Sovereign Oilfield Group Aberdeen Grammar Rugby Academy

Progress Report: August 2006

The Sovereign Oilfield Group Aberdeen Grammar Rugby Academy has now been running for 4 years, and the success that the Academy players have achieved continues to demonstrate the importance of a strong partnership between sport and the business community. To date ten players have benefited from the support of the Academy, with seven of those players gaining recognition through being selected for Scotland age group squads, and two, Stuart Corsar and Grant Strang, winning Scotland "player of the year awards" at Under-21 and Under-19 levels respectively. Stuart remains the most successful, having secured a full-time contract with Glasgow Warriors last year. He was then selected for the Scotland "A" squad this summer to take part in the Churchill Cup in Canada. Unfortunately injury prevented Stuart from taking part, but hopefully it will not be long before he makes up for that miss.

Stuart has been back to the Club since turning full-time, and along with another former Grammar player, Andrew Wilson, also with Glasgow Warriors and who won his first full Scotland cap in 2005, has given valuable input to the younger current Academy players. This demonstration of loyalty to their roots from these players speaks volumes for them as individuals, and for the success of the system. There is no better way for the young players to get an idea of what is required to progress to the top levels than to see players such as this first hand and to witness the physical development and skill levels of those who have gone before them. We are all extremely grateful to Stuart and Andrew for their time.

Another player to offer great service to the Academy players has been current first team flanker Rob Currie. Rob is a sports science graduate who specializes in strength and conditioning. Rob has prepared individual conditioning programmes for all the players, who are starting to show great benefit from Rob's time and expertise. Again, we are all extremely grateful to Rob for his time and input.

Over the summer months, while most of the Academy players have been enjoying a well earned break from the rigours of playing and concentrating on their conditioning, one player has taken the opportunity to gain valuable further experience. Tane Jericevich, a Scotland under-19 cap, has spent the summer playing in Australia, where he has been turning out for the Norths club, in the Brisbane Premier competition. Whilst there, he has been under the guidance of Norths coach Chris Roche, a former Australian international, and a close friend of Grammar coach Damian Reidy whose ongoing friendship allowed this opportunity to be created for Tane.

The summer months have also seen two more local players introduced into the Academy: Mike McNaughton (17), a centre, who has played for Scotland at Under-18 level; and Morgan Ward (17), a scrum-half, who has played for Scotland at Under-18A level. Both these players have already impressed with their attitude in the work they have done so far, and a bright future lies ahead for both of them. It is expected that a further player will be added in late September.

Without the support of Sovereign Oilfield Group, it would not be possible to offer the level of input these young players receive and their chances of developing would be seriously affected. Sovereign Oilfield Group plc should be not only thanked, but also congratulated, for the part they play in ensuring young players from the North-East get the same opportunities as those from the Central Belt to progress up the ranks of Scottish Rugby.