Players
About
WRFU continues to provide an important focus on the development pathway of our players. The links on this page provide detail and insight into the development programmes offered at different ages and levels.
Club Contacts for Playing
To find your local club please visit our Find Your Club page.
Under 16 Nominations
Nominations will be sent out to colleges seeking nominations for the Under 16 trials to be held within the three regions, Hutt Valley, Wellington City and Western Bays.
The trials are to select four squads to attend Williment Week which will be held during the school holidays from Monday 9 July through to Thursday 12 July.
Nominations will be sent out onto schools in May.
High Performance Schools Group
A group of players are identified in their final year(s) of college and are given specific strength and conditioning programmes and position-specific skill development to assist with their rugby.
The current High Performance Schools Group is:
Zek Sopoaga (Wellington College)
Eti Sului (Wellington College)
James Blackwell (Wellington College)
Luke Tau'alupe (Wellington College)
Ben Tuiomanufili (Wellington College)
Luke Campbell (Wellington College)
Wes Goosen (Wellington College)
Jackson Garden-Bachop (Scots College)
Tauasosi Tuimavave (St Pats Town)
Leni Apisai (Aotea College)
Anthony Mamea (St Bernards College)
Andrew Mamea (St Bernards College)
John Tufele (St Bernards College)
Nopera Hauwaho (HIBS)
Fereti Soloa (Naenae College)
Henry Stowers (Wainuiomata High)
For further detail contact the Wellington Rugby
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.
Rugby Academy
The Wellington Rugby Academy's focus is to prepare players for the next stage in their rugby careers (ITM Cup, Super Rugby and ultimately, All Blacks). The Wellington Academy programme follows the NZRU six pillar development model, which provides critical benchmarks for players. Each player will be responsible for their own individual performance plans. Nutrition, mental skills, personal and professional development, are fully integrated with on-field development, such as position-specific skill development, game understanding and tactical appreciation.
The programme includes
- An intensive training programme of supervised gym and speed work with performance testing by a Wellington Lions or Hurricanes fitness trainer.
- Coaching clinics run by Wellington Rugby coaching staff and players from the Wellington Lions (including Wellington-based Hurricanes players) to provide feedback on how to improve your playing skills and progress to a higher level in your specialist position.
- Mental skills sessions run by a specialist sport psychologist covering goal setting, pre-match preparation and coping strategies.
- Seminars incorporating a range of rugby and life skill topics including: sport physiology, principles of training, nutrition, sports medicine, communication, time management, leadership, positional coaching and NZRU coaching courses.
- Ongoing interviews with the High Performance Manager to review and measure personal development in all areas of the Academy programme, as well as educational and career advancement.
There is no fee to attend the Academy, however all players are required to undertake meaningful study or work during their time with the Wellington Rugby Academy. This is fully endorsed by the New Zealand Rugby Players Collective Employment Agreement. Scholarships are available to attend Victoria University other tertiary and vocational institutions in Wellington.
The Academy members for 2012 are:
Ardie Savea* (Oriental Rongotai)
Aviata Silago* (Marist St Pats)
Andrew Quinlivan* (Petone)
Christian Lloyd (Upper Hutt)
Donald Brighouse (Marist St Pats)
Eric Sione (Norths)
Joe Latta (Poneke)
Josh Nicho* (Old Boys-University)
Matt Proctor (Oriental Rongotai)
Ope Peleseuma (Hutt Old Boys Marist)
Tomasi Alosio (Petone)
Tuakana Metuarau* (Oriental Rongotai)
*First year Academy members
Academy members are selected through a network of talent spotters during the course of the year.