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Myerscough College to open girls’ rugby academy
Myerscough College will be opening a girls’ rugby academy from September.
The academy will be the first of its kind in the north of England and will offer talented female rugby players (aged 16 and over), the unique opportunity to live and train as professional athletes, whilst studying towards qualifications that can lead to a career in professional rugby union.
The aim of the Myerscough Girls Academy is to offer girls the chance to study towards a number of qualifications (from BTEC Level 3 to degree level), whilst living and training like elite women’s rugby players.
The new academy will also offer a limited number of places on the RFU ‘Achieving Academic and Sporting Excellence’ or ‘AASE’ scheme.
The AASE scheme is currently run by the college for boys, in partnership with Sale Sharks Rugby, and is aimed at 16-year-old rugby players who are technically sound, tactically good, physically fit, and display a willingness to learn and a commitment to succeed.
The AASE 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.
Spurred on by the success achieved by the England’s Women’s Rugby Team, who are currently number one in the unofficial world rankings, women’s rugby 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 the Under 19 level.
He said: “Creating a Girls Academy 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 women’s rugby 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 Girls Academy here at Myerscough.
“Our aim is no different from 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, whilst providing them with an education to enable them to one day develop a career in professional rugby union.”
Myerscough College is holding a taster day for the new Girls Rugby Academy at Myerscough College’s 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 Myerscough College can offer.
For further information or to book your place, please contact Steve Gough, head of rugby at Myerscough College, on: 07747 777963 or sgough@myerscough.ac.uk.
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Saturday 25 May 2013
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