Men's Rugby Academy

Hartpury University's Men's Rugby Academy provides ambitious student-athletes with the opportunity to combine university study with an outstanding rugby development and performance programme.

Whether your goal is professional rugby, international representation or competing at a high level while completing your degree, the academy offers an environment where players can maximise their potential both on and off the field.

Depending on your chosen course and rugby commitments, there may be opportunities to combine your studies with training and competition through the Rugby Academy. Support, playing opportunities and performance services vary depending on your squad and Sports Academy membership tier.

What makes Hartpury different is the depth and connectivity of our rugby pathway

Players have access to high-quality coaching, strength and conditioning, performance analysis, medical support and outstanding facilities, while benefiting from a pathway that spans BUCS rugby, Hartpury RFC and opportunities within the professional game. Hartpury's extensive relationships with professional and semi-professional clubs also allow some students to combine representing Hartpury with external playing opportunities.

Hartpury has a proud record of success, including nine BUCS National Championship titles. Most recently, the university reclaimed the top prize in university rugby by winning the 2025 BUCS Super Rugby Championship, defeating Loughborough in the final at Rodney Parade.

In 2026, 19 current and former Hartpury students were selected across senior and U20 Six Nations squads, while nine current students represented England, Wales and the USA at the World Rugby U20 Championships. More than 200 former students have gone on to gain international caps or sign professional contracts worldwide.

We're looking for players who are ambitious, coachable, resilient and committed to both their rugby and academic development. Talent is important, but character, work ethic and a willingness to learn are equally valued within the programme.

Academy team

Tim Stevenson, Senior Rugby Academy Manager

Tim leads the university’s Men's Rugby Academy and has been part of the Hartpury rugby environment for more than 20 years. First arriving as a student in 2004, Tim captained Hartpury to National Cup victories in 2007 and 2008 before progressing into coaching and programme leadership.

As a player, Tim represented Scotland at U18, U19 and U21 level, competing at Junior World Cups, before going on to represent England Students while studying at Hartpury. Having experienced the Hartpury pathway first-hand as both a player and coach, he understands the demands of balancing high-performance rugby with university study.

Today, Tim serves as both Senior Rugby Academy Manager and Head Coach of the BUCS Super Rugby programme. He oversees the strategic development of the university rugby pathway and works closely with players to support their rugby, academic and personal development. His focus is on creating a competitive and supportive environment where players can take ownership of their progress and reach their potential.

- Get in touch

The Wider Academy team

Depending on their squad and Sports Academy membership tier, student-athletes may have access to a range of specialist staff including performance rugby coaches, athletic performance coaches, sports therapists, physiotherapists, performance analysts, nutrition practitioners, performance lifestyle staff and academic tutors.

This multidisciplinary approach helps support rugby development, physical preparation, wellbeing and academic success throughout a player's time at Hartpury.

The ability to combine education and high-performance rugby sits at the heart of the Hartpury experience.

Our Dual Athlete Model is designed to help students maximise both their academic and sporting development. Depending on your chosen course and rugby commitments, there may be opportunities to combine your studies with training and competition within the Rugby Academy. Academic and sporting timetables are structured to support students in balancing lectures, training, fixtures and recovery.

Coaches and academic staff communicate regularly to support students and work collaboratively to support the student if rugby commitments affect their studies. Academy membership does not remove academic responsibility. Students are expected to attend lectures, complete assessments and engage fully with their degree alongside their rugby commitments.

This dual-career approach helps students develop skills that extend far beyond rugby, including organisation, resilience, communication, independence, leadership and personal responsibility.

What to expect as a player

Life as a Hartpury rugby player is demanding, rewarding and varied. Alongside your studies, you'll balance rugby training, competition, athletic development, recovery and independent learning within a structured performance programme.

The timetables below are provided as an example and may change from year to year depending on academic schedules, fixtures and squad requirements.

Day	Time	Activity
Monday	6.30am - 7am 7am – 8am 8am – 8.30am 8.30am - 9am 9am – 10am 10.30am - 12.30pm	Team meeting and match walk-through On-pitch training Technical development On-pitch training Gym Technical development
Tuesday	6.30am - 7am 7am – 8am	Team meeting On-pitch training
Wednesday	Fixture day
Friday	6.30am - 7am 7.30am - 8.30am 9.00am - 10.00am 10.30am - 12.30pm	Team meeting and match review On-pitch training Gym On-pitch training
Weekend	Recovery, remote conditional or team builder

Day	Time	Activity
Monday	7am – 10am	Training
Tuesday	7am – 9am	Training
Wednesday	Fixture day
Friday	7am – 10am	Training
Weekend	Recovery, remote conditional or team builder

Example timetable for Performance Teams

Day	Time	Activity
Monday	6.30am - 7am 7am – 8am 8am – 8.30am 8.30am - 9am 9am – 10am 10.30am - 12.30pm	Team meeting and match walk-through On-pitch training Technical development On-pitch training Gym Technical development
Tuesday	6.30am - 7am 7am – 8am	Team meeting On-pitch training
Wednesday	Fixture day
Friday	6.30am - 7am 7.30am - 8.30am 9.00am - 10.00am 10.30am - 12.30pm	Team meeting and match review On-pitch training Gym On-pitch training
Weekend	Recovery, remote conditional or team builder

Example timetable for Development Teams

Day	Time	Activity
Monday	7am – 10am	Training
Tuesday	7am – 9am	Training
Wednesday	Fixture day
Friday	7am – 10am	Training
Weekend	Recovery, remote conditional or team builder

Being part of the Rugby Academy comes with high expectations. Players are expected to attend training, fixtures, meetings and academic sessions. Arrive prepared and ready to learn, respond positively to feedback, take ownership of their development and maintain high standards both on and off the field.

For new students, the first few weeks are an opportunity to settle into the programme, meet teammates and understand the expectations of life as a student-athlete. Squad allocation is competitive and based on performance, attitude and development.

Hartpury players also benefit from unique opportunities within the wider rugby pathway. In recent seasons, BUCS Super Rugby players have trained and competed against professional teams, including sessions with Gloucester Rugby, England age-grade teams and Championship clubs. The programme has also visited Pennyhill Park to train against the England side, providing valuable exposure to elite rugby environments.

Rugby Academy athletes have access to a range of specialist facilities designed to support every aspect of player development.

Depending on your squad and Sports Academy membership tier, you may have access to:

Professional-standard grass rugby pitches
Floodlit 3G training and match facilities

Strength and conditioning suites

Performance gyms

Medical and rehabilitation facilities

Recovery spaces

Human Performance Laboratories

Biomechanics Laboratories

Performance analysis facilities

Together, these facilities create a high-performance environment that supports technical development, athletic preparation, injury prevention, rehabilitation and long-term player development.

Performance services

Access to performance services varies depending on your squad and Sports Academy membership tier.

Support may include:

Strength and conditioning
Sport science testing support
Sports therapy and physiotherapy
Performance analysis
Nutrition support
Injury prevention and rehabilitation services
Performance lifestyle support

These services are designed to help players maximise performance while supporting their physical wellbeing and long-term development.

Sports Academy Membership

Success stories

Success at Hartpury takes many forms. For some players, success means gaining professional contracts or international honours. For others, it means graduating with a degree, progressing into coaching or business roles, or continuing their rugby journey alongside a successful career.

Sebastian Negri

Seb studied a degree in Sports Business Management at Hartpury while developing through the University's rugby pathway. During his time at Hartpury, he combined degree-level study with high-performance rugby in an environment that helped prepare him for the demands of the professional game.

Following his time at Hartpury, Seb progressed into professional rugby with Benetton Treviso and went on to represent Italy on the international stage, including appearances in the Rugby World Cup and Six Nations Championship. Reflecting on his experience, Seb credits Hartpury's winning culture and focus on student-athlete development as key factors in helping him make the transition into professional rugby.

Seb's journey demonstrates how Hartpury's dual-career approach can help talented players develop academically while creating opportunities to progress within elite and international rugby.

Stephen Varney

Stephen studied Sports Business Management at Hartpury while combining his degree with rugby in one of the UK's leading university performance environments. A talented scrum-half, he developed his game through the Hartpury pathway, benefiting from regular high-level competition and coaching while continuing his education.

Since graduating, Stephen has established himself in the professional game and gone on to represent Italy at international level. His progression from university rugby to the Six Nations stage demonstrates the strength of Hartpury's development pathway and the opportunities available to student-athletes who are committed to both their sporting and academic ambitions.

Squad structure

The Men's Rugby Academy consists of both performance and development squads, providing opportunities for players at different stages of their rugby journey.

Performance squads (Typically Tier 1)

BUCS Super Rugby

Senior 2s

Fresher 1s

Development squads (Typically Tier 2)

Senior 3s, 4s and 5s

Fresher 2s and TRIX

Squads typically contain between 25 and 30 players. Players progress through the programme based on performance, attitude, consistency and development. Academic engagement also forms part of selection decisions.

All teams, apart from Fresher TRIX, compete in BUCS competitions from October to March. Fresher TRIX participate in Grand Prix events and fixtures against universities across the South West and Midlands. These teams provide regular playing opportunities and clear progression routes throughout the programme.

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 Fees page.

- Sports Academy Membership

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

To join the academy, you'll need to:

Apply for a relevant course at Hartpury University. 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 rugby development sessions.

The day includes an introduction to the programme and practical rugby sessions led by academy coaches. Discovery Days are open to all prospective students, although the level of competition within the programme means they are best suited to players with an established rugby background.

Coaches use the sessions to assess players' current ability, potential, attitude and coachability, while also giving attendees an opportunity to experience the standards and expectations of the programme.

2027 Discovery Days

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

Date: Saturday 28 November 2026 and Saturday 6 March 2027

These sessions run on the same day as either an Open Day or Offer Holder Day, giving you the opportunity to learn more about your chosen course and the Rugby Academy in a single visit to campus.

To attend both events, you'll need to register separately for the Discovery Day and the Open Day or Offer Holder Day. Registration links for the Offer Holder Day are emailed to you once you receive an academic offer.

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

Next steps

Ready to take the next step in your rugby journey?

Apply for your chosen Hartpury University 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.