Talented young rugby players across the Tees Valley are being given a unique chance to up their game.
The Education Training Collective (Etc.) is bringing its Institute of Sport and Education (ISE) to Redcar and Cleveland College, with men's and women’s rugby academies first on the agenda.
It means players studying at the college will gain expert coaching from former professional and semi-professional players, the chance to compete at a regional and national college level, all backed by nutritional advice, physiotherapy and strength and conditioning training.
“This is an incredible opportunity for young rugby players leaving school this year who might otherwise feel torn between their education and their sport,” said Ian Hewitt, strategic manager of sport and enrichment.
The ISE programme is built into students’ college timetables to fit around the demands of their course.
Delivered alongside Bede Sixth Form College, ISE students at Redcar and Cleveland College will be transported to the college in Billingham one morning a week for academy training, with one afternoon a week allocated for games and fixtures.
“It is a formula that we know works and we are looking forward to replicating at Redcar,” said Ian.
Since its launch at Bede in 2019, ISE has enabled hundreds of talented young athletes to continue to focus on their sport while working towards academic qualifications.
Ian added: “We have ISE students who regularly play at elite level. We have seen students selected for first teams and compete nationally and internationally.”
Former ISE students have gone on to play for professional teams, achieved scholarships at top universities and even gone on to study specialist schools in the United States.
Bringing ISE to Redcar and Cleveland College will open the unique sports development programme to school leavers wishing to study a variety of full-time vocational courses including sport, public services, bricklaying, plastering, plumbing, carpentry and joinery, welding and engineering.
And it will tap into the sporting talent that Ian knows exists in the region.
He said: “This means students can choose to work towards a really well-rounded career in the likes of construction or engineering while also developing their sporting performance.”
Redcar’s ISE students could go on to feed into the Etc. ISE Men’s Rugby Academy which is competing in the Association of Colleges Rugby Union Premier League next season.
And the launch of the women’s rugby academy at Redcar will provide further training and competition opportunities for up-and-coming female players, with the potential to create an ISE Etc. women’s rugby academy team.
Ian said: “Our aim is to provide players with as close to a professional environment as we can to train and compete.
“As well as improving their game, ISE is a driver for building employability and life skills, such as teamwork, leadership, organisation physical health and mental wellbeing.”
With the Redcar ISE men’s and women’s rugby academies starting this September, plans are already being put in place to expand the ISE offer with further sports to be announced for 2027.
Redcar and Cleveland College principal, Sarah Johnson, said: “This is an exciting time as we look forward to making high-level rugby training accessible to ISE students at the college.
“Through this collaboration with Bede, as part of the Education Training Collective, we are enhancing the student experience and enabling talented young rugby players to follow a dual career pathway combining their studies with their sports.
“This is the first phase with further expansion of ISE at Redcar planned for the following academic year."
Launching this September ISE at Redcar is holding an information session at Redcar and Cleveland College on Thursday June 4 at 5.30pm. Rugby players at club level and above who are leaving school this year are invited to come along to find out more. Book your place at: ISE Redcar Rugby Academy Information Evening
Any sporting organisations or clubs wanting to know more or to discuss opportunities with ISE can email: Ian.Hewitt@stockton.ac.uk
