Gosport and Fareham Rugby Football Club - GFRFC

There was a weekend of assessments to examine if they were at the right level to be the first members of the new Academy, which is headed up by Simon Ansell (Director of Rugby), leading a team of coaches - Clive Mackinnon, Leon Plowman and Duncan Shepherd, with Rob Batley looking after the admin side.

The weekend was a great success with all 31 players put forward by their age groups being offered a place in the Academy.

"They all demonstrated the commitment and attitude that we expect at this level and a good standard of fitness and basic ball handling skills," said Simon.

The weekend saw the coaches putting them straight into fitness drills which included the dreaded ‘Bleep Test' and timed sprints and distance runs, this was followed up with space awareness games, ball handling drills, decision making drills and of course the odd game of touch.

Lunch was provided by the Club, prepared both days by Jean Robson, who was very pleased to see the food "devoured with gusto with nothing left!"

The Academy represents the opportunity to pick up players from the Youth section who are at a level where they need to be challenged and stretched further in their Rugby playing development.

The Academy is modeled on the Elite Players Development Group which Hampshire County runs in partnership with the London Irish Academy. This is the Bronze Level of development and we are fortunate to have Mike Greenslade, who is an assessor for the EPDG, on board as an advisor for our Academy.

Simon Ansell says "This Academy represents a clear commitment by the Club to have a unified strategy of player development that starts at the very early stages of youth rugby and progressing into the transit ages of U16's and Colts into senior level.

"It also represents an opportunity to develop our coaching population within the club as best practices will be shared and eventually we see the bar being raised at all levels, which can only be good for Gosport and Fareham RFC."

The Academy will run on Saturday mornings and starts on 20th September at the club and will run along side the season.

 

The 31 youngsters who have joined our new Rugby Academy.

 

Hungry Academy members lunching after this first session.