Phoenix Ulster Rugby Academy
Based at the Newforge Training Ground along with the Senior Ulster Squad, the aim of the Phoenix Ulster Rugby Academy is to provide a continuous flow of indigenous rugby talent to perform to Interprovincial, European and International standards. All Academy players must have the ability to play rugby for Ireland and player potential for a place in the programme is assessed under the following areas; skills and positional competence, fitness, tactical and game awareness, and personal attitude.

High Performance Manager: Gary Longwell
Elite Player Developemnt Officers: Jonny Bell & Niall Malone
Strength & Conditioning Coaches: Chris Shiells and Kevin Geary
Phoenix Ulster Academy Players are aged between 18 and 22 years old; however, the identification process of this young talent begins as early as U16/Medallion level through both the Youth and the School systems.

There are two types of contract awarded to Academy players:

Level 1 is awarded to a player aged approximately 16 - 19 years old, or to a player who is making a positional change.
Level 2 is awarded to a player who is typically aged between 18 and 22 years old, and will receive a degree of financial support, which enables him to combine his studies with the necessary Academy programme without the need for a part-time job.

Phoenix Ulster Academy Squad 2010-11

Patrick Jackson (Dungannon)
Conor Carey (Ballymena)
Blane McIlroy (Ballymena)
David McGuigan (QUB)
Ian Henderson (QUB)
Kyle McCall (Ballynahinch)
Chris Cochrane (Dungannon)
Luke Marshall (Ballymena)
Ali Birch (Dungannon)
David McIlwaine (QUB)
Craig Gilroy (Dungannon)
Niall Annett (Belfast Harlequins)
Michael Allen (Belfast Harlequins)
Michael Heaney (Belfast Harlequins)
James McKinney (QUB)
Conor Gaston (Dungannon)
John Burns (Ballymena)

There are also three players, studying and playing rugby outside Northern Ireland who are included as part of the 2010-11 Academy Squad:
Ricky Andrew (Castres)
Dominic Gallagher (Trinity)
Stephen Lecky (Glasgow Hawks)

This article was posted on 13-Oct-2010, 10:12 by Hugh Barrow.