With a mission to identify, develop and support the players with the most potential to represent Ulster and Ireland, the Ulster Rugby Player Pathway is a single system that recognises where a player is best placed within the different playing opportunities that exist across the province.
Building on strong foundations formed over the past number of years, which have produced players including Nathan Doak, Tom Stewart and Sadhbh McGrath, the latest developments will increase the number of high-quality playing opportunities on offer to male and female players across the province.
Ulster Rugby Head of Rugby Operations and Recruitment, Bryn Cunningham:
Weaving together the Club and School game, along with the Ulster Rugby Academy, National Talent Squad (NTS), Provincial Talent Squad (PTS) and Regional Development Squad (RDS), the Pathway will direct players within the sport in Ulster - whether that’s into professional rugby, or a suitable level in the domestic set-up for long-term participation.
Key redevelopments of the Player Pathway ahead of the summer programme and new season include:
Academy and A-Team Development:
- Enhanced calendar of Development and ‘A’ games, with an ambition of increasing to 10-12 ‘A’ games over the course of the season.
- Integration of Academy players into Senior training to support individual development from a Rugby and Athletic Development perspective.
- Pathway will continue to bridge the gap between Age-Grade, AIL, and Senior Rugby for Academy players.
Ulster Rugby Academy Manager, Gavin Hogg:
Enhanced Player Programmes and Coaching:
- Talent Identification programme to enable staff and trained volunteers to observe weekly School and Club games to flag potential players and create multiple entry points into the Pathway.
- An enhanced NTS programme in-place, with individual support for high-potential players.
- Season-long RDS programme for younger players to include Rugby and Athletic Development support.
- Additional Player Pathway coaches and EPDO resource in the Club and School game to develop talented individuals.
- Support from Ulster Rugby’s Rugby Development team for coach and player development.
Ulster Rugby Academy Manager, Gavin Hogg:
Partnership with QUB Belfast:
- High-performing younger players grouped together in a structured environment, which is more aligned to the professional game.
- Targeted allocation of Academy and Pathway players to QUB as part of the partnership.
- Head Coach of QUB, Derek Suffern, will work alongside Academy and Pathway staff throughout the season.
- Benefits for the Club game will include an increased number of players transitioning back into the grassroots game across the province after their studies.
Read more about the partnership here.
Ulster Rugby Head of Rugby Operations and Recruitment, Bryn Cunningham:
Support for AIL Clubs:
- Release and allocation of Senior and Development-contracted players into the club game in the province across the season.
- Coach Development for AIL clubs, which includes bringing Club Coaches together in-person throughout the season, alongside remote coaching opportunities to share knowledge from Senior game.
- Financial support of £7.5k is available to qualifying clubs each season through the Pathway, which offers those clubs access to Coach Development masterclasses, and Head Coach forums.
Ulster Rugby Academy Manager, Gavin Hogg:
Investment in the Women and Girls’ Game:
- A year-round Pathway programme for players with the potential to represent Ireland at Senior or underage level, in either XVs or 7s, which includes Rugby, Athletic Development, and Physiotherapy support.
- Calendar of representative Interprovincial playing opportunities, which include the Vodafone Women’s Interprovincial Series; U18s XVs Interprovincials; U18s 7s Interprovincials; and U16s 7s Interprovincials.
- Additional fixtures have been added into a rolling 24-month programme for the Ulster Senior Women, Development (18-22-year-olds), and U18s players.
- Increased investment within the Women’s and Girls’ game, which includes new coaching roles being introduced to the province to support the development of the Pathway.
Ulster Rugby Women and Girls' Rugby Development Manager, Eliza Downey: