Rugby Academy: in partnership with Exeter Chiefs Rugby Academy
All students will have the opportunity to compete for places in any of the four teams who play weekly, although players in the first team squad will normally be of county standard or higher. There will also be the opportunity to play recreational touch rugby in a weekly intramural league.
Players will have up to six hours per week of rugby related activities, which will include theory sessions, coaching, video analysis, fitness sessions, skills work and weight training, in addition to an extensive fixture list on Wednesday afternoons, where games are played both locally and nationally at U18 and U19 levels.
The college competes in the AASE league along with the other premiership academies (Wasps, Leicester, Sale, London Irish and Gloucester), the British Colleges Sport Leagues and Cups as well as friendly matches against local schools and colleges.
In recent seasons the College has won the British Colleges U19 Knock-Out Cup, National 10’s, South West Colleges League and Samurai 7’s. The highlight of the academy has been the winning of the 2009 Daily Mail Cup at Twickenham. The academy has also toured to South Africa and Dubai, as well as competing at The Sanix Junior World Rugby Tournament in Japan in 2010 and 2012. Truro were finalists in both tournaments, where the best teams from South Africa, Australia, France, Canada, Tonga, Fiji, Korea and Japan competed, the best finish of any British team since the tournament began.
The Cornwall RFU has been very successful in developing players in the under 16 age groups. These players at post-16 have been faced with difficult choices. Often they have left the county to relocate and continue with both their rugby and their education. This joint initiative between Truro and Penwith College and Exeter Chiefs Rugby Academy provides players with the real opportunity of a first class education coupled with first class Rugby Coaching, whilst staying in Cornwall. To supplement their academic programme players may also be able to complete the AASE (Advanced Apprenticeship in Sporting Excellence) programme which gives them knowledge and understanding in preparation for life as a professional rugby player.
Please refer to the Academy Overview for details on how this will combine with an academic programme of study.
