Key Questions & Answers
Choosing the best university to combine your rugby development whilst achieving your academic goals may not be a simple as it sounds.
Many rugby programmes are, let’s just say, a little less than comprehensive.
This is a key decision and we feel it’s worthwhile considering the following Q&A section prior to reaching this decision.
The following section relates to the University of Bath, High Performance Group (HPG):
Q1 What is the HPG and how many rugby teams does the university run?
A1. The High Performance Group is a squad of approximately 60 players that have normally been scouted and selected in advance of their arrival at university with the aim of playing a high level of rugby in the British Universities & Colleges Premier South League. To put this in context, it has been claimed by many that BUCS Premier League rugby is a similar standard to National League 1 & 2. HPG players are invited to attend training camps as early as the summer preceding their intended year of arrival (if your interested in applying please contact A.James@bath.ac.uk). However there is a further opportunity during freshers weeks and membership of the HPG is a constantly reviewed process. HPG members receive a) coaching from expert coaches, b) the most progressive S&C programmes, c) the application of world class levels of sport science, d) professionally structured training and game timetable. HPG players have contact times similar to semi-pro rugby players. The university actually run five men’s teams and one ladies team. The men’s first XV and second XV are sourced by the HPG players. The men’s thirds, fourths and freshers are of a more recreational nature.
Q2 What academic entry pathways are available?
A2. There are generally 6 entry routes that players tend to arrive through:
- Non-sport traditional academic pathway - Undergraduate degrees ranging from Accounting & Finance, Biochemistry, Computer Science, Drug Discovery, Economics, French, Mathematics, Natural Sciences, Pharmacology, Russian, Social Sciences and many, many more.
- Sports pathways - two routes here BSc Sport & Exercise Science and BA(Hons) Coach Education & Sports Development
- Sports foundation degree pathways - three options are available here 1)FdSc in Sport(Sport Performance)2) FdSc Sport(Health & Fitness) and FdSc Sport(Coaching). All three options are two year courses with the ability of application to a top-up year BSc Honours in Sport(Sports Performance). It should be noted that option 2) and 3) are run through our Division for Life Long Learning and study is undertaken through our partner college sited within Bath City Centre. Accommodation for these later two options is not therefore provided on campus but the majority of modules are in fact delivered on the main university campus.
- Postgraduate study - Many options here including PGCE, MBA, MA in Contemporary European Studies, MA Interpretation and many more.
Q3 How many coaches are there for the high performance programme? Are they full-time? Does the university man all Wednesday matches from a coaching perspective?
A3. At Bath we have two full-time coaches in Aaron James, Head Coach & Shaun Williams; Danny Greewcock and Chris Lilley assist with lineouts and scrums; all provide the daily drive and energy of the programme. All 1st and 2nd XV matches are manned with coaches. The close day-to-day relationship with Bath Academy means that we have access to the very best professional players developing their coaching careers with Danny Greewcock delivering weekly input. All this plus Brian Ashton! Brian is our Director of Coaching at the university. It would be wrong, however, to claim Brian has a day-to-day involvement in the rugby programme as his remit is sport wide and focused on coach development, however he provides the directing mind and regularly runs sessions involving games and gave understanding.
Q4 What is the typical weekly training timetable in season? How much is spent on individual skill development?
A4 No hiding from this, the term-time timetable is definitely challenging! The Core Coaching Sessions are Sunday afternoon and crack- of-dawn Monday, Tuesday and Friday (the players suggested this to release evenings for study time) . Skill sessions and strength & conditioning are also provided during the week. Lineouts are run with Danny Grewcock and specialist scrum coach Chris Lilley during Monday morning sessions. Thursdays are hydrotherapy and other active recovery. Friday a.m. is the normal time for players to gain individual feedback with the unit/team video sessions inserted into Tuesday team meetings. Players have access to a video analysis facility.
Q5 What does the kit and equipment cost and are there any other charges?
A5. Price details to be confirmed for 2010/2011 kit.
This is something that can catch you out if you are not prepared - best way to deal with the following charges are to get them sorted prior to arriving by tapping up relations for the following as presents .
To be member of the HPG and play in the university 1st or 2nd XV you will need to purchase one of the two kit packages available. The match kit (HPG-A) costs approximately £120 and provides the essentials for match days. The match & training kit (HPG-B) costs nearer £200 and provides match essentials, gym/pitch training kit and après match oxford style shirt. We like to think that these kit packages offer the best value for students and in comparison with others they offer very good value (some charge £350 for kit packages!) Details of both these packages are available from Aaron James, Head Coach.
Men’s rugby at all universities involves annual membership of the sports association and its associated rugby club, for season 2009/10 this costs £20pa at Bath plus match fees of £5 per game. Significant discount is available for students who pay match fees up front. Details of sports association membership and club fees are available from http://www.bathstudent.com/sports.
Q6 What are the physio and first aid arrangements at match-days and other?
A6. This is a critical question with the high playing level the HPG operates at and it’s hard to believe that many universities offer neither physio or first aid with the responsibility falling to the students themselves. At Bath for the HPG we provide full physio cover for 1st XV match days and first aid cover with coaching staff. Each week HPG squad members have prioritised access to an on-site physio clinic. However, it is very strongly recommended that all HPG players seek private medical health cover this can be achieved for less than £400 per year. You may find that you are already covered as part of your parents companies of employment - please check this prior to arrival. All UK private health companies can be used at our physio centre.
Q7 Relationship with Bath Rugby
A7. We are very lucky to have a tremendous relationship with Frank Butler, Academy Manager Bath RFC and many other coaches and players at all levels of the club. This give us a great insight to the professional game and also at a practical level allows us too borrow(!) certain ideas and methods. In term of playing opportunities outside of uni rugby, many of our HPG player represented Bath Utd in their Monday night fixtures against other Guinness Premier “A” League teams .