RFU England Academy

The objective of the Academy is to enhance the performance of identified potential elite rugby players and to emphasize their personal, education and vocational development opportunities. The standard of player is high and it with the goal of each academy player to become a professional rugby player.

The Bristol Academy is based at Clifton Rugby Club which has outstanding facilities for the delivery of a programme that incorporates not only rugby specifics but uses the latest sports science developments to enhance the rugby programme.

Components such as strength and conditioning, sports medicine, physiology, psychology and nutrition form an integral part of the programme. Presented by specialists in their field, these components provide the best care and development opportunities for the players.

The Bristol Rugby Academy has a newly released pathway for the development of players from ages 13 -24 yrs old. Highly talented players can enter the pathway at any point, however it is intended for players to enter the program as early as possible.

2009/10 Bristol Academy (c) Martin Bennett

The pathway starts with the Bristol Schools of Rugby, which provides the base for selection into the Bristol Academy EPDG (elite player development group). Players in the Schools of Rugby are not considered part of the Bristol Academy unless they are selected for the EDPG.

The most talented players from ages 13-15 are selected for the EPDG Bronze Group, which trains at the club every Monday.

Talented Players at ages 16-18yrs who are identified as having future professional potential are selected for the EPDG Silver Group which train at the club twice a week.
It is the goal of all Silver Group players to one graduate into the Academy Gold Group.

The Bristol Academy Gold Group are the full time academy players. Also known as Bristol England Academy players, these players are involved in a full time program, which is integrated into the Bristol 1st Team training. Each player has an individual development plan which aims to develop to a level where they may earn a First Team Contract. The individual development plans incorporates all aspects of player development, which includes technical, tactical, physical and psychological.

Talented players may be invited into the program at any stage. EPDG Bronze players are selected from the Schools of Rugby program. EDPG Silver players are invited as part of a progression from the Bronze Group, however newly identified players are invited from schools, clubs and representative teams.

Academy Gold Group players are selected from the Silver Group or identified from schools, clubs and representative teams. In some circumstances foreign players may be invited to join the program.

Academy player George Watkins started for Bristol in the British & Irish Cup

(c) Martin Bennett