The RugbyWA Academy program is in full swing for the preparation of the 2020 season with introductions and trainings kicking off last week.
Players will focus on Performance, Support and Growth as three key areas of development with the major goal of gaining a professional contract with the Western Force.
Performance Director Steve Anderson was extremely excited with the potential of selections and the transformation the program and introduction of the High-Performance Plan.
“The success of RugbyWA Academy is represented in 60+% player-graduation rate from academy to Western Force or to pathways such as Super Rugby,” Anderson stated.
“RugbyWA and Rugby Australia have worked deliberately to resource and align planning to 2021 with provide players with support and clarity they need as they come through the system.”
“The program this year has been promoted, aligned and engaged with community rugby, which is a key focus, so community understands what the academy-pathway is embarking on.”
“Potential wise we’ve got a very young group this year, our Senior Academy in particular has a number of 17-year old’s which is a new initiative allowing players to mature and graduate for a longer period into the Western Force.”
“We’ve done this deliberately, lengthening the amount of time our players are in a supported system, so they are more likely to graduate up to the next level.”
Players in all three layers of the academy have recently entered stage one which will lead into Christmas focusing on positional skill, structured and unstructured gameplay as well as preparation for heavier workloads.
“Our three academies are all aligned,” explained Anderson. Meaning they are all on the same page; we are very deliberate in what we are teaching the players when it comes to factors such as game sense – which will continue through to March.”
“Our primary goal is to get our players fitter and stronger for the season ahead however the secondary goal will have a more holistic approach focusing on making the players more rounded ‘on and off’ the field particular in areas such as leadership. Additionally, we have set clear goals including representing their State team and beyond into national programs”.
The Future Force Foundation continue to play a vital role in the development of WA’s next stars with their support not only in the academy model but also the pathway providing resources to the RugbyWA State representative teams.
“The work the partnership approach does is critical in the maturation of the program as well as the progression of the players," Anderson said.
“Without the combined efforts between the Future Force Foundation, RugbyWA and Rugby Australia; I don’t think we’d have the success rate we have achieved. That is, over the past 4 years, 24 of 32 senior academy players have graduated to professional outfits.”
The RugbyWA Senior Academy will have four field sessions and four strength and conditioning sessions per week until March 2020 with the Junior Academy close behind with a total of five session per week in the same timeframe.
2019/20 RugbyWA Academy Squads
|
Senior Academy |
Club/School |
|
Reece Anapu |
Wanneroo |
|
Dante Tatafu |
Perth Bayswater/Aranmore Catholic College |
|
Jhy Legg |
ARKS |
|
Luke-David Wells-Talamaivao |
Aranmore Catholic College |
|
Maui Te Tana |
Wanneroo Rugby |
|
Aidan McDonagh |
Perth Bayswater/Trinity College |
|
Connor Seve |
Wests Scarborough/Trinity College |
|
Haiden Rangitoheriri |
Kalamunda/Thornlie High School |
|
Winiata Cherrington |
Wests Scarborough/Aranmore Catholic College |
|
Alex Masibaka |
Associates/Aranmore Catholic College |
|
Marley Pearce |
Joondalup Brothers/Aranmore Catholic College |
|
Junior Academy |
Club/School |
|
Nathan Tahu |
Wanneroo Rugby Club |
|
Braydon Forrest |
Kalamunda Rugby club |
|
Rueben Baker |
Wanneroo |
|
Jacob Armstrong |
Perth Bayswater |
|
Ryan McGloin |
Joondalup Brothers |
|
Justin Talemaira |
Wanneroo |
|
Kiahn Tinirau Watene |
Wanneroo |
|
Juayne Pomare |
Aranmore Catholic College |
|
Kauri TipeneGrace |
Aranmore Catholic College |
|
Dane Sawers |
Kalamunda Rugby club |
|
Development Squad |
Club/School |
|
Keenan Wentholt |
West Scarborough |
|
Jak Swan |
Joondalup Brothers |
|
Lachlan Grime |
Guildford Grammar School |
|
Justin Landman |
Associates/Hale |
|
Nicholas Prance |
Perth Bayswater/Aranmore Catholic College |
|
Sean Skillen |
Joondalup Brothers |
|
Kobi Aiesi |
Joondalup Brothers |
|
Oisin keating |
Rockingham /Aranmore Catholic college |
|
Zachariah Siulepa |
Nedlands/Thornlie Senior High School |
|
Darcy Hinkley |
Wanneroo |
|
Dempsey Thompson |
Wests Scarborough/Aranmore Catholic College |
|
Tyler Ward |
Joondalup Brothers |
|
Fion McCabe |
Palmyra/Christchurch Grammar School |
