SARACENS WOMEN’S PATHWAY

THE SARACENS WOMEN’S ACADEMY PROVIDES CLEAR OPPORTUNITIES FOR PLAYERS TO PROGRESS THROUGH THE GRASSROOTS CLUB GAME INTO AN ELITE PERFORMANCE SETTING, WITH THE AIM TO RETAIN PLAYERS THAT WILL CONTRIBUTE TO THE CLUBS SUCCESSFUL SENIOR DOMESTIC TEAMS, AND DEVELOP THE ENGLAND NATIONAL TEAM FOR YEARS TO COME.

Saracens Women are one of nine clubs within the elite Premiership Women's Rugby competition, covering the counties of Hertfordshire, Essex and Eastern Counties. Players from these 3 CB's have Saracens Women as their main hub to access the path to the elite game.

"The Saracens Women’s academy provides a clear pathway for aspiring young players with the ambition to play at the elite end of the game.

Saracens are renowned as a club for developing young players, and in the dawn of professionalism in the women’s game, the tradition of developing homegrown players into the women’s senior team has never been stronger."

Saracens Women's Academy Vision

SARACENS PLAYER PATHWAY

SARACENS WOMEN'S ACADEMY AT OAKLANDS COLLEGE, ST ALBANS

In 2018 Saracens Women’s established a full time programme for players aged 16 to 18yrs old giving them the opportunity to be in a full time elite performance environment alongside full time education.

The Saracens Women Rugby Academy is overseen and run by Saracens Women’s Performance Staff, which includes medical, strength and conditioning and assistant coaches from the Senior Team. Academy players will split their time between the rugby programme and their academic studies. Through being a part of the Academy, players will have access to elite performance resources such as:

•Daily training sessions developing on-pitch rugby skills and game play

•Strength and conditioning programming

•Medical provision

•Nutrition

• Sports psychology

•Video analysis

•DiSE – A select number of identified athletes with sporting potential will undertake this additional Diploma

•Tailored Empower Her programme with the Saracens foundation, focused on personal and professional development

•Coaching and refereeing opportunities with Saracens Community on Senior match day events

Players of the Saracens Rugby Academy will divide their time at Oaklands College between the programme and their Academics. Oaklands College offers a range of BTEC and A-level courses which run alongside the rugby programme creating a full blend of performance training and study. Players will be supported in their career progression as well as helping them achieve the highest level possible on the pitch.

•Course options available at the College can be found here.

Who can Apply?

All players can apply to be part of the Full Time Academy Programme, however, we encourage players that have had a good rugby background and are in a County level Programme (DPP) or above. Please note, you must be offered a place to study at Oaklands College if you wish to be a part of the Academy.

How do I Apply?

The first step is attending our open day trials, where we use the following sessions to get to know you as players, and to see your development throughout the year. We will progress each day to give you further exposure as to what life in the academy would be like. We will be hosting three open trial days throughout the year, further information of when these will be will be released shortly.

You can read more in our brochure here.

DIPLOMA IN SPORTING EXCELLENCE (DISE) LEVEL 3

The Diploma in Sporting Excellence is a qualification specifically designed for learners with an opportunity to be assessed on their ability to work towards, and fulfil the role and requirements of an elite sports performer.

This is an additional qualification (64 UCAS Points awarded) which is studied alongside a player’s main course, it is not a standalone qualification.

•The qualification is aimed at talented sports performers identified by the National Governing Body (NGB) upon the Talent Pathway who have entered a training and competition programme within their sport in order to compete at the highest level. Within rugby, the programme is designed and intended for those who are currently within the Academy structure and identified within the England Rugby Player Development Group (PDG) Pathway.

•The purpose of the DiSE is to confirm competence within the elite sports arena, specifically the training environment of the learner’s chosen sport, for both the practical and theoretical elements underpinned by a range of competency based evidence.

•All players/learners will be required to be timetabled for a minimum of 12 hours rugby related activity and will study a range of modules associated with achieving sporting excellence, such as:

•Strength & Conditioning // Nutrition // Recovery // Technical & Tactical Individual and Positional // Off-Field Theory Sessions // Individual Mentoring // Drugs & Supplement Use // Agent Awareness // Financial Advice // Personal Planning.

•To gain the DiSE qualification, players will have to evidence the above elements through written, verbal, and recorded work that will be assessed.

•DiSE is a 2-year additional qualification that will run from 16-18yrs, and players must sign up and complete the full 2 years while in full time education to achieve the award.

•Players will be selected as a DiSE player based on Academy and PDG status, as well as academic drivers and goals, at the Pathway Coaches discretion, this will then be followed with a 1-1 Interview process with the player to determine DiSE status.

SENIOR DEVELOPMENT ACADEMY

For selected players progressing from the Academy programme, they will be invited into the Saracens Women’s senior environment as they progress from U18s into Senior Women’s Rugby. This will be for players who have the potential and have been highlighted through the Saracens Pathway to play Premiership Women's Rugby.

•A bespoke plan for each player will be made on conclusion of their progression from the Academy to their transition into the senior game.

•Most recently, three Academy graduates have all progressed into the senior squad, having excelled in their time at Oaklands College, showcasing the strength of the Pathway here at Saracens.

SARACENS ACADEMY ALUMNI

We are very proud that since 2018 we have had a series of players progress into the Senior Saracens squad and gain international honours. Outside of this, many players have continued their rugby journey, and have moved onto University, apprenticeships as well as the Armed Forces.

Notable alumni include:

•JOIA BENNETT (Saracens Senior Women and England U20s)

•AMELIA MACDOUGALL (Saracens Senior Women and England U20s)

•CHLOE FLANAGAN (Saracens Senior Women and England U20s)

•KATIE JOHNSON (Saracens Senior Women and England U18s)

•DAISY FITZGERALD (Saracens Senior Women and England U20s)

•LUCY LAWFORD-WILBY (Saracens Senior Women and England U19s)

•KEIRA MUIR (England U18s and U19s)

•LUCY BIGGS (DiSE, Saracens Senior Women)

PERFORMANCE PARTNERS

As part of our vision to develop future Saracens women's players and provide opportunities to the elite end of the game, we have formed two new partnerships with The Henley College and Hills Road who will sit as a Performance Partner. This step in our pathway development will support their students to access routes to a premiership environment post 18.

PRIMARY SAFEGUARDING

It is our strongest belief that all people have a right to be protected from abuse regardless of their age, gender, disability, culture, ethnic background, religious beliefs, or sexual identity. Safeguarding and welfare is, and must always be, the overriding consideration.

The aim of the Saracens Group Safeguarding Policy is to safeguard the significant number of children and vulnerable adults who interact with us and to demonstrate best practice in the area of safeguarding. In all that we do, we positively reflect and promote the Club Values (Work-rate, Discipline, Honesty and Humility) regarding safeguarding to ensure everyone feels safe in our activities.

All allegations of abuse or poor practice will be taken seriously and responded to swiftly and appropriately. DOING NOTHING IS NOT AN OPTION, it is all of our responsibility to act.

Saracens Women Pathway DSO is Niamh McHugh.

For more information on Saracens Safeguarding, including how to report a concern, please visit: saracens.com/safeguarding/.