When asked to head up the summer camp for North Midlands Schools of Rugby, Academy Assistant Manager Gary Meechan focussed on a particular age group, Under-13s.
“I had seen a good number of the lads at other age groups, so I was keen to see what was new at the youngest ages.
“Rather than exclude players through selection, I decided to continue to work them together as a group, to monitor their development during monthly sessions held at Sixways Stadium.
“The six sessions that have followed have created a group of tightly knit youngsters from Shropshire, Herefordshire, Greater Birmingham and Worcestershire.”
The young players were recently also able to call on some expert advice from the Warriors after first team stars Pat Sanderson, Rico Gear, Tom Wood and Alex Grove attended the final session at Sixways Stadium.
“I don’t think that you can class youngsters of this age as Elite, it is a very over and misused term lately,” added Meech.
“This group includes athletes that do have the potential to be elite, but only if they are allowed to grow within the right environment.
“These lads have trained diligently and as professionally as any group of older players I have seen. They all want to be there, and all want to be better, and it has worked, their understanding of the basics is improving dramatically, and they accept that repetition is key to the process.
“We have had good fun with them, and this final session was a payback to them for all their hard work.
“Grovesy and Woody are typical of the level of athlete that the each of the youngsters should aspire to be, and what the Academy aspires to have. Rico and Pat, well, their being there on the night just proved to be inspirational to the group.”
This group will continue next season as the basis of the Warriors U14 EPDG group.