Launch of the South African Legends Academy

Heroes of the past are injecting a wealth of experience into the Border region with the launching of the South African Legends Academy at Grens High School on 4 February 2009.

The academy offers youngsters an opportunity to join the professional ranks. Spending two to three years at the academy, the youngster will have the advantage of being trained by professional coaches and ex Provincial and Springbok players. Aside from the sport, emphasis on education is also important with a choice of two courses from Damelin being offered. Management Marketing and National Sports Science Diploma will be part of the curriculum at the academy. This ensures that the talented players will have something besides sport as a profession .

The 'first of its kind' academy has been the vision of Steyn Swart, who has been getting the ball rolling for the past two years. A former Border and Eastern Province player, Swart is delighted to have the backing of the South African Rugby Legends Association, "Having the opportunity for these youngsters to be coached by legends like Breyton Paulse and Gary Teichmann is a phenomenal opportunity for them."

Talking about the future for the area created by the academy, Swart explains: "The academy will keep our young players in the Border region and will strengthen our provincial side in years to come, making us a force to be reckoned with. It gives the young players a reason to remain in our province as the level of our rugby improves."

37 players have been enrolled for this year with the aim of making either the U19 or U21 sides for Border. The talent can now be nurtured in their own backyard. The club rugby scene will be improved with the academy players having the opportunity of playing for various clubs in the area, earning them game time away from the academy.

Another 10 players will be enrolled next year and so the academy will grow. Numbers will remain small as a more personal approach is being used with intimate classes. This academy is independent that it can supply players to all provinces but coached and nurtured in their comfort zones close to their roots.

Students can enroll with the South African Legends Academy once their school career is complete. The average age is 18 and 85% of the students are from the Eastern Cape. The development of players is at the forefront for the academy. This ties in with a cause which is at the heart of the South African Rugby Legends Association- youth development, with a number of programmes being run by SARLA strengthening rugby at the grass roots level of the game and making a difference in young people's lives.

The South African Legends Academy creates opportunity for rugby lovers in the Border region and is being launched on 4 February at Grens High School.