Member Article

AFYA helping Anselmians create rugby centre of excellence

Press Release

2nd March 2016

AFYA TO HELP ANSELMIANS CREATE RUGBY CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE

Leading sports training company AFYA is working with Anselmians Rugby Club to create a Centre of Excellence.

The Centre will provide elite level coaching and player development and bring new players to the sport. It coincides with the club’s plans to build a new club house facility on its site in Eastham.

The Excellence programme is for players aged 13-18 and will give them coaching and advice on fitness, skill development, positional and team tactics as well as nutrition.

As part of the centre, there will also be an extensive coach development and parents advice programme.

Wirral headquartered AFYA, launched two years ago, is made up of experienced coaches, trainers and teachers who have a background in a variety of sports including Rugby Union, Netball, Tennis, Judo and Athletics.

The AFYA team includes James Wade who has headed up academies and player development at Sale Sharks and Wasps as well as being Head Coach at Oxford University RUFC.

Anselmians RUFC Chairman Jason Abbott said: “We are looking forward to an exciting future with the launch of the Centre of Excellence coupled with our plans to build a new club house facility.

“AFYA has a strong reputation for sports coaching excellence which is why we chose them as our working partners. They share our passion for developing youth and their mixture of performance coaches will allow us to keep the training and development programmes fresh and exciting.

“This is a unique initiative by Anselmians and unparalleled in the area. We are making a huge commitment to create a sporting environment in which our young players can achieve the highest standards to which they aspire in rugby and in life.

“At a time when the numbers of adult players are declining nationally, we are securing the sustainable future growth of our club by investing heavily in our youth development.

All local youngsters within the Academy’s age parameters are welcome to join us on this exciting journey.“

AFYA’s remit will include new player recruitment and anyone interested in finding out more about the Centre of Excellence is invited to an open evening at the club on Thursday, March 10th at 7pm. AFYA will be at the launch along with former England international Rugby Union player Mark Cueto, the Premiership’s all-time top try scorer.

Ben Wood, MD of AFYA said: “We are delighted to be launching a Centre of Excellence at Anselmians and to be working with them to create the Wirral’s leading rugby club.

“Our courses have been specially designed to incorporate insights that have generated some of the best teams and athletes across the world. We have some inspirational players and coaches working with us.”

Anselmians RUFC was formed in 1947 and the club relocated to its present home in Eastham village in the mid-1950s. The club is proud to have been providing sporting opportunities for all youth in the local community and beyond.

www.afyasportstrg.com

http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/anselmiansrufc

NOTES TO EDITORS: For more information or an interview with Ben or James, please contact Lucy Mason at Mason Media on 0151 239 5050/07903 197402 or email: lucy@masonmedia.co.uk

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Mason Media .