Dozens of teenagers from across the continent have spent the last two weeks learning about Ospreylian culture, on and off the field, at the third Ospreys European Summer School.
Operated in conjunction with Swansea University, participants from Italy, Spain, Belgium and Sweden were based on campus for their stay, making use of the facilities at the University’s sports centre on Sketty Lane.
Ospreys coaches led by Dan Griffiths have overseen a daily programme of rugby skills sessions, with key support staff from the region delivering lectures on a wide range of related topics such as nutrition, conditioning, sports psychology and analysis, providing the teenagers with valuable knowledge to take home with them as they continue their rugby development.
In addition English Language Training Services, based at the University, provided daily language lessons tailored to the needs and abilities of the individual candidates. Meanwhile, a parallel programme of Coach Development catered for the coaches who attended from the various overseas clubs represented at the Summer School.
The students have also been able to experience Ospreylian life through a number of organised activities, as well as touring the Liberty Stadium and visiting the region’s Llandarcy training base where they received a series of special coaching masterclasses from players including Lloyd Peers, Rhys Webb, Duncan Jones, Cai Griffiths, Sam Davies, Richard Fussell and Dan Evans.
Yarnie Guthrie, Ospreys Commercial Manager, said that the European Sumer School was going from strength to strength:
“We are now three years into the Ospreys European Summer School and hundreds of young rugby players and their coaches from across the continent have come to the region to benefit from our world leading development programme.
“The programme of activity is based on the exact same principles that we apply to our elite young and senior training programmes, so participants were able to get a real taste of life as a professional rugby player. The strength of the Ospreys brand and our expanding network of sister clubs across Europe means that the concept is growing year on year, and this has definitely been the best yet. The goal now has to be making 2015 bigger and better, the must do for any young rugby player.
“What is great about this programme is that students are also able to enjoy a real taste of Ospreylian life off the field. We are fortunate to be in a great location with some wonderful facilities available to us, and a rich cultural heritage, which makes the time spent in south Wales an even more fulfilling one.
“We are grateful to all the commercial partners who helped us deliver such a successful two weeks and look forward to working with them on next year’s programme.”