The Leicester Tigers Developing Player Programme is launched next season and will provide a structured package of coaching for new and existing players between 13 and 16.
The programme aims to provide a consistent and high-quality experience, tailored to the needs of individual players to encourage their lifelong participation in rugby.
It will identify players with talent and help them make the most of their skills, whether that is into the Tigers Academy and the professional game or long-term participation at a level appropriate to them.
Neil McCarthy, Tigers Academy manager, said: “It is about providing young players with as many development opportunities as possible, which is fantastic for them.
“Young players develop at different rates and this programme gives as many players as possible the best chance of making the most of their talents and playing at the highest possible level.
“It also gives us the opportunity to work with more young players for longer in the Tigers environment.”
“The programme will augment our existing EPDG programme which will move to a monthly programme for selected players at Oval Park working with the Academy staff “
Stuart Armstrong, RFU playing pathways manager, said: “These are exciting plans aimed at providing young players with the essential support to optimise their skills and abilities.
“This is a pretty major re-think of how the game supports players in the 13 to 16 age group, which is the first step on our talent development pathway.
“Where possible, rugby skills will be learnt in a game-like environment, not by drills in isolation. We have integrated new knowledge and understanding of the needs of a developing athlete, reflecting up-to-date developments in coaching and sports science.”
The programme represents a significant investment by Tigers as well as contributions from the RFU and the constituent bodies in Leicestershire, Staffordshire and Nottinghamshire, Lincolnshire & Derbyshire.
The Leicester Tigers Developing Player Programme is an evolution of the existing CB Schools of Rugby and has been developed following a review and game-wide consulatation.
Tigers will double their coaching centres from four to eight, giving more young players the opportunity to work in the Tigers environment. The aim is to have 10 per cent of the playing population at each age group in the programme.
It is also hoped it will cut down on travel time for some of the players already in the Elite Player Development Group (EPDG) system.
Tigers coaches will also increase the hours of coaching for each of the players.
An important element of the programme will be to enable talent transfer, encouraging potential rugby players up to 16 to join the game from other sports.
Clubs and schools will be invited to nominate players for inclusion in the programme.
During the 2012/13 season, 43 per cent of the players who played for the Leicester Tigers first team in all competitions came through the club’s youth system.
Five of the six Tigers players who toured Australia with the British & Irish Lions were products of the club’s Academy. Dan Cole, Tom Croft, Manu Tuilagi and Ben and Tom Youngs all came through the Tigers Academy to reach Lions selection in the summer, as did injury replacement Billy Twelvetrees.
