SWRU Performance Development Programme

The SWRU Performance Programme is committed to the development of achieving excellence for the Scottish Women’s Rugby Union.

The aim of the Performance Programme is to develop and enhance players over the age of 15yrs old, in preparation for the 2010 and 2014 Women’s Rugby World Cups. Scotland Women are currently ranked 6^th in the World, and our aim is to improve this World ranking over the next two World Cups.

The Performance Programme incorporates some of the following throughout each squad, underpinning the Scotland Women’s philosophy - "We play to win for Scotland".

· Structured rugby syllabus

· Structured strength and conditioning syllabus

· Individualised strength and conditioning support

· Access to Murrayfield facilities

· Technical and tactical coaching

· Mentoring

· Individual player development sessions

· Skills clinics

· Video analysis

· Lifestyle

· Nutrition

· Sports Psychology

· Medical support

The Performance Programme 2007-2008 will be based around four performance squads. The selection process is as follows:

Scotland Women
Scotland Women is the elite Team which represents us on the international stage. The squad of 22 players will undertake an elite level programme of individual skills development and team preparation. Scotland Women fly the flag of women’s rugby on behalf of Clubs and University teams in Scotland, both at home and abroad. Players will be selected for the 6 Nations competition from a tiered trials programme and through the Scotland Series in 07/08. The emphasis for 07/08 is on Team Development; last year saw some radical changes for Scotland Women and now the focus will be on team cohesion and working towards sending our best prepared squad to the 2010 Rugby World Cup.

Scotland Women will be undertaking the challenge of the following competitions this season;

Autumn International - Scotland Women v Canada Women

RBS 6Nations 2008

European Cup 2008

The Selection Process & Scotland Series
From open trials on the 23^rd September 2007, the performance management teams will select the top 44 players with Scottish eligibility. The top 44 players will then be selected into Scotland Women and Scotland Women Development, and will take part in a continual selection process consisting of fitness tests and two Scotland Series matches until December 2007. This will give the management team an opportunity to confirm selection, before announcing the 2008 6Nations squad on the 23^rd December 2007.

Scotland Women Development

Scotland Women Development is intended to provide the strength in depth on which Scotland’s international performance will depend in the build up to the Rugby World Cups in 2010 / 2014 and the annual 6 Nations Competition. Players will be selected in the same way as Scotland Women, from a tiered trials programme and through the Scotland Series in 07/08. Scotland Women and Scotland Women Development players and management will work closely together, with an unprecedented degree of movement between the two ‘Scotland Women’ squads between September and December 2007.

Scotland Women Development will be competing in the following home fixtures for 2007-08 season;

Scotland Women Development v British Army (Feb 08)

Scotland Women Development v British Police (Apr 08)

SWRU Academy

The SWRU Academyis intended to provide an opportunity to support talented young players in Scotland, including Scottish Students and those players who have turned 18yrs of age but are not quite ready for the Scotland Women Development / Scotland Women programmes. It is hoped that through a programme of individual player support and regular training, the skills and fitness levels will be raised, with the aim of strengthening and improving standards in University and Club teams. It is envisaged that the average age of players in the SWRU Academywill be around 19years, with a high proportion of the 22 players being drawn from Universities in Scotland. Players will be allocated a 3 year performance plan, of which they will be expected to progress within the SWRU Performance Programme.

SWRU U18 Development

The SWRU U18 Development squad is based around the Long Term Player Development principles, with the aim of identifying and nurturing talented young rugby players for the 2010/2014/2018 Rugby World Cups. The U18 programme develops players with potential, with a predominant rugby education throughout the programme; players are taught about lifestyle, nutrition, sports psychology as well as rugby!

The minimum age for SWRU Youth Talent I.D and player development is 15yrs old, the age range of the youth squad is 3 years to reduce the risks of injury to the younger players and to enable the coaching team to provide more focused support.

How do I get sele ct ed for the SWRU U18 Develo pm ent Squad?

The age range for the SWRU U18 Development Squad is 15-18yrs. All players must be 15yrs old by the 1^st September 2007 to qualify for selection.

Selection is an on-going concept within the SWRU U!8 Development squad, and players will be selected through a series of talent identification days and tournaments within the SWRU youth development programme throughout the year.

Players wishing to be considered for the 2007-08 SWRU U18 Development squad should attend the SWRU Schools Talent Identification fun-day at Murrayfield on the 28^th September 07. For further information please contact jo.hull@sru.org.uk or click here:

35 players will then be invited to attend a training camp 3^rd/4^th November 07, where the management team will select a squad of 22 to compete against England Colleges in February 08.