High Performance Pathway Update | May 2025

High Performance Pathway Update | May 2025
“From Local Fields to National Dreams”

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A Big Win for the Future of American Rugby
We’ve hit a game-changing milestone! In an exciting collaboration with USA Rugby High Performance, we are collectively charting a bold new course to discover and develop the next generation of elite rugby stars. Thanks to our collaborative Talent Identification Camps and cutting-edge Virtual Academy, the future of American rugby is not just bright—it’s blazing.

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The Numbers Don’t Lie
The response has been nothing short of electric:
📍 800+ student-athletes attended Talent ID Camps nationwide
📩 530 applications rolled in for the High Performance (HP) Program
🏉 ~200 standout players will move forward into the HP Pathway to train with national coaches

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This overwhelming turnout shows that youth rugby in the U.S. is gaining serious momentum—and our high-performance system is the wind in its sails.

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Creating a Clear & Inclusive High Performance Pathway
The goal of the partnership is simple yet powerful: to identify and nurture future U18 national team players and build toward representation at future World Cups.

How we’re doing it:
✅ Talent ID Camps – 9 hosted, 1 to go!
✅ Virtual Academy – Developed with Six Degree Sports, where tech meets talent
✅ National Vetting Process – Coach recommendations, technical evaluations, and performance assessments

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A further goal is aligning the many different stakeholders that exist within the U.S rugby landscape. The Talent ID camps were hosted jointly and in partnership with the State Youth Rugby Organizations (SYRO’s), Major League Rugby (MLR), and the various franchises across the nation, as well as Collegiate Programs. This collaboration moving forward is essential to the growth of the game from a grassroots and high performance perspective. 

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Virtual Academy: The Core of Skill Development

Selected players join the HP Virtual Academy, a digital “train-in-place” system led by renowned skills coach Mick Byrne. This innovative platform enables athletes to:

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🎯 Train remotely with personalized performance feedback
📈 Access top-tier coaching anytime, anywhere
📆 Stay rugby-ready all year long

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Right now, over 200 players (ages 15–18) are actively sharpening their skills through the platform, and more are joining as we complete the Talent ID camps. 

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Expanding Opportunity for All

Even players who were not initially selected into the HP player pool can now access the Virtual Academy via subscription, keeping the door open for ongoing evaluation. This initiative also provides a data-driven ecosystem where coaches can track progress and identify emerging talent throughout the year with further opportunity to become a part of the player pool.

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This exciting progress marks a new chapter in youth rugby development—and there’s so much more ahead. With nationwide momentum, cutting-edge tools, and a growing community of passionate athletes and coaches. Together, we’re not just building better players—we’re building the future of American rugby.

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