There are over 30 school level rugby players in the Bath Rugby Elite Player Development Group (EPDG) and during half term 29 boys came over to Farleigh to take part in an intense training week, which included the soon to be feared  ‘Bath Test’. 

The boys had a rigorous day being in from 10 am to 4 pm with only 35 minutes for lunch, and they were given lots of variety.  It wasn’t just come in and do five hours of rugby, they were given a broader experience of what it is to be a professional rugby player.  In the morning they did the ‘Bath Test’ and a class on injury prevention techniques and core exercises, plus rugby skills. This was followed in the afternoon by  video analysis with Bath Rugby players Sam Vesty and Olly Barkley, followed by an hours coaching on the pitch. The day finished with a flexibility and core session; as you can imagine young boys don’t devote the time that perhaps they need for stretching and flexibility, so they were shown how to cool down correctly.

Talking about the EPDG, Patrick Mills, Elite Player Performance Coach at Bath Rugby said “It is a really exciting time for the young boys in the junior academy.  There is more support from the Club than there has ever been before and we definitely realise the potential rewards of investing in these boys at a younger age, putting in more effort and developing them as they come through.  This week has been a step forward for the Academy, and all the staff are really happy with how it has gone and are looking to not only replicate, but do more in future camps, during half terms and or in the summer next year.”

The boys who took part in the EPDG sessions at Farleigh are:

James Bloxham, Millfield

David Buck, Sherborne

George Buckney, Sherborne

Ollie Devoto, Bryanston

Charlie Ewels, Bryanston

Adam Jamieson, Filton College

Rory Jennings, Bryanston

Tim Norton, King Edwards, Bath

Jonathan Carley, Prior Park

Callum King, Sherborne

Peter Laverick, Prior Park

Robbie Tait, Millfield

Tom Vaughan-Edwards, Bryanston

Sam Weston, St Laurence, Bradford on Avon

Freddie Wright, Sherborne

Ian Gardiner, King Alfreds, Highbridge

James  Keay, Wellington School

Hugh Sloan, King Edwards, Bath

George Trick, Bryanston

Kieran Kelly, Prior Park

William Homer, Sherborne

Elliott Herrod-Taylor, St Johns Marlborough

Jacob Guildford, All Saints Weymouth

Richard Galloway, Bournemouth

James Catlin, St Gregorys Bath

Marcus Beer, Kingdown Warminster

Robert Fuller, Bryanston

Max Clark, Bryanston