Aspiring young female rugby players have been handed a unique opportunity courtesy of Myerscough College.
The Preston-based college has launched a girls’ rugby academy will offer talented female rugby players – aged 16 and over – from the north of England, the opportunity to live and train as professional athletes, while studying towards qualifications that can lead to a career in professional rugby union.
The new academy will also offer a limited number of places on the RFU’s ‘Achieving Academic and Sporting Excellence’ programme.
The AASE scheme is currently run by the college for boys, in partnership with Sale Sharks Rugby.
It is aimed at young rugby players who are technically sound, tactically good, physically fit and display a willingness to learn and a commitment to succeed.
The scheme is designed to develop technical skills, tactical knowledge, physical conditioning, and all-round knowledge of the game, and what it takes to become an elite women’s rugby player.
Inspired by the success achieved by the England women’s rugby team, who are currently ranked No.1 in the unofficial world rankings, the sport in this country has gone from strength to strength in recent years.
Participation in the game is at an all-time high with more than 14,000 women and girls registered.
For Steve Gough, head of rugby and Sale Sharks AASE manager at Myerscough College, the success of women’s rugby at the elite end, means that there has never been a better time to strengthen the women’s game, particularly at Under-19s level.
He said: “Creating an academy for girls at Myerscough College has been an ambition of mine for some years.
The international success of the England women’s team, especially in recent years, has driven awareness of the game and, ultimately, is increasing the quality of players coming through the system.
“With this in mind, 2013 seems like the perfect time to launch the academy at Myerscough.
“Our aim is no different to the boys’ academy.
“We want to improve skills, knowledge and understanding of the game, and create an environment that helps players develop into better athletes, while providing them with an education to enable them to one day develop a career in professional rugby union.”
The college is holding a taster day for the new academy at its Preston campus on February 20, between 9.30am and 3pm.
The taster day has been designed to allow potential academy students the chance to see what the college can offer.
For further information or to book your place, please contact Steve Gough on 07747 777 963 or email via sgough@myerscough.ac.uk.
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