Students from Cardiff University, Swansea Metropolitan University and the University of South Wales have been selected for the first WRU Rugby Enterprise Academy, which provides professional business support for rugby clubs across the Principality Premiership division.
The scheme provides future rugby administrators with the opportunity to gain hands-on experience within the semi-professional game alongside their university education.
The initiative aims to safeguard the future of rugby in Wales ‘off the field’ as well as to provide a new and important link between WRU management and the clubs competing in the Principality Premiership.
Academy students will be trained by WRU managers throughout the custom-made 12-month programme which can be achieved alongside their university degrees.
They will receive training across a range of disciplines including social media, marketing, sponsorship and communications, as well as getting top business advice from WRU Commercial Partner, Principality Building Society.
The Rugby Enterprise Academy emulates the WRU’s thriving Rugby Academy which provides the necessary training and experience to develop players for Wales’ national team.
WRU Rugby Compliance Manager, Will Thomas, heads up the new Academy project and is the first point of contact for Premiership clubs. He said: “The Principality Premiership is an essential part of the player pathway in Wales and so it is vitally important that the WRU is developing the right people to be involved week in, week out, both on and off the pitch.
“The new Rugby Enterprise Academy, in conjunction with Wales’ top students, is an exciting initiative and I’m really looking forward to working with the students, the universities and the clubs to make the best of this new opportunity over the coming season.”
He added: “The support and enthusiasm so far has been fantastic and bodes well for the development of future sports administrators of the community, regional and national game.”
The successful applicants will begin their attachment at the Premiership clubs right away, as the summer months are key for commercial and marketing activity before the Principality Premiership season gets underway on Saturday 14 September.
Julie-Ann Haines, Principality’s Customer Director, said: “This is a fantastic initiative that will really set apart the Principality Premiership from other leagues. The Principality Premiership is known for being a feeding ground for Welsh rugby talent on the field and this initiative will help ensure that we are also building Welsh rugby talent off the field too.
“It will not only help our clubs add another string to their bow with extra support but it will also boost links between education and business by ensuring that these talented young people are ready for work.”
Currently studying Economics at Cardiff University, Sian Jones is looking forward to gaining valuable work experience at Cardiff RFC. She said:
“This is a huge step forward for me in terms of my career and I’m so excited to get this great opportunity. I study Economics which has a lot of theory but I am naturally a very creative person. I’m really looking forward to the chance to bounce ideas off other people at the WRU and Cardiff RFC.”
Originally from Neath, rugby fan and Swansea-based student Richard Davies, will be placed at his local club for the coming season. He said:
“I heard about the chance to be involved in this scheme on Twitter. I saw it as a great opportunity and it was something I wanted to do. It will be great to use a placement at Neath as part of my work experience.
“I’m from the Neath area and I saw them play a lot last year. They did really well to reach the SWALEC Cup final but they are a team in transition. I’m looking forward to seeing them play next season and hopefully they can push further up the table.”
The Academy is a voluntary work placementsuitable for under-graduate and post-graduate students studying at Wales’ universities. It is also open to students from Wales currently studying further afield.
The Academy is particularly suitable for students who will be undertaking a work placement within their degree programme. The scheme requires a minimum commitment of 400 hours across the 12 months (which began June 2013).
