Warriors’ intentions to work with young rugby players across the West Midlands came to the forefront once again on Wednesday as the Club launched their Junior Academy Centre at Hereford Cathedral School.
The Hereford base, which will provide the most talented young players in the area with a route to a career in the professional game, is the sixth and final Academy Centre the Club have launched this season.
Youngsters will work closely with Warriors’ experienced coaches and will be provided with strength and conditioning, nutritional, medical and game support as they look to realise their rugby potential.
Hereford Cathedral School Director of Games Richard Skyrme said: “We are delighted to have been chosen by the Warriors as one of their Junior Academy Centres and are extremely pleased to be able to support the development of rugby in Herefordshire.
“This relationship not only highlights the excellent sporting opportunities and facilities enjoyed by our own pupils, but also our commitment to support youth and school sport throughout the county. We look forward to working with Worcester Warriors.”
Since the arrival of Director of Rugby Dean Ryan and High Performance Director Nick Johnston in 2013 Warriors have restructured their Academy system and placed a significant emphasis on developing talented young players to filter into the first-team in years to come.
The Sixways Club have already launched centres at King Edward’s School in Birmingham, Barkers’ Butts Rugby Club in Coventry, Luctonians Rugby Club in Herefordshire, Telford College of Arts and Technology in Shropshire and Warwick School. There is also a centre at Warriors’ Sixways Stadium.
Twelve of Warriors’ 16 Academy players have also made their debuts for the first-team under Ryan, while Hereford Cathedral School’s Will Butler represented Worcester’s second-string Cavaliers side last month at the age of just 16.
Warriors High Performance Director Nick Johnston said: “We are delighted to be in a position where we have been able to initiate all six of our Junior Academy Centres as they are an essential part of developing the next generation of first-team players.
“We are already working with an array of young players who possess huge potential right across the West Midlands and our Hereford centre will enable to unearth even more talented players and facilitate their progress in the game.”