Former rugby greats focus on school development

Cape Town - After successful careers playing for the Springboks and provincially, John Smit, Braam van Straaten, Dick Muir, Marius Hurter, Jacques Botes and Hentie Maartens have returned their attention to the rugby field to offer up the knowledge - that took them years to build - to school players and coaches.

Together with their friends, team-mates and contacts within the industry, they form The Investec International Rugby Academy, a high-performance training initiative that aims to grow the sport and to nurture young talent nationally.

Conveniently taking place in the school holidays, from December 9 to 13, players and coaches attending will spend a week at St Charles College in Pietermaritzburg, closely paired with rugby professionals within their position.

"We hope to put our experience to good use by raising the standard of rugby form a grassroots perspective; helping coaches stay-up-to-date with the latest techniques and players to reach their rugby goals," says former EP and Border player, as well as Investec International Rugby Academy General Manager, Greg Miller.

The five-day coaches course runs alongside the five-Day players course (boys aged between 14 to 17) allowing coaches to gain practical insight into the drills, skills-work and exercises that the Academy's coaches put players through.

"We've had a number of guest coaches, including Murray Mexted, Peter de Villiers, Ian MacDonald, Ian McIntosh, Butch James and Paul Anthony, work with our players as they would with their provincial or national teams which provides players with a taste of what it takes to play professionally and coaches with an opportunity to discuss and implement these practical coaching tips into their practices," says Miller.

For more information about The Investec International Rugby Academy's Courses, visit www.investecacademy.com.

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