Please register for an Open Event before applying for this course.
If your ambition is to become a professional rugby player or simply enhance your rugby ability whilst completing your studies, Activate Rugby Academy provides the environment, opportunities and support to help you reach your potential.
About the programme
We provide an elite student-athlete pathway for young rugby players aged 16–18 to develop their ability in both sporting and academic domains, preparing them for the next stage of their development.
Our 1st XV competes in the RFU ACE League, and our 2nd XV in the AoC Premiership, providing our players with high levels of competition to test their abilities and put their learning into practice. In partnership with Gloucester Rugby, we provide exposure to the professional game and a pathway into a Senior Academy.
Through our high-performance environment, you will experience the demands and expectations of professional sport at U18 level, whilst learning to manage your time and balance your academic and sporting commitments. Our approach combines high challenge with high support, encouraging you to push your boundaries, take responsibility for your development and build the confidence and resilience to reach your potential.
Maximise your potential and your chance to pursue a rugby career in a Rugby Senior Academy, BUCS Super Rugby, or National Rugby Leagues!
Please use the Apply Now function to register your interest. This programme is highly competitive, and you must attend an assessment day as part of the application process. Once you have applied for the course, we will be in touch with further information regarding the assessment days.
What you'll learn
Activate Rugby Academy (Boys): Sport Coaching
You will have a practical rugby schedule alongside your academic lessons and will be supported by modules designed by sports professionals. Each module will develop a specific facet of your game, including your ability to read and interpret the game around you, as well as the correct mental and physical preparation and recovery.
What to expect in the Activate Rugby Academy
- 12+ hours of dedicated rugby contact time each week
- Experienced and professional rugby coaching and development staff
- Strength & Conditioning, athletic development and injury-prevention support
- Access to medical and sports therapy support
- Individual player development and regular feedback
- Video analysis and rugby-specific education
- Pastoral support and guidance throughout your time at college
- High-quality training pitches at Harcourt Hill
- Access to dedicated Strength & Conditioning facilities
- Opportunities to gain additional sporting qualifications
- A clear pathway towards university, representative rugby and senior rugby
These services are available to all players on the programme.
Academic options
With this programme, ACE players can choose to study a BTEC National Diploma in Sports and Exercise Science or Sports Coaching at City of Oxford College. Alternatively, A Levels may be studied alongside a Rugby Programme.
We provide young players with a structured environment and support to maximise their potential on the pitch and in the classroom.
Many students will progress into higher education, and we have extensive links with top rugby-playing Universities so players can access those opportunities. This ensures everyone graduating from our programme can continue their rugby development at the right level for them. Previous students have progressed to Bath University, Exeter University, Hartpury University & Birmingham University.
Diploma in Sporting Excellence (DiSE)
Alongside your chosen academic path, a select number of student-athletes will study towards a Diploma in Sporting Excellence (DiSE). This RFU-endorsed rugby programme for 16–18-year-olds is based at the England Regional Academies. The aim is to produce players who:
- have developed the skills and abilities to gain a professional contract at 18
- are aware of their rights and responsibilities as professional players (lifestyle, image, behaviour etc.)
- know how to manage their finances
- have a contingency plan for an alternative career in the event of injury or failure to achieve a playing contract
You will get the opportunity to compete in the highly competitive RFU ACE League, a widely renowned competition at the highest level of college sport. You are expected to place your academic studies as your priority.
How you'll learn and be assessed
The environment in this course is designed to mirror a professional environment, and you should expect to treat it as such. You will have regular access to professional services to help improve your abilities as a player, as well as group and one-to-one coaching support.
Our ACE squad competes at a very high level, and applicants are expected to be capable of playing to at least county standard.
Your Coaching and Support Team
You will work alongside an experienced team of specialist staff, including:
- Head Coach and Programme Lead
- Deputy Lead Coach
- Assistant Coach
- Academy Strength & Conditioning Coach
- Academy Sports Therapists
You will also have access to a range of player-support services throughout your studies, including an analysis platform, medical staff at training and matches and individual meetings with coaching staff to follow an Individual Development Plan.
Where you will study and train
Your academics will be based at our Oxpens campus, with the Rugby Programme located at the Harcourt Hill Campus, where you will benefit from specialist coaching, medical services and our outstanding new gym facility.
Harcourt Hill Campus – The home of ARA
Activate Rugby Academy is based at the Harcourt Hill Campus, providing players with an ideal environment in which to study (within accommodation), train and develop.
The campus provides access to:
- Rugby pitches
- Strength & Conditioning facilities
- Sports and fitness facilities
- Student support services
- On-site en-suite accommodation (subject to interview) Sun-Fri
- The Club House (Social Space)
Being based at Harcourt Hill allows players to bring together their rugby training and wider personal development within a supportive environment.
Accommodation
Our Accommodation at Harcourt Hill is primarily for our rugby students. Students must apply for our academic pathway (Oxpens Campus) and be invited onto the rugby pathway before they are invited to interview for accommodation.
Our students at Harcourt Hill are aged 16–18 years. We accommodate students in individual bedrooms, each with an en-suite. The bedrooms are in a flat with a shared communal kitchen/lounge/diner. The flats are single sex.
Accommodation staff are on site 24 hours per day and available for students and parents to contact. Our goal is to ensure that all students feel safe, respected, and supported during their time in college accommodation.
Progression
Our ambition is to become the leading Rugby Academy in the country, where the growth of every individual comes first. We are committed to creating a community where every learner is seen, supported and challenged to achieve their ambitions, both on and off the pitch.
Our purpose is clear: to maximise your potential and support your next step, whether that is gaining a professional contract, progressing into university, playing representative and club rugby, or preparing for the opportunities and challenges beyond the game.
We Are Activate Rugby Academy
One Family. Seen. Supported. Challenged.
Entry requirements
This programme is for students aged 16–18 only.
We will assess your application based on your abilities as a rugby player and your academic merits.
As a rugby player, we will assess your experience, rugby CV, and trial performances. Academically, you should expect to need good grades overall, with specific requirements dependent on the subject you wish to study.
- BTEC National Diploma in Sport Coaching: 4 GCSEs at grade 4 including English Language and Maths
- BTEC National Diploma Sport and Exercise Science: 5 GCSEs at grade 5 including English Language, Maths and Science
- A Levels: a minimum of 5 GCSEs at grade 5, including English Language and Maths, plus individual subject criteria
How to apply
Please use the Apply Now function to register your interest in:
Activate Rugby Academy (Boys): Sport Coaching
This programme is highly competitive, and you must attend an assessment day as part of the application process. Once you have applied for the course, we will be in touch with further information regarding the assessment days.
Selection Process
Our selection process is designed to ensure that students are suited to both the academic and rugby programmes:
- Apply for the right academic programme
Choose the course or subjects that are right for you and ensure you meet the relevant academic entry requirements. Players will only be considered once they have applied for our academic pathway. - Attend an Open Event
Come and meet the team, find out more about the programme and experience what life is like as a student-athlete. - Receive an invitation to trials
Successful applicants will be invited to attend rugby trials, where we will assess your rugby ability, potential and suitability for the programme. - Confirmation of your place
Following the academic and rugby selection process, successful students will receive confirmation of their place on the programme.
