Rugby academy to lift achievement

Wanganui City College Head of the new Rugby Academy and PE teacher Aaron Chadwick has the full attention of the group of students he will be mentoring this year. Photo/Stuart Munro

Wanganui City College is offering a new option for students this year - a Rugby Academy.

Head of the academy and PE teacher Aaron Chadwick said the aim was to lift Maori achievement.

The academy had been in the planning over the past three years. Students in it work out for three hours a week.

Teacher of Maori and cultural, Tamahou Rowe, first envisioned a plan for the academy and got it started, Mr Chadwick said.

Adding to the vision, college old boy, Wanganui accountant and a sponsor of the programme, Bryce Smith, watched a rugby game and was impressed with the team players' fair play.

On Thursday, the academy students were out on the field going through their paces before they hit the swimming pool for more training.

Mr Chadwick said the boys came up with a set of values. Underpinning their training is whanaungatanga, helping each other to lift their target and get across the line in record time.

"If we can get an All Black out of this it will be a bonus," Mr Chadwick said.

The other sponsors of the inaugural rugby academy are Boxfit, Te Oranganui and Kent Stembridge, physiotherapist at Aspire Gym.