About the Academy

Why have an Academy...

Currently Ipswich has eight (8) players who are competiting at Australian Representative, Super 14 or Academy Level in Rugby Union, with a number of other players playing professionally overseas. These player‘s include current Wallabies and Reds inside centre Berrick Barnes, Reds flanker Tasi Luafutu, new Reds recruit Rodney Davies, ACT Brumbies Halfback James Stannard and Reds academy members Brett Gillespie, Daniel Linde, Albert Anae.

This is fantastic achievement for a city that is perceived by many as a Rugby League City, and this is exactly why this academy is a must for Ipswich.

Ipswich Rangers wants to provide players with the opportunity to enhance not only their rugby skills, but skills required to be successful at the elite level of any sport. Rugby Union players in Ipswich now have role models at the elite level. Ipswich Rangers wants to assist players to reach this level. Even if they don’t achieve an Elite Level, be able to provide them with an enjoyable rugby experience as much as possible.

Academy Structure...

Players are generally involved in school rugby as well as club rugby, so maximising the contact time with players is a must and managing their motivation and enthusiasm is also very important. This will mean a wide variety of activities for players to undertake.

The Academy is broken into four (4) phases to ensure no burn-out occurs.

The four (4) key phases are:
 

• Strength and Conditioning exercises (S&C)
• Core Skills work
• Decision Making games
• Education evenings and camps throughout the year

Academy Squads...

The program is open to any player registered with the Ipswich Rangers Rugby Union Club aged Under 8’s through to Under 17’s, thereby catering for the many skills levels from beginner to elite.

As a reward, any player who wins a major award at the annual Rangers Trophy Day or who plays in a Brisbane Junior Rugby Union representative team will gain automatic access into the Academy for the following year.

There are four (4) squads within the Academy, all with different goals and plans for the year.

♦ Junior Pathway Squad
Under 8/9 (Ball Skills, Having Fun, Safety in Contact, Game based)

♦ Pathway Squad
Under 10/11/12 (Core Skills, Set Piece, Decision Making, Team work)

♦ Development Squad
Under 13/14/15 (Core Skills, S&C, Decision Making, Life Skills, Education Leadership, Goal Setting)

♦ Elite Squad
Under 16/17 (Core Skills, S&C, Decision Making, Life Skills, Education Leadership, Goal Setting)

The four (4) phases of the Academy...

Phase 1: Pre Season Phase – ( January to March) The Pre Season phase will be used to provide players with testing of the current abilities , both in S & C and Rugby Skills, it will also be a phase for players to set goals for the season ahead. This Phase will have the most players to coach contact ratio and will see players involved in at least one training session a week. Junior Pathway Squad and Pathway Squad will have a more Core Skills based program, as S & C is not as relevant to these age groups.

Phase 2: Competition Phase No School Rugby – (April to May)This phase of the competition will see an increase in the Core Skills sessions of the program, with players moving away from S & C. Players will work on skills they have outlined as needing to be improved for the season, or have been identified during the grading and early part of the season. The players would be required at training possibly once a fortnight or possibly weekly depending on other commitments and skill development level.

Phase 3: Competition Phase School Rugby - (June to September) This phase will see a decrease in the training load of players, as most players will be involved in school and club rugby, the academy will be used on a requirement basis, players can ask to have individual sessions or group sessions if their team coaches request (eg. Scrum session u15 forwards). This phase will however see an increase in the education section of the program, we are looking at providing monthly education nights at the club providing players with differing skills, from coaching and refereeing to life skills, leadership and Goal Setting/Decision Making.

Phase 4: Off Season Review Phase – (October to December) This phase will conclude in October with players going into off season. A number of education and evaluation nights will take place to allow players to evaluate and review their season, and see if they reached their goals for the year. Players can request individual skills or S & C session over the rest period if they require them.

The benefits of the Academy...

All Academy players receive :
 

• A Rangers 'Academy Pack'
• Educational nights
• A level one coach accreditation for players 15 years and over
• A level 1 referee accreditation for players 15 years and over
• Players will also be continually assessed on the games throughout the year, with Academy Staff providing feedback
• Life skills. (Time management, Goal setting, etc)
• At least one or two of their games filmed throughout the season
• Provided with quality coaching, feedback and guidance throughout the year
• Provided with the most enjoyable and easy learning environment as well
• U17 players in the Elite Squad will be invited back in their colt’s year to assist with the academy

Why will the Academy be successful...

The Ipswich Rangers Rugby Academy will work because:

• We are a not-for-profit club with a professional outlook
• We have a solid and dedicated Committee
• We are financially stable
• We have the best interest of rugby union and rugby players at heart
• We are providing a pathway from Junior to Senior Rugby

In Conclusion

The Ipswich Rangers Rugby Academy is being established to help to provide pathways and learning tools for all rugby union players in the Ipswich Rugby Community, it is not just for the elite.

In recent years the success of rugby in Ipswich has increased not just at the Rangers, but right throughout schools in the region.

It is envisaged that the establishment of the Rangers Rugby Academy will continue to foster this growth.