Training

Training three days a week, with a game on Wednesdays, students on the Rugby Programme have a fantastic opportunity to access expert coaching and to be taught using contemporary coaching methods and playing strategies. All this takes place in excellent facilities, scheduled into the working day and training alongside like-minded individuals with similar goals and aspirations.

Training groups Players are divided into training groups according to ability and will be selected for matches in a similar fashion. The groups are reviewed on a regular basis and players are moved between the groups accordingly, based on: • performance • recognised potential • demonstration of a good attitude to improving.

Training starts in early July, with a full preseason training schedule, and continues through to end of May. The competitive season generally runs from September through to April. Players will have access to 1-3 gym session per week, and a video analysis session. Selected students will have extra skills sessions and opportunities for individual training sessions and reviews.

Competition Although the emphasis of the programme is very much on individual player development, we do run a full competitive schedule of games from September through to April. Nearly all games are played on Wednesday afternoons, and due to travel requirements for fixtures Wednesdays are, in the most part, given over entirely to rugby. Selection Players are selected for one of three teams based on performance and playing ability. Every effort is made to ensure all players are receiving sufficient game time within one of the teams and players will often rotate to ensure regular playing opportunities. Whilst it is our expectation that players are available to represent the College on Wednesdays, players are still able to continue with their club commitments. We may sometimes advise that players may benefit from resting at the weekends, but ultimately the players’ best interests are central to this advice and we do not seek to remove players from the club system.