What is a London Wasps Apprenticeship?

The London Wasps Academy Apprenticeship is a two year scheme for aspiring elite rugby players that combines player development and academic study.

Who is involved?

The London Wasps Academy Apprenticeship is a partnership between:

• London Wasps
• the Rugby Football Union
• Twyford Church of England High School.

What is the London Wasps Academy Apprenticeship?

An Apprenticeship provides every opportunity for aspiring elite rugby players 16-18 to reach their potential: a high level of rugby. It also takes account of and rigorously supports the need for continued progression towards other options: study or a different career. It is a means of meeting both sporting and academic aspirations.

The apprenticeship meets the needs of the Rugby Football Union:
Long Term Athlete Development 16-18 should be "Train to Compete" 15hrs a week. Traditional rugby schools "Train to Win" ethos is usually about the developing player preparing for the School 1st XV to win fixtures.

The apprenticeship meets the needs of London Wasps:
We would like to continue to develop our own players who will continue to further the reputation for excellence of London Wasps.

The club takes pride in the fact that the rugby element of the London Wasps apprenticeship is conducted by London Wasps professional staff at the 1st Team training facilities at the Senior Teams Training ground at Twyford Avenue, Acton.

The apprenticeship offers a quality academic experience:
The students undertake their academic studies at Twyford Church of England High School which is adjacent to our training ground ' it is a 1 minute walk from the door of the 6th form centre to the door of the club!

London Wasps and our apprentices know from expereince that the school is excellent, and that has recently been backed up by an Ofsted report which rated it as 'outstanding' in every area of 6th form provision. Visit the school website, www.twyford.ealing.sch.uk for more information about the school and it's Ofsted report.

In addition, the London Wasps Academy Apprenticeship is an accredited Advanced Apprenticeship in Sporting Excellence (AASE) supported by the Learning Skills Council, Edexcel and Skills Active.

More infomation for applicants and their parents is available on the Skills Active website, www.skillsactive.com. or use these links to see an applicant's brochure or parents' brochure

How is it Organised?

The days and weeks of the apprenticeship are timetabled so that the academy apprentices undertake the majority of their academic work in the mornings and the majority of the rugby programme in the afternoons.

The Rugby Programme is divided into three areas:

• Rugby Development & Performance
• Physical Development
• Knowledge and Understanding

In addition, the rugby programme supports the apprentices gaining an additional qualification, an NVQ in Achieving Excellence in Sports Performance, a Level 3 qualification recognised as equivalent to 2 A levels by a number of Universities for related courses. Apprentices acheive their NVQ by keeping a records of their experiences and producing evidence of the outcomes of their preparation, training and performances.

More on the Rugby Programme is here