New project from Gloucester Rugby hopes to inspire next generation of players

They're teaming up with the Academy to coach young people in the South West

Author: Isabel KimbreyPublished 13th Sep 2021

A new project from Gloucester Rugby Club hopes to produce and inspire the next generation if players.

For the first time in their history, they've teamed up with the Academy to launch five brand new coaching roles.

The positions have been created to improve the general standard of local rugby as well as support local coaches and clubs.

L-R: Lance Bradley and Carl Hogg

The newly appointed coaches will act as a point of contact and friendly face that all local clubs can recognize and easily reach out to.

Carl Hogg, Director of Academy and Development for Gloucester, said: "If we look at it as a pyramid obviously the top is premiership rugby but we understand that comes from grass roots rugby.

"It starts at under-6s and under-7s and local community clubs and junior clubs.

"We want to try and create a feeder system so that little Johnny who plays out in the Forest of Dean or Stroud or Cirencester that's got the ability to get involved in the programme."

The initiative works to support the aspirations of local children wanting to become Gloucester Rugby players.

By providing this support, the Club is hoping to produce talented rugby players that will have the opportunity to join the Academy.

The coaches will each head up different districts across the Southwest, including Cheltenham, Tewkesbury, Stroud & Cirencester, The Forest of Dean, and West Oxfordshire.

This is a completely new approach for Gloucester Rugby and will be the first step as part of its new Academy pathway looking to get more children playing rugby in the Southwest.

It's also part of Gloucester Rugby’s commitment to supporting home grown talent and encouraging grassroots rugby.

Lance Bradley, CEO of Gloucester Rugby, said: "I think young people have had a particularly tough time during the pandemic and lockdowns.

"We want to do something which encourages them to get out in the fresh air and perhaps have a little less screen time and come and play rugby

"It's a game which has fantastic values as an intrinsic part to it, so if we can teach young people to love those values and the sport then that's a good contribution for us to make."

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