Indigo Group will roll out its National Rugby Academy Network across Wales independently after the Welsh Rugby Union declined to enter a proposed strategic partnership. The network, featuring former Wales internationals, aims to provide an additional development layer for young players.
Academy Details and Costs
The company, a previous WRU sponsor, says the network will move ahead independently. Former Wales stars including Jonathan Davies, James Hook, Taulupe Faletau and Scott Baldwin, along with former rugby league star Ben Flower, are involved in the project. Level four coaches, including Duane Goodfield, will oversee coaching quality.
The academies will offer coaching, athletic development, player profiling, mentoring and opportunities to progress towards representative rugby, while players continue to train and play for their grassroots teams. Costs are still being finalised but are expected to be between £30-£40 per month for each player.
Additional Initiatives
The group is also developing the Indigo App, which it says will create commercial benefits for families and generate new investment into grassroots rugby. It plans to establish the Indigo Rugby Benevolent Trust to help families facing financial difficulties with academy membership, kit, equipment, travel and representative opportunities.
The academy will focus on children aged 12-14. Its proposed player pathway is school and community rugby, development in the Indigo Academies, then representative opportunities in East Wales and West Wales teams. The best players will then progress to regional and national pathways.
Indigo's Response to WRU
The announcement follows a formal response from the WRU to Indigo's proposed Strategic Partnership Framework. Indigo says the union shares some objectives, including strengthening clubs and schools, developing coaches and widening participation, but does not want a formal partnership at this stage.
Indigo CEO Ian Cole-Wilkins said: “We recognise that the Union has every right to develop its own strategy for Welsh rugby. Where I think we disagree is whether we should wait for that strategy to be completed before creating additional opportunities that can be delivered now.”
He added: “Our Academies are not designed to take children away from their clubs or schools, and they are not designed to replace the established pathway. We respect that the WRU has chosen not to enter into the partnership we proposed, but that decision does not require Indigo to stop.”
The WRU has planned to invest £28m into the pathway over the next five years with the return of a national academy planned, but recently postponed plans to TUPE all regional academy staff over to the governing body due to financial reasons. The WRU declined to comment.
