Private rugby academy in Kildare

[ronk]

Dan van Zyl setting up a private rugby academy. Could have a big enough effect if it comes off.

http://www.the42.ie/rugby-academy-irela ... 0-Aug2018/

[Peg Leg]

That is a great initiative will be watching this with great interest

[neiliog93]

Any measure that puts more young players in a professional set-up has to be a good thing. He's dead right that guys from clubs/less advanced schools have a younger 'training age' than guys from big schools at 17/18, and therefore might slip through the net even if they have huge potential. Hopefully this will allow some of these 'late developers' to enter the professional game, in Ireland or elsewhere.

[ronk]

I'd say he's trying to catch a few guys who go to other provinces because they don't make the cut at Leinster.

There are ways this could be bad for Irish rugby but overall I'm positive about it.

[dropkick]

Any measure that puts more young players in a professional set-up has to be a good thing. He's dead right that guys from clubs/less advanced schools have a younger 'training age' than guys from big schools at 17/18, and therefore might slip through the net even if they have huge potential. Hopefully this will allow some of these 'late developers' to enter the professional game, in Ireland or elsewhere.

This new set-up is something the IRFU should keep an eye on. The amount of training between young players of the same age can range greatly so it's highly likely some great talent falls through the net. The IRFU would be able to do the same thing but for less money per player because they already have the resources.

[Armchair]

Purely commercial operation in a bad spot. Somewhere in Dublin may work but this won't. Sub academy players will still have to stay with province so won't be available to go there those not in Sub academy should be busting a gut with their club and studying to get noticed. Other than beef up Naas not sure it will do anything more than the clubs offer already except give false hope to wealthy kids. If some make it they could just as easily do with the clubs and province

[LeRouxIsPHat]

Purely commercial operation in a bad spot. Somewhere in Dublin may work but this won't. Sub academy players will still have to stay with province so won't be available to go there those not in Sub academy should be busting a gut with their club and studying to get noticed. Other than beef up Naas not sure it will do anything more than the clubs offer already except give false hope to wealthy kids. If some make it they could just as easily do with the clubs and province

That's basically my take on it, just can't see how they would get adequate numbers or what they can point to now that would attract players. For example, if you're a young tighthead, who are you going to be scrummaging with or against? I can see how rich kids from abroad might be able to take a year out before college and go for it, but am struggling to see the incentive for any Irish kids to do it. I reckon it might work better as a kind of summer camp.