Star studded line-up of coaches and players at upcoming Investec International Rugby Academy courses
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The mid-year edition of the Investec International Rugby Academy’s (IIRA) is scheduled to take place in Glenwood, Durban from 23 to 29 June and has no less than 27 international and local coaches, current and past players who will be on hand to share their knowledge, expertise and assist in taking the attendees’ game to the next level.
The courses kick off with the Elite and Advanced Players courses and the Advanced Coaches course. The Intermediate skills-based course is then set to take place from 25 to 27 June. Each course is limited to 30 players, two per position, and 25 coaches per course, which ensures that each attendee receives individual attention. The Academy prides itself on providing an environment that enables every player and coach to fulfil their potential by working with and learning from the best rugby minds in the business.
The list of coaches for the June course reads like a who’s who in South African and world rugby and includes John Mitchell, John Plumtree, Johan Ackermann, Dick Muir, Nick Mallett, Grant Bashford, John Allan, Peter de Villiers, Ian Macintosh, Ian Macdonald and Braam van Straaten. Current and former players lending their expertise is equally as impressive with the likes of Gcobani Bobo, Jacques Botes, Louis Ludik and Stefan Terblanche tackling position-specific topics in the weeklong course. Added to the mix are module presenters Mark Steele, Ruan Fourie, Tim Goodenough, Dr Peet du Toit and Mark Lawrence. The course will also be attended by IRB-accredited Greg Miller (skills and team building) and Richard Kohne (Coaches facilitator).
These intensive courses leave no stone unturned when taking the coaches and players through their paces for the duration of a week and covers every aspect of the current game from the mental side such as philosophy, motivation, planning, communication and relationships, to skills, position-specific training, video analysis, the laws of the game, vision and hand/eye co-ordination testing and rugby specific conditioning.
Dick Muir, the SA Managing Director and Course Facilitator, beams with pride when speaking about the successes of previous courses and the huge demand for upcoming courses.
“We continually set new, higher standards for players and coaches attending and participating at our courses and this has in turn resulted in improved performances and many success stories over the years. There is undoubtedly a huge demand for high performance training and coaching in playing and coaching rugby in South Africa and we are delighted that we are setting trends in a new standard of rugby training in our country.”
True to its success, the Academy is delighted to announce that six players who have attended the Advanced and Elite courses in recent years have been selected to represent three different countries namely South Africa, Australia and Scotland at the upcoming IRB Junior World Cup in France. Robbie du Preez, Roelof Smit, Marne Coetzee and Irne Herbst have been named in the Junior Springbok squad, while Tommy Allan will represent Scotland and Oliver Hoskins will be representing Australia at the junior world championships.
Ruan Fourie, Academy Director, says the brand has been represented well at international competitions and that the quality of coaching is evident in the results being delivered.
“Thanks to Investec’s involvement we have been able to produce results that we are extremely proud of. We are delighted with our partnership with Investec, thankful for their support and are simply thrilled that results are being reflected in the rugby space and on the field.”
The Academy’s successes have also reflected in the Springbok Sevens and Community Cup squads where Sergio Torrens made an impression and has been touted as a future star. The Academy is well represented by graduates in the Varsity Cup, Vodacom Cup and in the MTN Lions’ Vodacom Cup winning team. Bradley Moolman and Kobus de Kock are among a long list of players who have gone on to achieve tremendous success post their attendance at the Academy.
Muir said, “Our courses are designed to provide individual attention to players in the Advanced and Elite courses during practical and theoretical exercises conducted by the best, most talented, most respected and admired current and former coaches and players in the rugby world. Our courses are detailed and cover every aspect of the current game ensuring that at the conclusion of each and every course, our coaches and players leave here feeling motivated, inspired and having gained an upper hand on their fellow competitors.”
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