Skills Development Programme
At the Rugby Academy athletes focus on all aspects of the game and performing skills under pressure.
The Rugby Skills Development Programme is designed to develop players, based on the core four skills.
- Catching and Passing or Kicking
- Tackling
- Support and Evasion
- The Breakdown (Defensive and Attacking with individual, mini-unit and team skills assessment and progressive development )
All sessions will have one of these four core skills as its main focus, which will be assessed and developed progressively.
Particular emphasis will be placed on the following topics:
- # Communication and the ability to make decisions under pressure
- # Leadership activation; mental strength; tactical intelligence
Additional aspects include (when appropriate):
- # Functional assessment and development
- # Speed, Agility and Quickness
- # Game related fitness
- # Strength and conditioning
Players who attend the Rugby Academy will be coached by Top Level coaches, fully DBS checked and first aid trained. Our staff, which includes a full-time physiotherapist, will be looking after players at all other times. They conform to Ireland, England, France and New Zealand’s Rugby Football Union and the World Rugby’s guidance in teaching rugby.
Hi-Performance Development Programme
The Rugby Academy will provide players and teams with an opportunity to experience a development programme which will be tailored to the team and/or the individual.
The rugby academy programme includes:
- # Technical skill assessment and progressive development
- # Tactical skill assessment and development (including analysis where appropriate)
- # Strength, Power and Conditioning assessment and development
- # Nutritional appraisal (assessment) and consultation
- # Access to expert coaching and fitness training
- # Access to top-level coaches and playing facilities
- # Performance analysis, Goal setting, Performance planning
- # Medical and Functional Assessment and support (where and when applicable)