Catalans Academy U15's

Posté le 11/02/2011 08:58:32

Yesterday, on the pitch of the Gilbert Brutus Stadium, Bruno Castany, the Director of Sport and Vocational Training of the Dragons brought together twenty-two young people under15 years old, coming from clubs from within the Department.  The objective was to make a preliminary list of fixtures for the matches against English teams, which will start in a few months time, this within the framework of the Ambition Dragons project.  An evaluation session, directed by Steve Deakin, was carried out by the eight students from the training centre (Joan Guasch, Escare, Marginet, Da Costa, Salgues, Margalet, Ambert and Garetta), all under the attentive eye of the Dragons' staff.

The 22 young people brought together took part in series of tests, taking the form of workshops, the objective being, according to Bruno Castany, “to profile these young people, then to place them in an apprenticeship and then start them in a programme to perfect their skills when they are 18 to 20 years old.”

Trent Robinson supported his remarks with: “In Rugby League, there are many small details which make all the difference and we want them to learn these as soon as possible within the apprenticeship.  This is what differentiates a Super League player from the others. Youths like Thomas Bosc, Remi Casty or Clint Greenshields continue to work with basic movements like passing or how to play as a team.  By these sessions we want to teach these young men correct ways of thinking.”

But there is another project hidden behind this evaluation and selection of under 15s, which is to introduce, as of next year, an under 20s team in the Academy championship of the Super League.  This team would then face clubs like Leeds, Saint Helens and Wigan every week-end from February to September and would therefore give a very different dimension to the development of the Dragons. “The young people brought together here are the future players of this under 20s team, and can be the future Dragons.  We want to prepare them as soon as possible this season.  With this team we offer them a sound project and in particular an intermediate stage between the Elite championship and the Super League.  The under 20s team will truly be the lead-in route to the Dragons.  The young people will profit from a complete training process, which will include technique, physical development and psychology, and this at the age of 15 years.” Added Bruno Castany

“From now on we are able to offer our young players an ambitious choice of a sporting career and we even propose, in order to make them aware of their responsibilities, that they sign a moral contract with the club.”  Concluded the Director of Sport Training.