The Western Province Rugby Academy (WPRA), a brand-new Southern Suburbs-based Academy, was launched in Tokai earlier this month (January 2014).

Following the ongoing success of the WP Rugby Institute (WPRI) based in Stellenbosch, the WPRA aims to run the same High Performance Rugby programme that has been implemented by the WPRI which has produced some of South Africa’s best professional rugby players that have gone on to play for DHL Western Province, the DHL Stormers and the Springboks.

The WPRA aims to extend the reach of this success by creating an additional pool of players that will feed both the provincial squads as well as strengthen the club system by having the Academy players play club rugby within the WP Club Rugby structures.

The WPRA will form an integral part of the development of junior rugby players within the WP Rugby structures and has been designed around the same High Performance Programme that is implemented by the WP Rugby Institute whom it will work closely with and whereby both squads of players will train and play together on a regular basis.

“Our focus is to develop and produce players that are ready to take the step up to the professional level. Something that the Institute, whom we have designed our programme with, have achieved without any doubt,” said Keith Milner, Managing Director of the WPRA.

“The 2012 Currie Cup-winning DHL Western Province team had more than half of the side graduate from the WPRI, of which most were still Under-21 at the time of winning the title. The WPRA will have a squad of players catering for U19 through to U21 level, enabling those players that have not as yet broken through into the Provincial squads or stepped up into a professional contract, to continue develop as players and fulfill their potential.”

Milner added further: “Our key to producing the best young players to sustain the success of the senior teams, will be the specialised, holistic approach to individual players, using a team of highly experienced coaches, managers and sports science staff who develop and manage the players in a High Performance environment. This we feel is why the WPRI and WPRA both lead the way in player and athlete development.”

The WPRA will not only increase the player talent base within the provincial structures, but will also ensure that it provides a much needed additional platform for the many talented players that need and want a chance to become professional rugby players.

The WPRA is an entirely separate High Performance facility based at the Athlete Development Centre (ADC), in Tokai, Cape Town and will now provide a platform that helps ensure that players who have perhaps slipped through the net of the initial recruitment campaign of WP or other unions, can still be part of the Professional Rugby system employed at Western Province Rugby and at the Institute.

The Academy which is situated at the foothills of the Tokai mountain range, is a haven for outdoor training and team building. This new environment will ensure that the WPRI and WPRA can now work across the two facilities enabling the squads – and, ultimately, WP Rugby at senior level – to take advantage of both environments.

“Another important factor to mention is that the WPRA has aligned and partnered with both an Academic Partner in Varsity College as well as SAQTM (Speed, Agility, Quickness) which runs Physical Education and Sports Development courses, enabling the players to study whilst on the programme.

“Coupled with this, our programme aims to equip players with other skills that will stand them in good stead for their professional lives in and out of rugby, by exposing them to and taking them through a lifeskills programme,” concluded Milner.

* Applications are already being considered for 2015. The WPRA will also come and present to your school, tertiary institution or club upon request. Visit the WPRA website at www.wprugbyacademy.com for further information and entry requirements.