Worcester Warriors’ fourth Junior Academy Centre was launched on Thursday evening at Telford College of Arts and Technology.
The centre will allow Warriors to work closely with the best young rugby players in Shropshire and offer them a pathway to the professional game.
Warriors have already launched centres at King Edward’s School in Birmingham, Barkers’ Butts Rugby Club in Coventry and Luctonians Rugby Club in Herefordshire.
And with the Junior Academy Centres concentrated across different parts of the West Midlands, the club will be able to work with an array of talented youngsters.
Players will receive specialist training and will be provided with strength and conditioning, nutritional, medical and game support as they look to carve out a career in the game.
Telford College of Arts and Technology Head of Sport Dale Smallman said: “This is a real feather in our cap and an endorsement of the fabulous sporting facilities, and expertise, we have in our department.
“We look forward to working closely with Worcester Warriors over the coming months. Hopefully this can be a stepping stone towards the launch of a rugby-specific course to our curriculum, endorsed by the Rugby Football Union, which we are keen to introduce from September next year.”
Warriors are currently working with around 40 youngsters at their Junior Academy Centres and plan to more than double that number within the next year.
Warriors High Performance Director Nick Johnston added: “Our Junior Academy Centres have been initiated efficiently and I am pleased that we have already been able to launch four of them.
“We understand the extent of the talent in our region and the club will continue to work hard to unearth the best players, facilitate their development and help them maximise their potential.
“Thursday’s launch went really well and we are looking forward to working with Telford College of Arts and Technology.”