The Wellington Festival sees the best 15 and 16-year-old rugby players in England congregate for a week of training, match play, and off-field development.
Gloucester —
The Wellington Festival sees the best 15 and 16-year-old rugby players in England congregate for a week of training, match play, and off-field development.
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The 14 regional academies faced each other in shortened games with adapted rules to optimize player development.
Saracens —
The 14 regional academies faced each other in shortened games with adapted rules to optimize player development.
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At an elite level, the teams represented at Wellington are the best English club rugby has to offer. Exeter Chiefs are the reigning English champions. The players here could have the opportunity to gain professional contracts when they leave school at 18.
Exeter Chiefs —
At an elite level, the teams represented at Wellington are the best English club rugby has to offer. Exeter Chiefs are the reigning English champions. The players here could have the opportunity to gain professional contracts when they leave school at 18.
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All 12 teams in the Aviva Premiership had youth players at Wellington, who had been regionally selected across England. The senior sides of Yorkshire Carnegie and Bristol played in the second-tier of English rugby this season, with Bristol earning promotion.
Yorkshire Carnegie —
All 12 teams in the Aviva Premiership had youth players at Wellington, who had been regionally selected across England. The senior sides of Yorkshire Carnegie and Bristol played in the second-tier of English rugby this season, with Bristol earning promotion.
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Away from the rugby pitch, players were educated on topics such as social media, nutrition and anti-doping and had a presentation from England Sevens coach Simon Amor.
Newcastle Falcons —
Away from the rugby pitch, players were educated on topics such as social media, nutrition and anti-doping and had a presentation from England Sevens coach Simon Amor.
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The aim is to give the teens a valuable experience beyond just the rugby field, as well as preparing them for some of the demands of professional rugby.
London Irish —
The aim is to give the teens a valuable experience beyond just the rugby field, as well as preparing them for some of the demands of professional rugby.
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Of the 420 players at Wellington, roughly 65 will go on to receive professional contracts with senior sides.
Wasps —
Of the 420 players at Wellington, roughly 65 will go on to receive professional contracts with senior sides.
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The week, however, could be the "biggest thing some of these players do in their rugby careers," according to Anthony Allen, a former player and now coach with Leicester Tigers.
Leicester Tigers —
The week, however, could be the "biggest thing some of these players do in their rugby careers," according to Anthony Allen, a former player and now coach with Leicester Tigers.
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At the Tigers academy, Allen says the intention is to "produce good players" but also to "educate them to be better people at the end if it."
Sale Sharks —
At the Tigers academy, Allen says the intention is to "produce good players" but also to "educate them to be better people at the end if it."
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Finding the time to train over the course of the year can be a challenge for the regional academy coaches given players' commitments with school or club rugby.
Bristol —
Finding the time to train over the course of the year can be a challenge for the regional academy coaches given players' commitments with school or club rugby.
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There's also the matter of school work. The Wellington Festival takes place a few weeks before the players will sit their GCSE exams, and as a result many will spend much of the week revising.
Bath —
There's also the matter of school work. The Wellington Festival takes place a few weeks before the players will sit their GCSE exams, and as a result many will spend much of the week revising.
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Each team took a squad of 30 players to Wellington -- an increase on previous years where four English regions were represented by about 100 players.
Harlequins —
Each team took a squad of 30 players to Wellington -- an increase on previous years where four English regions were represented by about 100 players.
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With players staying on-site at the boarding school, they get to spend more time with their academy coaches.
Worcester Warriors —
With players staying on-site at the boarding school, they get to spend more time with their academy coaches.
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On the two game days, Northampton <a target="_blank" target="_blank">enjoyed success</a> winning all four of their fixtures.
Northampton Saints —
On the two game days, Northampton enjoyed success winning all four of their fixtures.
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