🏉 IF YOUR CHILD IS ONE OF THE BEST IN THE TEAM, ELITE YOUTH RUGBY WANTS THEM.
🏉 IF YOUR CHILD SCORES ALL THE TRIES, ELITE YOUTH RUGBY WANTS THEM.
🏉 IF YOUR CHILD MAKES ALL THE TACKLES, ELITE YOUTH RUGBY WANTS THEM.
🏉 IF YOUR CHILD WANTS TO PLAY WITH THE BEST PLAYERS, ELITE YOUTH RUGBY WANTS THEM.
🏉 IF YOUR CHILD WANTS TO BE TRAINED BY THE BEST COACHES, ELITE YOUTH RUGBY WANTS THEM.
🏉 IF YOUR CHILD WANTS TO PLAY IN GLOBAL TOURNAMENTS, ELITE YOUTH RUGBY WANTS THEM.
🏉 IF YOUR CHILD WANTS TO EARN A SPORTS SCHOLARSHIP, ELITE YOUTH RUGBY WANTS THEM.
🏉 IF YOUR CHILD WANTS TO PLAY FOR ENGLAND, ELITE YOUTH RUGBY WANTS THEM.
UPCOMING CALENDAR 2025
Missed the trials 2025? Don't worry - registration is open for the 2026 trials as we bring more players into the Academy.
🗓️ Season 2024/25 - SCOUTING
Our team spoke with hundreds of parents, coaches, schools, and club leaders to gain genuine insight into the grassroots rugby landscape in the UK and to understand the country’s talent pool.
🗓️ Summer 2025 – Trials
July/August 2025
We extend our sincere thanks to everyone who attended. The trials reaffirmed what we already knew: England is bursting with young talent ready and capable to be developed at the next level.
🗓️ Final Trial Match – October 2025
October 2025
📅 Wed 15 October 2025
📌 Online
The online registration portal will open, allowing you to confirm your attendance at the upcoming trial. Once registered, you will receive your trial pack.
You will also have the opportunity to invite representatives from your school or club to attend the trial. They will each receive a trial pack and will be presented with an Academy shirt on the day.
In addition, we are extending invitations to the RFU, members of the press, and representatives from secondary schools that run sports scholarship programmes. This is a valuable opportunity for them to observe and engage with some of the best young talent in the country.
Please note: We understand that not everyone will be able to attend the trial match. Those who are unable to attend will still be assessed based on feedback from the eight trial sessions held to date.
📅 Sat 25 October 2025
🏉 Final trial matches
⏰ Registration and warmup 1:00pm to 2pm. Matches from 2pm until 3:30pm.
📌 Grass pitches. Bisham Abbey National Sports Centre, Bisham Village Marlow Road, Bisham Marlow SL7 1RR
Match Day Information
Matches will be played in a round-robin format on the grass pitches (located beside the 3G pitches).
Format & Schedule
⚪ Two matches will run simultaneously
⚪ 9 players per team – 36 players on the field at any one time
⚪ Each player is guaranteed a minimum of 2 matches
On Arrival
Look for the two large boards displaying:
⚪ Team line-ups for each match
⚪ Kit colours – indicating whether you’ll be wearing your white or black kit
Timings
⏱ 1:00pm – 2:00pm. Registration and warmup
⏱ 2:00pm – 2:20pm. Match 1
⏱ 2:30pm – 2:50pm. Match 2
⏱ 3:00pm – 3:30pm. Match 2
⏱ 3:30pm – 3:45pm. Debrief
(Each match will be 20 minutes with a 10-minute break between games.)
Safety & Supervision
As this is a contact rugby event, we’ve ensured a full support team is on site:
⚪ Dedicated medical crew at pitchside
⚪ Injury spotters throughout the games
⚪ 7 scouts in attendance
⚪ Qualified coaches, referees, timekeeper, and a safeguarding officer will be present throughout the event
Please note these matches will be filmed, and then analysed by our team over the coming week.
We look forward to a safe, competitive, and enjoyable afternoon of rugby!
🗓️ 2025/2026 Season (Begins November)
In between these sessions will be matches, tournaments and teambuilding weeks.
November 2025
The final Academy team will be announced
📅 Sat 15 November 2025
🏉 Academy training kit
⏰ from 4:00pm
📌 Bisham Abbey National Sports Centre, Bisham Village Marlow Road, Bisham Marlow SL7 1RR
The registation will be open an hour early on the first sessions so players can pick up their official Academy training kit.
You already have your two training vests. You wuill now be be issued with:
⚪ Academy socks and shorts
⚪ Academy training jumper
⚪ Polo shirt for travelling to matches and formal appearances
Please note: unlike grassroots clubs, you will not be issued with a permanent playing kit. At the Academy, playing kit is earned. On match days, your matchday kit will be hanging on your peg if you are selected for the team, ready for you to wear—just as it is for England players when they arrive at Twickenham.
📅 Sat 15 November 2025
🏉 Academy Gauntlett | Player metrics
⏰ 5pm-7pm
📌 Bisham Abbey National Sports Centre, Bisham Village Marlow Road, Bisham Marlow SL7 1RR
The Gauntlet is run at the start and end of each season to gather detailed player metrics.
It includes:
Medical Assessment
Measuring:
⚪ resting heart rate
⚪ height
⚪ weight
⚪ body size
⚪ wingspan
⚪ body-to-mass ratio.
Performance Stations
Testing
⚪ strength
⚪ speed
⚪ agility
⚪ stamina
⚪ accuracy
⚪ explosive power.
Scientifically designed
These sessions have been carefully designed with input from our team of sports scientists and partners across the NFL, Rugby, and Football. They allow us to establish your baseline performance and compare your progress against children your age, your teammates, and even professional athletes.
After the Gauntlet, you will also have your official player headshot and team photo taken.
December 2025
Your Academy Playbook: The Masterplan for Your Next Three Years
At the start of the first session you can pick up your Academy Playbook. This folder is your personal masterplan — a vital tool designed to guide your development throughout the next three years. Every player will receive their own Playbook, which you’re expected to take home, study, and use actively as part of your journey through the programme.
What’s Inside Your Playbook?
Academy Philosophy
This section sets out the foundation of what we’re building together. It explains:
⚪ What the Academy expects from you
⚪ What you can expect from us
⚪ The culture, standards, and mindset we want every player to embrace
Your Personal Gauntlett Results
Here you’ll find detailed results from your Gauntlett testing — your performance stats, how you compare to others, and the areas where you can improve.
You’ll also receive personalised training recommendations based on your results, so you can target specific areas for growth ahead of the next Gauntlett run.
Your Session Plans
At the end of each session, you’ll be given the plan for the next session. This allows you to add to your Playbook and build a comprehensive guide to your development.
Each session plan will:
⚪ Explain the theory and science behind what you’ll be learning
⚪ Show how it fits into the bigger picture of the Academy Playbook
⚪ Include drills and exercises you can run in your own time to prepare
Why We Do It Differently
Unlike traditional rugby sessions, we want you to understand what you’re learning — and why — before you learn it. By giving you the session plan two weeks in advance, you’ll come into the next session prepared, focused, and with a clear idea of:
What we’re teaching
⚪ Why it matters
⚪ What we expect you to take from it
This approach puts your development in your own hands and helps you get the most out of every session.
📅 Sat 06 December 2025
🏉 Academy team training
⏰ 5pm-7pm
📌 Bisham Abbey National Sports Centre, Bisham Village Marlow Road, Bisham Marlow SL7 1RR
Academy Playbook notes: <<coming soon>>
📅 Sat 20 December 2025
🏉 Academy team training
⏰ 5pm-7pm
📌 Bisham Abbey National Sports Centre, Bisham Village Marlow Road, Bisham Marlow SL7 1RR
Academy Playbook notes: <<coming soon>>
January 2026
📅 Sat 3 Jan 2026
🏉 Body conditioning
⏰ 5pm-7pm
📌 Gymn – details coming soon
The outdated belief that strength training damages growth plates or stunts height is a myth.
There is no evidence that age-appropriate, well-supervised resistance training harms growth or skeletal development.
The real risks come from:
⚪ Poor technique
⚪ Lack of supervision
⚪ Inappropriate equipment or training methods
What the Research Says
Supervised resistance training for 11-year-olds has been shown to significantly improve:
⚪ Muscle strength (upper & lower body)
⚪ Sprinting speed
⚪ Aerobic capacity (VO₂ max)
⚪ Bone health & body composition
⚪ Injury prevention & overall fitness
What This Session Covers
In this session, our strength & conditioning experts will show players how to:
⚪ Condition their body properly
⚪ Learn and practice correct lifting techniques
⚪ Understand the key principles of safe, effective training
⚪ Build confidence and body awareness
Parents Welcome!
We encourage parents to take part in this session too. By learning alongside your child, you’ll both understand how to lift safely, support each other, and ensure good habits are formed from day one.
📅 Sat 17 Jan 2026
🏉 Academy team training
⏰ 5pm-7pm
📌 Bisham Abbey National Sports Centre, Bisham Village Marlow Road, Bisham Marlow SL7 1RR
Academy Playbook notes: <<coming soon>>
February 2026
📅 Sat 07 Feb 2026
🏉 Academy team training
⏰ 5pm-7pm
📌 Bisham Abbey National Sports Centre, Bisham Village Marlow Road, Bisham Marlow SL7 1RR
Academy Playbook notes: <<coming soon>>
📅 Sat 21 Feb 2026
🏉 Academy team training
⏰ 5pm-7pm
📌 Bisham Abbey National Sports Centre, Bisham Village Marlow Road, Bisham Marlow SL7 1RR
Academy Playbook notes: <<coming soon>>
March 2026
📅 Sat 7 March 2026
🏉 Academy team training
⏰ 5pm-7pm
📌 Bisham Abbey National Sports Centre, Bisham Village Marlow Road, Bisham Marlow SL7 1RR
Academy Playbook notes: <<coming soon>>
APRIL 2026
Team Residential: Preparing for Matchdays & Tournaments
To succeed on matchdays and at international tournaments, it’s not just about how we play — it’s also about how we travel, train, and live together as a team.
That’s why we’ll be running a 2-day residential experience focused on team bonding, professional preparation, and learning how to operate as a high-performance group on the road.
Residential Overview
🗓 Arrival: Friday
📍 Location & times: To be confirmed
Friday
⚪ Arrival & check-in
⚪ Evening training session<
⚪ Team dinner
⚪ Team games & free time
⚪ Lights out
Saturday
⚪ Team breakfast
⚪ Morning training
⚪ Video analysis & tactical review
⚪ Team lunch
⚪ Afternoon training session
More detailed information — including kit lists, timings, and location — will be shared shortly. This is a key part of your Academy journey and an important step in preparing for future competitive environments.
📅 Sat 18 April 2026
🏉 Academy team training
⏰ 5pm-7pm
📌 Bisham Abbey National Sports Centre, Bisham Village Marlow Road, Bisham Marlow SL7 1RR
Academy Playbook notes: <<coming soon>>
MAY 2026
📅 Sat 2 May 2026
🏉 Academy team training
⏰ 5pm-7pm
📌 Bisham Abbey National Sports Centre, Bisham Village Marlow Road, Bisham Marlow SL7 1RR
Academy Playbook notes: <<coming soon>>
📅 Sat 16 May 2026
🏉 Academy team training
⏰ 5pm-7pm
📌 Bisham Abbey National Sports Centre, Bisham Village Marlow Road, Bisham Marlow SL7 1RR
Academy Playbook notes: <<coming soon>>
JUNE 2026
📅 Sat 6 June 2026
🏉 Academy team training
⏰ 5pm-7pm
📌 Bisham Abbey National Sports Centre, Bisham Village Marlow Road, Bisham Marlow SL7 1RR
Academy Playbook notes: <<coming soon>>
📅 Sat 20 June 2025
🏉 Academy Gauntlett | Player metrics
⏰ 5pm-7pm
📌 Bisham Abbey National Sports Centre, Bisham Village Marlow Road, Bisham Marlow SL7 1RR
The Gauntlet is run at the start and end of each season to gather detailed player metrics. Here we will compare your metric from the start of the season to the end of the season to monitor your progression through the season.
It includes:
Medical Assessment
Measuring:
⚪ resting heart rate
⚪ height
⚪ weight
⚪ body size
⚪ wingspan
⚪ body-to-mass ratio.
Performance Stations
Testing
⚪ strength
⚪ speed
⚪ agility
⚪ stamina
⚪ accuracy
⚪ explosive power.
Scientifically designed
These sessions have been carefully designed with input from our team of sports scientists and partners across the NFL, Rugby, and Football. They allow us to establish your baseline performance and compare your progress against children your age, your teammates, and even professional athletes.
After the Gauntlet, you will also have your official player headshot and team photo taken.
JULY/AUGUST 2026
EASTER 2027
BE TRAINED BY THE BEST
This works for 90% of the children. However, this does not work for the 10% who are the exceptional talents and possess higher ability levels and demonstrate faster rates of development. Our objective is to identify this 10% and provide these exceptional players with additional coaching in an elite environment.
We strongly believe that when the most outstanding players train together, it not only accelerates their personal growth, but also benefits their clubs and contributes to the overall expansion of grassroots rugby nationwide.
Here at Elite Youth Rugby, our coaches possess firsthand experience in wearing the prestigious England shirt, running out in front of massive crowds, standing on the field at Twickenham for the national anthem, and even winning Olympic medals.
Our coaching team comprises of England players, Olympians, and highly regarded age group head coaches handpicked from various rugby teams across the home counties. They have walked the very path they are here to educate and guide your children along.
To further support our coaches, we have assembled a team of Sport Scientists, Medical and Nutrition experts, business professionals, and mentors who are also on their own personal journeys of professional growth.
This comprehensive support network ensures that our coaches can offer the best training and guidance to your children, with a greater number of resources available to a select group of young players than most clubs have across their entire junior setup.
TECHNOLOGY DRIVEN
We understand the importance of technology in gaining a competitive edge in the sports world, which is why we have partnered with renowned names in the industry.
To enhance their development, we equip each child with various technological equipment that collects data on different aspects of their performance and physical condition. This enables us to closely monitor their progress and tailor their training to their specific needs.
🖥️ Our training management systems has been developed by the same technology company trusted by BMW, Bank of England, and Revolut.
⚡ Our wearable technology is supplied by a company that caters to more than 20,000 professional athletes worldwide.
📈 Our Player Data Analysis is provided by the same company entrusted by EUFA, NBA, and ESPN to give you valuable insights into your child's performance.
As a parent, you can log into the parent portal at any time to see your child’s progress, print off their reports, see the research behind our programme, view specialist diets, download training schedules, as well as engage with the coaches. You will have the most comprehensive understanding of your child’s potential ability anywhere in the country.
FEEDBACK
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
NO
For international matches and tournaments, costs remain heavily subsidised, with 50% funded by our sponsors.
JULY - AUG '26
Eight trial sessions will run on Monday and Wednesday evenings, 6:30–8:00 PM, throughout July and August. While attendance at every session isn’t required, we ask each participant to attend at least four to ensure a fair and thorough assessment.
By spreading trials over several weeks, we’re able to properly evaluate every player—while also giving them the chance to bond with potential teammates, meet players from other clubs, and experience world-class coaching and facilities.
BISHAM ABBEY
Bisham Abbey has a proud history as the training base for world-class athletes and teams, including England’s senior men’s football and rugby squads, Barcelona FC, England Hockey, the English Institute of Sport, and the WIN Tennis Academy. You can read more at: https://www.bishamabbeynsc.co.uk/nsc/
SETUP
FIRST SEASON
Rugby Training
Our focus is on developing players who can truly think on the field. By running longer sessions, we have the time to explain key principles, reinforce understanding, and analyse performance in detail.
Each session is structured as follows:
⚬ Warm-up drills
⚬ Theme introduction – exploring the day’s focus, the science behind it, and why it matters
⚬ Skills training – applying the theme in practical drills
⚬ Mini matches – putting new skills into real-game scenarios
⚬ Debrief & analysis – ensuring players understand the how and why behind their performance
Team building
Players will lern to row together on the Thames, tackle assault courses with the Army, conquer Tough Mudder challenges, and camp in the wilderness.
We’ll also visit specialist clubs and schools to refine key skills—like sprint training at athletics clubs—ensuring every player develops both on and off the pitch.
HEAD COACHES
ENGLAND PLAYERS
These are headed up by Ollie Phillips - the most successful England Rugby Sevens captain leading his team to three World Series Cup victories - including in New Zealand - and six finals. In 2009, he was voted World Rugby Seven’s player of the year. In 2022 Ollie Phillips was appointed the role as Head Coach of the China Rugby Sevens team.
MENTORS
SPECIAL
We also provide a full support team—player chaperones, medics, commercial staff, and liaison officers—to ensure every aspect of the programme runs smoothly.
SAFE GUARDING
YES
These sessions are non-compulsory, recognising that players have other commitments during holiday periods.
MATCHES
The first tour will be to Wales in 2026, followed by our debut international tournament at the 2027 Tropical 7s in Florida, USA.
BOYS & GIRLS
NO
None of our sessions are on Sundays, and all are scheduled to minimise any impact on existing club commitments.
SINCURA
), a company that works with over 130 professional teams across sports including Premiership football, rugby, NBA, and NFL franchises. They also represent individual stars, such as boxing world champion Amir Khan.
Sincura’s events team is involved in major global sporting events like the Olympics and Rugby World Cup. Committed to supporting youth, they partner with charities including Grassroots Rugby, Make-A-Wish Foundation, and British Fencing, and have pledged £250,000 to help develop England’s future rugby stars.
A NEW APPROACH
Around the world, elite youth pathways are already well established:
⚪ In the USA, 60 million children play sport—the size of our entire population.
⚪ By age 8, children are often considered too old to start sports like tennis, football, and gymnastics.
⚪ By age 9, scouts begin identifying talent.
⚪ By age 10, the top 1% enter funded elite programmes.
⚪ By age 11, over 90% of future national stars have been scouted.
⚪ By age 12, college scholarships are being awarded.
In the UK, football has pre-academy programmes for players as young as 6 or 7, with official academy entry from age 9.
Rugby has never followed this model. At age 12, most players are still training in mixed-ability groups at the pace of the slowest in the team.
We are changing that.
YES
NO
PLAYER STREAMING
However, science shows that children progress most effectively when training with peers at a similar level. Private schools, Welsh junior rugby, New Zealand rugby, and football academies all use ability-based grouping—and it works.
From our experience as head coaches, we often see players naturally fall into three categories:
⚬ Category A: Top 10%
⚬ Category B: Middle 80%
⚬ Category C: Bottom 10%
When Category A children constantly play against Category C, they dominate the game, which benefits neither group. Coaching often ends up focused on Category B/C players, limiting the potential of Category A.
This programme is not for everyone, but it is run with full transparency alongside the RFU and operates alongside regular, non-streamed club rugby.
PHONE
When you are selected for the team you will be given access to the team phone numbers and WhatsApp group.
You will also be given the contact number for your mentor
OFFICE
We have staff in during core business hours should you wish to pop in an discuss the programme with us
INVITE YOUR STUDENTS
⚬ Elevate your sports programme and inspire students to reach the next level
⚬ Access professional rugby training and sports science insights
⚬ Create opportunities for future England rugby stars from your school
If one of your students is selected, your school will receive:
⚬ Feature on our website and a digital promotion pack to share the achievement
⚬ Academy and student photos in kit
⚬ Regular updates on your students’ progress
⚬ Invitations to watch training during open sessions
⚬ Invitations to the end-of-year awards
⚬ Support for future scholarship applications for your students
Please contact us to be sent a school pack or to arrange a meeting
JOIN US
We still have spaces available for coaches to join our roster. If you believe you are among the best and are ready to make an impact, we want to hear from you.
YOU
⚪ Have played rugby at a respectable senior level
⚪ Hold a senior coaching position within their age group
⚪ Be fully qualified through the RFU, ideally holding an England Rugby Coaching Award (ERCA)
REWARDS
You will also receive your coaching kit.
Throughout the year, coaches will take part in team-building activities, starting with an Outward Bounds weekend in Wales at the end of May with the British Army. During this session, we will also collectively discuss and select the Academy players.
EliteyouthRugby
A groundbreaking opportunity for young rugby talent is coming this summer, as the Elite Youth Rugby Academy opens its doors to under-10 players (moving into under-11s) for a series of high-performance, free-to-attend national trials.
As a youth player, Harry Kane wasn’t a standout — even his teammates didn’t see him as one of the best.
He faced setbacks and multiple loan moves, but he never gave up.
He stayed focused, kept learning, and kept developing year after year.
Now, he’s the England captain and a Bundesliga champion. 🏆
👉 Kane’s story shows that success isn’t just about early talent — it’s about constant growth, resilience, and the drive to keep improving.
At Elite Youth Rugby, we believe every player’s journey is unique. The key is to stay patient, trust the process, and never stop developing. 💪
#EliteYouthRugby #KeepImproving #PlayerDevelopment #MindsetMatters #RugbyJourney #LongTermGrowth
At Elite Youth Rugby we recently reviewed a story about how football clubs are starting to measure not just physical performance, but also the mental side of the game. Analysts now look at things like:
How players react when things go wrong
Body language, posture, and gestures
Moments of leadership, like encouraging a teammate after a mistake
At Elite Youth Rugby, we believe this is just as important in rugby. 💪🏉
Yes, we focus on strength, speed, and skills — but we also build traits that make a true sportsman:
Leadership
Resilience
Emotional control
Supporting your teammates
Because at the end of the day, Rugby skills aren’t the only factors in creating great players.
#bishomabbeynationalsportscentre #rugby #academy
After the British & Irish Lions’ triumphant test series against Australia, one story stands out: Hugo Keenan—a key player in that victory—was once a substitute on his school’s “C” team!
Des Ryan, a leading voice in long-term athletic development, recently shared a photo of that under-14 team sheet, showing Keenan wasn’t a starter. Yet today, he’s shining on the world stage with the Lions. 🏉✨
Hugo’s journey is a powerful reminder for every young player: you don’t have to be first choice to reach the top. With the right guidance, support, and long-term development, late bloomers can thrive and become elite athletes.
At Elite Youth Rugby, this is exactly what we’re striving for — creating long-term development pathways that unlock a player’s true potential. Hugo Keenan is living proof of what’s possible.
💡 Takeaway: Stay patient, work hard, trust the process, and embrace your journey. Your breakthrough could be just around the corner.
#bishomabbeynationalsportscentre #rugby #academy
