in each Academy.

Responsible for putting these members of staff in place, WRU Elite Performance Manager Mostyn Richards said: “The WRU continues to seek innovative ways of improving the academy environment and with our current staffing structure coupled with our working partnership with Coleg Gwent, Coleg Glan Hafren, Coleg Sir Gar and Neath Port Talbot College, we are able to achieve this.

“We feel the sporting excellence NVQ framework which is in place will further help to establish a learning environment within the Academies, ensuring our elite performers can carry the knowledge they have gained here into senior regional and international environments.

“In essence, we are breeding a new age of professional rugby players, a player that is fully educated across all aspects of professional rugby. Such developments are only going to strengthen the semi-professional, the regional rugby and the international rugby scene in Wales and we are seeing the fruits of that work already with 41 Academy players having already played senior regional rugby and at least 52 currently playing in the Principality Premiership.”

Stephen Studd, Chief Executive of SkillsActive, the Sector Skills Council for sport and active leisure responsible for developing the sporting excellence apprenticeship framework, said: “We are delighted that the WRU are incorporating the sporting excellence NVQ into their academies. The qualification currently offered gives young players the skills, knowledge and experience they need to progress once their competing days are over.

“We fully support the WRU in their commitment to not only producing world class athletes, but to ensure those athletes have the skills for later on in life, and we will do everything we can to support future funding for the programme.”

Welsh Rugby Industry Project Update Off-the-field

Facts

Only three of 119 Academy players are not in full time education or employment. 37 Academy members are studying for degree options.

There is clear evidence that elite, young players are choosing Welsh Universities for their higher education in order to continue with their rugby development programme here.

It is expected that if players are able to pursue their rugby career in Wales, there is more chance that they will put their skills and qualifications back into the Welsh economy during and after their rugby career.

Alun Davies, WRU Performance Lifestyle Manager said: “The WRU accepts that not all Academy players will end up in professional rugby; and that a professional rugby career, however successful, is a short-lived one. For these reasons, educational support is vital and we seek to ensure that all Academy members gain a second vocation.

“Out of our current crop of 119 Academy players only three are not in full time education or employment. Thirty seven of our Academy members are pursuing Higher Education degree options with subjects including Law, Medicine, Biology Science, Accountancy, Geography, History, Psychology, Business, Sports-related degrees and Engineering, while others are pursuing vocational subjects such as farming and bricklaying; or have found employment.

“This cross-section comes in stark contrast to previous generations of professional rugby players; of Wales’s 32 man 1999 Rugby World Cup squad, only five players had any academic qualifications above secondary level education and only six players had work experience for longer than 12 months behind them before becoming professional rugby players. Gone are the days when young players had to choose between pursuing a rugby career and a profession or vocation.”

Mostyn Richards added: “We have taken great pains to create a caring, innovative and professional approach to all our player development policies. We want our young players of today to play a major role in the Welsh economy of tomorrow and we are doing something positive about it now.”

Case Studies

Jamie Roberts (Cardiff RFC and Blues Academy) is currently is his second year of Medical Studies at Cardiff School of Medicine. The 20-year-old has not had to choose between his two aspirations of playing professional rugby and qualifying as a medical doctor; because of the Academy system.

“After this academic year, I am hoping to continue my medical studies on a flexible programme, working with the Blues, the Academy staff and my tutors at the School of Medicine to integrate my degree and professional development with my rugby development,” he said. “I would not want to have to choose between the two but because of the academy staff working hard to ensure I can continue with both, I haven’t had to make that choice.”

Fitting work and education around rugby has been made easy due to the way in which the holistic Academy system is organised around the individual’s needs.

Sam Kiley, a 19-year-old Swansea, Ospreys U20 and Wales U20 flanker, today (Tuesday 27th February 2007) began employment with Ponty Butchers of Pontardawe as part of an apprenticeship in butchery. His employer, Clinton Robert, fully accepts the level of commitment Sam will have to show to his rugby development but Sam believes the two will fit quite nicely.

“My employer has agreed for me to work around training times but that’s not difficult to organise,” he said. “We can do our weight training in the morning and running in the evening. I’m playing my regular rugby for Swansea at the moment which is a semi-professional side so squad training is in the evenings.

“I’m really looking forward to having a full time job. You have to have some kind of normality outside of the game to help you take your mind off rugby sometimes.”

Other academic students in the current Academy system include Daniel George, a Llanelli and Scarlets hooker who is studying Criminology at Swansea University. George said: “I stayed in Swansea for my degree as it means I can still continue with my rugby development and play for Llanelli. I only have eight hours of lectures a week so I can easily commute and fit my training in.”

Students of more vocational subjects include Ben Flower of Bedwas RFC and the Dragons Academy, who is currently in the first of a three year FCA qualification in bricklaying at Ystrad Mynach college and Ebbw Vale flanker Danny Lydiate has one year left on farming qualifications at Brecon College.

Flower, a Wales U20 hooker said: “Things are going well with Academy training, playing for Bedwas and Wales U20. But I also enjoy the course. It’s three and a half days a week and it means that whatever happens, I’ll have a trade to fall back on.”

Danny Lydiate is the son of a mid Wales farmer: “You never know where your rugby career is going to take you but you always know it’s going to end at some point so why not prepare for that at the start of your career?”

Meanwhile, Vikki Gaylard, a member of the National Women’s Academy has found full time employment through the gym instructor’s course set up by Women’s Academy coordinator Sophie Bennett. She works at the Park Inn Hotel, Cardiff and found the job straight after completing her Sports Studies degree at the University of Newport.

WRU Group Chief Executive Roger Lewis said: “Rugby in Wales reflects so many aspects of Welsh life. Our game over the years has united us regardless of our background or profession.

“The Academy Project continues this tradition; giving our young players a range of skill opportunities beyond the rugby pitch. The structure and the staff in the Academies are laying the foundations to enable players with talent and commitment to succeed, in life as well as rugby. We are keeping a lot more players in Wales to combine their rugby development and education or to pursue employment opportunities alongside their rugby.

“This brings many reasons to celebrate the Project. The identification, nurturing and development of our own young talent means we no longer need to rely so much on non Welsh qualified players. It also means that these youngsters gaining skills and qualifications in Wales are more likely to put the benefit of that learning back into Welsh life during their rugby career as well as later in life.

“We have created a unique environment which our fellow rugby Unions the world over have praised.

“We must build upon the systems and structures that have been created. The WRU are doing everything it can to ensure the sustainability of the Academies going forward; but we need to continue to work in partnership with our funding bodies.

“The WRU committed 55% of the Academy funding two years ago and we are committed to doing the same again. This Project comes to an end in a year’s time and it is vital not only for Welsh rugby but for gifted Welsh talent that the progress continues.”