You don’t have to leave Southland to find a pathway to becoming a professional rugby player. That is the message Rugby Southland Academy Manager David Hall will promoting to the Southland public later this month.

In a Southland first, Rugby Southland Academy and SIT Zero Fees Southland Stags coaching staff will combine to put the regions best up and coming secondary school rugby talents to the test.

– Advertise on whatsoninvers.nz –

On November 30th, 42 of the regions best 16 and 17 year old’s will converge on ILT Stadium Southland for a the first of two ‘Muster Day’s .

The aim is to put the athletes through their paces and introduce them to what it takes to be a professional in rugby. This will include an introduce to our pathway and where the athletes sit.

There will be mental skills and nutrition in the classroom followed by the testing of strength, fitness and speed. Then out on to the field to do both technical and tactical development skills.

– Advertise on whatsoninvers.nz –

All parents will be invited to sit in on the classroom sessions covering nutrition, mental skills and the introduction to our pathway.

All athletes will be sent away over the holiday break with a clear expectations of what the Academy and Southland Stags coaches would like to see progress in.

The group, along with additional players will re assemble in late February/Early March 2020 for further development and testing. Rugby Southland Academy Manager David Hall knows this will become a very important part of our pathway over the coming years.

– Advertise on whatsoninvers.nz –

We will be able to see which athletes have put in the effort and work required over that 2-3 month period.

From there we will select players for our Pre Academy program in March, who will train and earn the right to be selected for the Highlander U18 camp.

From this camp players will be nominated for NZ Schools.

The next steps after this will be into the Year 1 Academy- This will have a focus on the U19 program

– Advertise on whatsoninvers.nz –

Year 2 Academy- Player is 18-24 months away from M10

Year 3 Academy- Player is 6-12 months away from M10

Our best performers at the Highlanders U18 camp will be invited in to train with the M10 squad during the M10 campaign.

It is the goal of Rugby Southland to create a clear understanding for our rugby community around the pathway to professional rugby, and with further Highlanders development programs being discussed by the union, it certainly is an exciting time for rugby in the deep south!

	SCHOOLS
Levi Gage	SBHS
Mitchell Tinnock	James Hargest
Ben McMaster	CSC
Hayden Michaels	Gore
Josh Murell	SBHS
Ian De Reuck	SBHS
Cameron MIllar	Gore
Micaiah Johnston Brown	SBHS
Callum Nimmo	SBHS
Clayton Payne	SBHS
Josh George	Verdon
Jayden Robin	SBHS
Kiahn Johnson	SBHS
Liam Mcintosh	SBHS
Jack Taylor	SBHS
McKenzie Hunter	CSC
Jackson Bevin	Riverton
Garoth Van Der Straaten	Menzies
Zyon Taylor	SBHS
Aaron Withy	SBHS
Josh Evans	SBHS
Jemiour Collins	Verdon
Will Stodart	SBHS
Jack Churstain	SBHS
Alex Keen	CSC
Grayson Elder	Riverton
Kaea Nikora Ballock	SBHS
Nick Munro	CSC
Caleb Williams	SBHS
Sam Cavanagh	SBHS
Jahn Stoddart	CSC
Aidan Harrington	Verdon
Ngarrimu Paraki	SBHS
Jacob Mika	James Hargest
Te Hura Wilson	CSC
Taylor Peterson	St Peters
Riley Smith	SBHS
Carlos Tawhai	SBHS
Hunter Fahey	Verdon
Jacob Mcintye	James Hargest
Bailey Diack	Verdon
Jordan Goodall	Verdon

Pathway To Becoming a STAG & Beyond

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