The course at Swaffham focused only on the mini rugby age groups of under-nines through to under-12s, allowing the Tigers coaching team to focus on the vital building blocks of contact, running and handling skills that will set the foundation for every players future development.
The Bassingbourn Tigers Premier Rugby Academy was a residential course for 14-17-year-olds where the coaching team worked alongside the British Army to really push the individual forward in their understanding of the game including communication, leadership and team ethos work.
Both weeks were a great success, benefiting from the superb weather, great facilities and excellent hosts at Swaffham and the Bassingbourn Barracks.
This success increased immensely with the unscheduled visits from Tigers first-team players Ben and Tom Youngs to Swaffham and of Seru Rabeni at Bassingbourn Barracks.
Ben and Tom provided a chance for the younger players to find out how they have progressed from junior ranks in Norfolk into the Tigers senior squad, while gaining international recognition along the way, and Seru was able to give information on what it takes to train and survive in the tough environment of elite professional rugby at Tigers and at international level.
The Tigers coaching team now move on to an August programme of rugby courses which includes a sold-out course at Stamford School and a week for the older players at Swaffham RFC (under-13 up to under-17).
The programme then comes closer to home for the week of August 11-15 with courses at Coalville RFC and Lichfield RFC, before jetting off to Jersey RFC for a massive week with 140 players at the Ashburton Tigers Academy. Courses continue in the Midlands at Burton RFC (August 18-22) before our final week of the summer takes us to three venues for four-day courses at Sleaford RFC, Leamington RFC and Sutton Coldfield RFC.
Places are still available on some of the August weeks. To find out more or to book a place, go online at http://www.leicestertigers.com/ or contact the Tigers Community Department on 0116 2171 221.
Each player will receive a full week's coaching covering all the core skills and techniques, with many of the ideas coming straight from Oval Park, the Tigers training ground.
The players take a Tigers 8-Star Award challenge which is a method of measuring their strengths and areas for improvement up against the highest standards.
Each player will also receive Junior Tiger Club membership, a hot and healthy lunch, Tigers Rugby Course T-shirt, Rugby Course ball and drinks bottle.
Places are still available on a number of the Tigers Rugby Courses weeks. To book or to find out more, contact the Tigers Community Department on 0116 2171 221 or visit the community section of the Tigers website www.leicestertigers.com/rugbycourses
