With the season close to an end the London Scottish Academy have a busy period ahead.
April will see the Senior Academy (Rampant Lions) playing a number of different level games which will be a great test of how much they developed this season, as individuals and as a squad. On the 9th of April we are hosting Bedford Blues Academy in an U20 game and the week after on the 16th at home we are welcoming Ealing Trailfinders Academy U23 in the last 15-a-side game for the Senior Academy this season.
In pre-season we played away to both these academies and we look forward to battle against them again. Both these age grades give us a chance to play some of our U17/U18 Junior Academy (Young Lions) players, that progressed well during the season, and also give the players, that are finishing their time in the academy, a chance put their skill level on show.
On the 24th of April we are away at the U19 Championship 10s Tournament at Bedford Blues and are in Pool A with London Welsh, Esher and Ealing Trailfinders while Pool B is made up of Bedford Blues, Moseley, Doncaster Knights and Loughborough University.
In May we’ll compete with an academy team in the Middlesex Club 7s and some of those players will also be playing for a London Scottish team in the prestige Rosslyn Park Floodlit 7s
The Junior Academy (Young Lions) played their counterparts from the Ealing Trailfinders Junior Academy at the end of February in a LV U18 Cup group game and an impressive fight back in the second half after losing 5-19 at half time saw them clinching a 25-19 win. Despite the victory it was not enough to progress to the next stage of the cup as Ealing went on to the next stage. Next season many of the players will have another go at the LV U18 Cup as they are still U17 this season. A strong Cup campaign this season nevertheless!
Educational Rugby Partnerships (ERPs)
London Scottish announced strong and strategic partnerships with a number of schools in the last few months. The ERPs are designed to give players within our academy the best of both worlds. Excellent educational pathways and courses through A-levels, BTEC or a combination of both to suit their learning needs, close to where they might live, combined with a professionally run rugby programme through the London Scottish Rugby Academy.
Three different schools have so far partnered up with the club to achieve ‘the best of both worlds’ for the talented and driven player. We believe that quality educational options offered to students are priority number one and then to fit rugby in around their education. With the flexibility of our rugby programme it allow us to produce more balanced and confident people, while they also push towards the highest level of rugby they might be able to achieve.
The partner schools and why them?
Southborough High School in Surbiton, Surrey, is a couple of buses away from the club and their Sixth Form has a great enrichment programme and courses to choose from. The aim is to help to build their rugby programme and attract more players to the club while the players get a top quality education. The education is free which makes it accessible for all while the catchment area in Surrey makes it strategically, a good one for the exposure of the club as well.
Hayes School in Bromley, Kent, is a school with an established rugby programme and has been rated World Class for education. With a huge number of players every year applying for the London Scottish Academy, a big part of the applications have been from players living in East and Southeast London, as well as Kent. With a free and top quality Sixth Form and a strong rugby programme at Hayes School, supported by the London Scottish coaches, we look to identify and give talented players further development in the London Scottish Academy.
Colfe’s School in Southeast London, Kent, has been established since 1652 and have been providing top education since then. With a Sixth Form and a very established rugby programme this fee paying school provides excellent opportunities to students and rugby players. The partnership allows for talented players to apply for scholarships within the school and also be part of the London Scottish Academy for further rugby opportunities.
Apart from the excellent education that is on offer at these schools we have partnered up with great people. All have the student/player’s best interest in mind and that we believe will form the core of the success, in each of the partnerships.
We’ll continue to put in place similar strategic ERPs with schools, colleges and universities in the future.
Applications
The London Scottish Academy welcomes new applications for the 2016/17 season. To apply visit the London Scottish website’s academy pages and find ‘How To Join’ to complete the application form. For more information contact us on academy@londonscottish.com
