19th November 2015
Saracens first team player, Jackson Wray, helped launch the Barking & Dagenham College Rugby Academy recently, celebrating the College?s new status as a Saracens Academy partner. Barking & Dagenham College is the only London centre to partner with this world famous name in rugby union, giving students from across the region an opportunity to train with the team behind the 2014/15 Aviva Premiership champions.
The first intake of 28 students will follow a regime of 10 hours rugby training a week alongside their studies for a two-year BTEC qualification in sport. Saracens Academy senior coaches will deliver training sessions, and Q&A sessions, with students enjoying preferential opportunities to see the Saracens first team in action.
A passion for rugby
Holding the new Academy strip with Jackson, is the College’s Rugby Academy captain, George Cook, aged 16, from Epping, who added
“It's an honour to be leading the team in its first season and a privilege to meet Jackson Wray today. The Academy gives us the opportunity to follow our passion for rugby alongside our academic studies. My team colleagues and I are looking forward to working with Saracens over the coming months.”
James Tirrell, Academy Coach at Saracens, said
“We are delighted that Barking & Dagenham College is now a Saracens Academy partner. It is a great opportunity for young players from across east London to continue their training and continue to play and love the game, whether that is for the College, regional clubs or beyond.”
Dean Cutting, Head Rugby Academy Coach at Barking & Dagenham College added,
“Barking & Dagenham College now has a hat-trick of sports academies – rugby, football and basketball – giving talented students a clear line of sight to the top, with the added reassurance of a national recognised BTEC qualification at Level 3 which would give them access to a degree course at university if they wish.
"The Academy members will need to work as hard in the classroom as they do on the pitch.”
The College will be recruiting for September 2016 intake and interested students can register via this link.
