Men's Rugby Academy

The Hartpury College Men's Rugby Academy combines further education with a high-performance rugby environment. Designed for ambitious players, the academy supports those aiming for professional and international opportunities, as well as students who want to compete at a high level while gaining a qualification.

What makes Hartpury unique is the strength of its rugby pathway. College players have the opportunity to develop within a connected programme that links to Hartpury University's BUCS teams and Hartpury RFC, creating clear progression opportunities. Strong relationships with professional and semi-professional clubs also provide additional routes for player development and progression.

Depending on your chosen course and rugby commitments, there may be opportunities to combine your studies with training and competition within the Rugby Academy. The level of support, competition opportunities and performance services available will vary depending on the squad and Sports Academy membership tier you are assigned to.

Hundreds of former Hartpury students have gone on to gain international honours or sign professional contracts, demonstrating the strength of the academy's player development pathway.

We're looking for players who are ambitious, hardworking and willing to take ownership of both their rugby and academic development. We look for players with potential, character and a willingness to learn, not just those who have already achieved success on the pitch.

Academy team

Tim Brockett, Junior Rugby Academy Manager

Tim leads Men’s Rugby Academy at Hartpury College. Having spent more than a decade at Hartpury as a player, coach and lecturer, he brings extensive experience of developing young rugby players within an educational setting.

As a player, Tim was part of the Hartpury RFC side that secured promotion to the Championship during an unbeaten National One season. His playing career also included Bristol, Ealing Trailfinders, Dings Crusaders and Cinderford RFC, alongside representative honours with England Students and England Counties.

Today, Tim works closely with student athletes to support their rugby, academic and personal development, helping prepare them for progression into senior, professional and international environments.

Alongside Tim, Rugby Academy students benefit from the support of a multidisciplinary team of coaches and specialists. Depending on their squad and level within the programme, players may work with performance rugby staff, pathway coaches, athletic performance coaches, sports therapists, physiotherapists, performance analysts, nutrition practitioners and academic support staff.

Together, they create a connected programme that brings together rugby development, physical preparation, performance support and education, helping students maximise their potential both on and off the field.

Get in touch

At Hartpury College, we recognise the importance of balancing rugby with education. Depending on your chosen course and rugby commitments, there may be opportunities to combine your studies with training and competition within the Rugby Academy.

Coaches and academic staff work closely together to support students. Students are expected to attend lessons, complete coursework and fully engage with their studies alongside their rugby commitments.

Through this dual-career approach, students develop valuable skills including resilience, organisation, communication and leadership.

What to expect as a player

As a member of the Rugby Academy, you'll balance your studies with training, competition and athletic development within a structured rugby programme. The example timetable below provides an overview of what a typical week may look like, although activities will vary by squad and time of year.

Day	Time	Activity
Monday	1.00pm - 1.30pm 1.30pm - 2pm 2pm – 3.30pm 4pm – 5pm	Team meeting Athletic development On-pitch training Gym
Tuesday	4pm – 5pm	Team run or IDP skills
Wednesday		Rugby fixtures
Thursday	8.30am - 9.30am 4pm – 5pm	Recovery and match review Recovery and match review
Friday	8.30am - 9.30am 1pm – 1.30pm 1.30pm - 2pm 2pm – 3.30pm 4pm – 5pm	Wellness review Team meeting Robustness On pitch training Gym
Saturday or Sunday	Remote gym and conditioning sessions

*Gym sessions are not part of the timetabled programme. Students must book these sessions independently.

Day	Time	Activity
Monday	8am – 9am 1pm – 3.30pm 3.30pm - 4.30pm	Gym* On pitch training Gym*
Tuesday	7am – 9am	Gym*
Wednesday		Rugby fixtures
Thursday	7am – 9am 4pm - 5pm	Gym* Recovery and match review
Friday	8am – 9am 1pm – 3.30pm 3.30pm - 4.30pm	Gym* On pitch training Gym*
Saturday or Sunday	Remote gym and conditioning sessions

*Gym sessions are not part of the timetabled programme. Students must book these sessions independently.

Example Timetable: Tier 1 Team

Day	Time	Activity
Monday	1.00pm - 1.30pm 1.30pm - 2pm 2pm – 3.30pm 4pm – 5pm	Team meeting Athletic development On-pitch training Gym
Tuesday	4pm – 5pm	Team run or IDP skills
Wednesday		Rugby fixtures
Thursday	8.30am - 9.30am 4pm – 5pm	Recovery and match review Recovery and match review
Friday	8.30am - 9.30am 1pm – 1.30pm 1.30pm - 2pm 2pm – 3.30pm 4pm – 5pm	Wellness review Team meeting Robustness On pitch training Gym
Saturday or Sunday	Remote gym and conditioning sessions

*Gym sessions are not part of the timetabled programme. Students must book these sessions independently.

Example Timetable: Tier 2 Team

Day	Time	Activity
Monday	8am – 9am 1pm – 3.30pm 3.30pm - 4.30pm	Gym* On pitch training Gym*
Tuesday	7am – 9am	Gym*
Wednesday		Rugby fixtures
Thursday	7am – 9am 4pm - 5pm	Gym* Recovery and match review
Friday	8am – 9am 1pm – 3.30pm 3.30pm - 4.30pm	Gym* On pitch training Gym*
Saturday or Sunday	Remote gym and conditioning sessions

*Gym sessions are not part of the timetabled programme. Students must book these sessions independently.

We're looking for players who consistently attend training, matches and lessons, arrive prepared, respond positively to feedback and take responsibility for their own development. Squad allocation is competitive and can change throughout the season based on performance, attitude and commitment.

Beyond league and cup competitions, players may also benefit from additional development opportunities. In recent years, Hartpury teams have travelled to South Africa to compete in major Easter rugby festivals and hosted touring teams from Ireland, the USA and Argentina, providing valuable playing and cultural experiences.

Rugby Academy athletes train within a professional sporting environment designed to support player development both on and off the field. Depending on your squad and Sports Academy membership tier, you may have access to:

Professional-standard grass rugby pitches
Floodlit 3G training and match pitches
Strength and conditioning suites
Performance gyms
Sports therapy and rehabilitation facilities
Performance and testing laboratories
Analysis and learning spaces

These facilities allow players to train, recover and develop within a high-performance environment that mirrors professional sport.

Performance services

Alongside coaching and competition, Rugby Academy students have access to a range of specialist performance services designed to support long-term development. Depending on your squad level and academy membership tier, you may have access to a range of specialist performance services. Support may include:

Strength and conditioning coaching
Sport science support
Sports therapy and physiotherapy
Performance analysis
Nutrition guidance
Recovery support
Injury prevention and rehabilitation programmes

This multidisciplinary approach helps players maximise performance while supporting their health, wellbeing and long-term development.

Sports Academy Membership

Squad structure

The Men's Rugby Academy provides opportunities for players at different stages of their rugby journey, from those competing in high-performance environments to those looking to continue developing their game alongside their studies.

Squad selection is competitive and based on a player's current ability, potential, attitude and commitment. Each squad typically consists of 30 to 35 players, with opportunities to progress throughout the season.

Performance Programme

Our performance squads compete against some of the strongest college teams in the country and receive enhanced performance support.

ACE
Bulls (U17)
Lions (U18)
Rams (U17)

Development Programme

Our development squads provide a competitive environment for players looking to continue their rugby development while studying at Hartpury.

Oxen (U17)
Stags (U18)
Agriculture Rugby Team

The ACE squad competes in the ACE (Academies, College and Education) League, while our other teams compete in AoC Sport (Association of Colleges Sport) competitions. Performance squads typically play in AoC Premier competitions, with development squads competing in AoC Championship leagues.

Students may also have the opportunity to represent Hartpury in the 7s programme, including the prestigious Rosslyn Park National Schools Sevens tournament.

Membership fees

All players representing a Hartpury Sports Academy are required to hold the appropriate Sports Academy membership.

For full details on membership options, fees and benefits, visit the Sports Academy Membership page.

Sports Academy Membership

We're looking for committed players who want to develop in a high-performance rugby environment while studying at Hartpury College.

To join the academy, you'll need to:

Apply for a relevant course at Hartpury College. We highly recommend you attend an Open Day to find out about our courses and make sure Hartpury is right for you.
Register your interest in the academy.
Demonstrate competitive playing experience.
Provide information about your playing history and preferred position.
Attend a Rugby Academy Discovery Day.

Discovery Days

Our Rugby Academy Discovery Days give prospective students the opportunity to experience the Hartpury environment, meet the coaching team and take part in practical rugby sessions.

Players will be assessed on their current ability, long-term potential, attitude and coachability. Discovery Days also help inform scholarship decisions alongside playing history and wider performance information.

We strongly encourage all prospective academy players to attend. It's a valuable opportunity to ask questions, meet the coaching staff and understand the standards and expectations of the programme.

2027 Entry Discovery Days

These events are open to students looking to join Hartpury College in September 2027.

Date: Tuesday 27 October 2026 and Tuesday 16 February 2027
Time: 9am to 1pm

Further details, including what to bring and how to prepare for the day, will be provided following registration.

Book Discovery Day

Ready to take the next step in your rugby journey?

Apply for your chosen Hartpury College course and register your interest in the Rugby Academy. If you're not quite ready to apply, you can complete the interest form below to receive updates and find out more about opportunities within the programme.