School sport: Boys inspired to excellence

Daniel Pushart sprint training at the Mount Maunganui Rugby Academy. Photo / John Borren

Creating a rugby academy from scratch is no easy task but the foundations have been successfully laid at Mount Maunganui College.

Before and after school rugby players covering all grades are put through their paces under the guidance of Gym 101 owner Rob Binns and First XV coach Jamie Woodford.

Woodford joined the staff this year after being heavily involved in the rugby programmes at some of Auckland's most highly regarded sporting schools of St Peter's College, Sacred Heart College and St Kentigern School.

Woodford has set up a junior (under-14), intermediate (under-15) and senior (First and Second XV) rugby academy that runs from terms four to two and over the Christmas holidays.

He says the sessions are designed to be rugby centric so they are relevant to what the players need to become better rugby players.

"Like the squats they do get their body positions right to make the correct tackle, keeping your back straight," Woodford said.

"The up-downs are essentially what happen when you make a tackle and you have to be quick to your feet. The short burst sprinting is repetitive training and you have other core training like push-ups."

Woodford and Binns have enlisted the help of Bay of Plenty Rugby coaches and players, including Maori All Blacks prop Kane Hames and new Crusaders signing Mike Kainga, to facilitate the core rugby playing skills.

What became obvious immediately watching a session last week was the good-natured banter between the boys and the high level of commitment. In a short period since the academy began, the players have noticed the benefits already which Woodford says is a good sign.

"When we get into the season they should be flying. Some of the boys don't enjoy the fitness sessions as much as others but they are all here. We are getting a culture at the school that is slowly building.

"I have had five students come and ask me to be part of the rugby academy. It is something people now want to be part of."

Woodford says Sevens coaching guru Sir Gordon Tietjens has also influenced the academy's culture.

"We are using what he uses with the All Blacks Sevens where they identify each other on how good a trainer that they are. It is using red, green and orange lights. So a red trainer is someone who won't push themselves very far while a green trainer is someone like Richie McCaw who is at the top.

"We are challenging the boys not just physically but mentally as well. What sort of trainer do they want to be? On Tuesday we offered them the chance to drop out if they got tired but no one did. No one wanted to be that red trainer.

"I am thoroughly impressed with how the boys are going."