Rugby academies for Perth

Jun 28 2013

by Gordon Bannerman, Perthshire Advertiser

Two former pro rugby stars have teamed-up with Perthshire RFC to give Big County youngsters a taste of top class sport.

Hard on the heels of Scotland’s trip to South Africa and the British Lions tour Down Under, the innovative Pro’s Life Rugby Academies are planned for the North Inch from July 29-31 and August 1-3.

It is the brainchild of former Scotland A team players Steven Turnbull and James King, who were forced to quit their pro careers with Edinburgh Rugby by injury and decided to set-up a rugby academy for Scots children in the 10 to 15 age bracket.

Steven explained: “We were keen to stay involved in the game and want to inspire kids and get them excited about rugby

“I went to Strathallan School so I know the area well and I wanted to come back and give local youngsters a chance to get a flavour of the professional rugby player’s life, with input from professional players and coaches.

“The aim of the Pro’sLife Rugby Academy is to give players of all abilities the chance to experience the life of a professional rugby player, whilst also getting close-up access to some of their favourite club and international players.

“As ex-professionals we believe there should be a big focus on fun and enjoyment, as this is one of the most important aspects of playing sport.

“The camp itself will be a unique experience, designed to show the kids everything involved in a normal training day of training.

There will be rugby specific sessions, strength and conditioning aspects, interactive nutrition clinics and video analyst sessions with input from specialised coaches.

“The academy will also have a focus on nutrition and healthy living.

“With ProNutrition we aim to give youngsters an understanding of what it takes to be a professional athlete when it comes to nutrition and hydration.

“We will also be portraying a key message of the benefits of healthy living and how you can make food fun and exciting while still being healthy.

“Those attending will even have the opportunity to get an insight into what the best professional rugby players in the country eat for dinner!

“They will receive the favourite recipes from players like Scotland skipper Kelly Brown, Lee Jones and many more.

“We are excited to have leading brands such as Quality Meat Scotland, Eat Balanced and Two Chicks Egg White to partner the event in Perth.”

He added: “We have teamed up with SCRUM, the leading rugby magazine in Scotland, who will be sponsoring our ProPlayer awards. The top three candidates will be featured in the August/September edition with a picture and interview.

“There will be some fantastic prizes on offer throughout the duration of the summer including custom made Scotland Rugby Beats By Dre headphones signed by Scotland star Tim Visser and a £200 voucher for the 1stXV Rugby store in Edinburgh.

“Pro’sLife will be a fun and enjoyable three day camp where the kids will get to have a unique experience of a professional rugby player.

James Wade, the area’s Rugby Development Officer, welcomed the camps, saying: “It’s fantastic that James and Steven have chosen Perthshire as one of the venues for their exciting Pro’s Life Rugby Academy this summer.

“This camp is a great opportunity for local young players to learn about what it takes to reach the top from guys who have been there and done it.

“And best of all, they get to do it in a fun environment.

“Maybe even I will pick up a few tips to chase that long lost dream of making it as a pro!”

This camp is just the start of a busy summer programme at Perthshire RFC.

The week starting Monday 5th August will see the Eagles’ Primary Camp take place with games and activities for P3-P7 kids.

For more info contact Development Officer James Wade on perthshirerugby.rdo@gmail.com’

For details on Pro’s Life Rugby Academy (July 29-31 for ages 13-15 and August 1-3 for the 10-12 age group, £36 a day) see www.proslife.co.uk

Rugby academies for Perth