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Cambridge launch new Academy

Printed From: National League Rugby Discussion Forum
Category: League Rugby - www.leaguerugby.co.uk
Forum Name: The Championship
Forum Description: Discuss the 12 clubs forming the English Championship.
URL: http://www.leaguerugby.co.uk/forum_posts.asp?TID=20722
Printed Date: 19 Apr 2025 at 12:44
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Topic: Cambridge launch new Academy
Posted By: FHLH
Subject: Cambridge launch new Academy
Date Posted: 10 Apr 2025 at 13:30
Cambridge have launched a new academy aimed at providing a pathway to the 1st XV. 


A NEW ENHANCED PATHWAY TO 1ST XV RUGBY FOR THE 2025/26 SEASON

9 Apr 2025

Cambridge Rugby is proud to announce the launch of an enhanced 1923 Academy ahead of the 2025/26 season — a key step in developing the next generation of elite players which creates a clear, structured pathway to 1st XV rugby.

The 1923 Academy is named in honour of the year the Club was founded, with the original academy launched during Cambridge Rugby’s centenary season in 2023. This legacy continues with a renewed focus on elite player development and a long-term vision to produce homegrown talent for the Club’s senior sides.

 As part of this enhanced offering, the Club will deliver an elite development programme for talented players identified between the ages of 14 and 18. The programme will offer high-performance training, expert coaching, strength and conditioning, nutrition advice, and individual performance analysis — all designed to support and accelerate the growth of young players.

Building on the Club’s proud heritage and commitment to nurturing talent, the 1923 Academy bridges the gap between age-group rugby and senior-level competition — giving players the tools and environment needed to thrive at the top level.

“Our vision is to develop homegrown talent capable of making an impact in the 1st XV and beyond,” said Rowland Winter, Chief Operating Officer.

 “The 1923 Academy is more than a development programme — it’s a launchpad for future stars of Cambridge Rugby.”

“Throughout next season we have academy fixtures scheduled for the Under 18, Under 19, and Under 23 age groups, providing a higher level of exposure and genuine stepping stones to the 1st XV.”

“We welcome interest from all the talented players across the region, who want an opportunity to develop. Over the next few months, we will contract a number of players who will be aged between Under 19 to 23 next season, who will then train as part of the 1st XV and begin their tailored development programmes.”

This Saturday 12th April, a team of talented Under 18s, including many of our promising Colts, have been assembled to form a 1923 Academy team to take on The Lambs with a 4.30pm KO. This will follow an action-packed day of rugby, with tickets available  https://cambridgerugby.co.uk/event/1st-xv-vs-doncaster-knights-2/" rel="nofollow - here . 

To register your interest in the 1923 Academy, please complete the form https://cambridgerugby.co.uk/cambridge-1923s/" rel="nofollow -  here  or contact Josh Sharp, new Academy & Pathways Manager at  mailto:Josh.Sharp@crufc.co.uk" rel="nofollow -



Replies:
Posted By: FHLH
Date Posted: 10 Apr 2025 at 13:32
Do other Championship / National One clubs run academies? I may have missed something in the running of Tier 2 clubs.

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"My father told me big men fall just as quick as little ones, if you put a sword through their hearts."

Posted By: Rabbie Burns
Date Posted: 10 Apr 2025 at 14:50
For next season at Blackheath there is a change in the 17&18s group where coaching will be taken up by new coaches who are attached to the mens section for exactly the same reason that is mentioned above to create the pathway and keep talent within the club. It is not being called an academy

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So many Christians not enough Lions

Posted By: High Heidjin
Date Posted: 10 Apr 2025 at 15:27
London Scottish runs a Colts Academy through its Senior Amateur Section, the London Scottish Lions, whose 1st XV have just been promoted to Level 5. It was set up at the beginning of this season for exactly the same reasons that Cambridge announced above. 

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The Inner Game Will Win Every Time

Posted By: Paul10
Date Posted: 10 Apr 2025 at 15:36
Local to me Ampthill, Bedford and Chinnor all run strong Colts sides.

I can't tell if there's a transfer into their 1st team. It's mostly the top level of junior rugby.

Posted By: JohnLowe
Date Posted: 10 Apr 2025 at 15:42
Doncaster Knights run a very successful Academy 

Posted By: gerg_861
Date Posted: 10 Apr 2025 at 15:55
Originally posted by FHLH FHLH wrote:

Do other Championship / National One clubs run academies? I may have missed something in the running of Tier 2 clubs.

Ealing run a pathway, which includes Brunel University as their senior academy side. The women's side were promoted to BUCs Super Rugby this year. Unfortunately, the men's side fell short 15-19 against Swansea in the promotion/relegation playoff last night, so will continue one level below BUCS. The match was full of passion on both sides, and really demonstrated the power of a bit of jeopardy in the game.

The Brunel side has produced a number of Championship players, including Lefty Zigariadis, Josh Taylor, David Douglas Bridge, and Dan Hisc-o-c-k-s.

Posted By: knightandday
Date Posted: 10 Apr 2025 at 16:33
As John Lowe has said, Doncaster Knights run a successful academy. It’s run in conjunction with Doncaster University Campus. 

https://www.ucdon.ac.uk/student-life/academy-of-sport/#enquire-and-apply" rel="nofollow - https://www.ucdon.ac.uk/student-life/academy-of-sport/#enquire-and-apply

https://www.drfc.co.uk/teams/the-academy/" rel="nofollow - https://www.drfc.co.uk/teams/the-academy/


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Winning isn't everything, it just makes the beer taste better

Posted By: Kimbo
Date Posted: 10 Apr 2025 at 17:53
Cov do.
The youth sides have all had some very good results this season.


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Our City,
Our Club

Posted By: FHLH
Date Posted: 10 Apr 2025 at 21:08
There's also a 3 year collaboration with Cambridge University 

JOINT LAUNCH OF 5C’S FOR CAMBRIDGE PARTNERSHIP

17 Mar 2025

Joint launch of 5C’s for Cambridge Partnership!

To kick off the programme, we will be doing the following immediately:

Year 1: 

•⁠ ⁠Establishing a series of fixtures at the home grounds of both teams, and at a number of levels – we’ve already instituted the Women’s Town v Gown fixture and the U19s Academy side has faced the CURUFC Centurions

•⁠ ⁠5th October 2025 will see a Men’s and Women’s double header to celebrate partnership launch

•⁠ ⁠There will be two Blues fixtures for season 25/26, including a pre-Varsity match

•⁠ ⁠We’ll be establishing joint coaching and training sessions

•⁠ ⁠We’ll be launching a joint season ticket for season 25/26, allowing supporters of both clubs access to the best local fixtures

•⁠ ⁠We will be jointly marketing key games

•⁠ ⁠Cambridge Rugby will promote varsity match on social media

•⁠ ⁠Cambridge Rugby will market specific high profile University matches

•⁠ ⁠CURUFC will market specific high profile Cambridge Rugby matches

•⁠ ⁠There will be a series of special offers to students and members

•⁠ ⁠We’ll be ensuring dual registration of players, allowing CURUFC players access to elite rugby whilst carrying on their academic studies and representing the University in its highest profile matches

•⁠ ⁠We will be developing a specific Women’s partnership

Years 2 and 3 will see the development of a ‘shared service model’ around strength and conditioning, coaching, community engagement, coaching development for students and more joint branding

https://cambridgerugby.co.uk/first-xv-club/" rel="nofollow -


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"My father told me big men fall just as quick as little ones, if you put a sword through their hearts."

Posted By: The Blues
Date Posted: 11 Apr 2025 at 00:01
Blues used to run a successful one but ditched it due to cost.

Posted By: FHLH
Date Posted: 11 Apr 2025 at 12:38
From the replies above it seems that investment in The Championship should be key to England's plans for the future rather than being a poor investment as thought by Sweeney Todd.




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"My father told me big men fall just as quick as little ones, if you put a sword through their hearts."

Posted By: gerg_861
Date Posted: 11 Apr 2025 at 14:02
Originally posted by FHLH FHLH wrote:

From the replies above it seems that investment in The Championship should be key to England's plans for the future rather than being a poor investment as thought by Sweeney Todd.



And the Championship clubs are doing this off of their own back, without scads of RFU funding.

Posted By: No 7
Date Posted: 11 Apr 2025 at 20:38
Blues had an incredible set up for a long time.

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Ambition should be made of sterner stuff.

Posted By: The Blues
Date Posted: 11 Apr 2025 at 21:28
Originally posted by No 7 No 7 wrote:

Blues had an incredible set up for a long time.

Yes, it was a shame it went! We would beat some of the RFU funded academies and some managed to make the U20’s which is rare a non-Premiership club would get a player. We used to pick up a lot of the players that didn’t make the RFU funded ones.

Some of the players that played in the academy - all backs! 
Lawes - England
Will Chudley
Karl Dickson
Ali Price - Scotland
Josh Bassett - England U20
Rich Lane 
Oli Morris - England U20
Dean Adamson
Hallett - Ireland U20 


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