London Irish has launched an Apprentice Scheme in Sporting Excellence (AASE). The initiative which is supported by the Rugby Football Union, invites students aged from 16 to 18 to apply for an AASE place which will combine rugby training at London Irish with a course of academic study. The new scheme complements the club's existing Academy.
Successful applicants will be based at the club's Sunbury on Thames headquarters where the scheme will begin in September 2007. It will operate as an on-site academy and will give aspiring players the opportunity to combine rugby training and academic studies on a day to day basis.
The academic elements for Apprenticeship Scheme members will be based at Richmond upon Thames College, Richmond which is located four miles from Sunbury. The academic options available will involve an 'A' Level in Sports Studies with up to two other 'A' Level options. The rugby component of the combined development process will lead to an NVQ Level 3 in Sporting Excellence.
Announcing the launch of the scheme Barrie-Jon Mather, London Irish's Assistant Academy Manager said: 'The students in the Apprenticeship Scheme will be expected to offer their services to the surrounding community and schools in the form of supervised coaching and rugby development work. Students will undertake their RFU Level 1 Coaching and will also take a Sports Leaders Award to help facilitate their community work. The students will also work with our community development department to help organize local schools' festivals.'
The apprentices will have their rugby and academic development timetables coordinated by an advisor at Richmond College who will also monitor each student's performance and progress through the training period. The development programmes will be worked out on an individual basis and will consist of a mix of college games, junior club games and representative games where appropriate.
Apprentice Scheme members will be managed by the club's Academy staff, Jan Bonney, B-J Mather and Ian Taplin who will supervise their conditioning, technical, tactical and competitive growth.
Students interested in applying for the coming academic year (2007-2008), who are currently in year 11 or 16 years old, should send their playing and academic CV to bj.mather@london-irish.com by January 1st 2007.
Applicants will be invited to meet with representatives from Richmond upon Thames College and the London Irish Academy when applications have been received.
Details of Richmond upon Thames College are available at www.rutc.ac.uk and details of the existing course operating from Filton FE College at www.filton.ac.uk/baos/
Former Members of the London Irish Academy: -
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