Successes so far for the Community Sports Coaching Academy have shown three players progress into senior rugby. These are Richard Kevern, making his first team debut this season, Adam Lewarne gaining his county cap for Cornwall against Devon and also making an appearance in the Super Cup along with another former Academy player Peter Jenkin. All three players have signed on at Redruth for the forthcoming season. Those players that are leaving the Academy will be training with the first team this season.

This year the Academy had 17 fixtures and won 12 of them including a 10 a side tournament held at Bolitho School in which they beat a good Truro College 2nd team narrowly in the final. The Academy is entered each year into the English Schools Daily Mail Cup making their most successful run in 2008 reaching the fourth round of the plate competition. Not only does the Academy enjoy regular competitive rugby fixtures, but they have also taken part in some other ventures which helped develop their team ethos throughout the year. These activities included a days Gig Rowing on the south Coast of Cornwall and an Army Challenge Day at HMS Raleigh where the lads finished first in the tug of war. The targets for the Academy this year are; to again win the 10 aside tournament held at Bolitho School, to improve rugby performance in both strength and conditioning and to achieve a 5th round place in the Daily Mail Cup 2010/2011.

This season the Community Sports Coaching Academy players have achieved many other individual goals, for example three players have represented the county at U17 and two players in the U18 age group. This year 14 Academy players are taking their Gym Instructors Level 2 course which will give them a qualification to use in the future. Those that are on a sports course at the school have also gained their Community Sports Leadership Award and have assisted this year in several Tag Rugby competitions for Primary Schools in the area offering their refereeing and officiating knowledge.

In conjunction with the rugby club, the Community Sports Coaching Academy have had their own identity in terms of kit and this year have been looking very smart and raised the profile positively in the area. The academy have been very fortunate to be sponsored by a local company called Kernow Message Handling Service which allowed the players to have there off the pitch kit this year and they have also kindly offered to sponsor again next year so a big thank you goes to Andrew Caddy. If you would like to sponsor the Academy for the forthcoming season or for further information please contact Craig Bonds Head of PE at Redruth School on 01209 203761.

Redruth School are lucky to have expert coaching from a number of sources at the school who produce an all round benefit for players in every position. The following coaches at the school have a very strong link with the rugby club and work closely in enhancing the player pathway for all those in the Community Sports Coaching Academy. The following coaches working with the Academy are as follows Craig Bonds (Academy manager), Steve Kenward (Academy Coach), Terry Pryor (Forwards Coach) and Adrian Edwards (Redruth RFC coach and ex Pirates Team Manger). All have at least a level 2 qualification in Rugby Union.

To learn more about the Academy, find the answers to any further questions that you might have or to register interest in joining us, please contact the Academy staff.

Related posts:

1. REDRUTH RUGBY ACADEMY Update June 2007
2. Vacancy for Community Sports Coach
3. REDRUTH RUGBY ACADEMY LAUNCH