Operation English rugby

ENGLAND have more than twice as many people playing rugby than any other nation, so why don't we win every World Cup?

According to official International Rugby Board statistics, England has around 167,000 males over 19 years of age registered to play, while world number one ranked New Zealand achieves its astonishing success with only 39,000 in comparison.

The junior figures are even more staggering. About 650,000 children play mini rugby (U7 to U11) in England, over twice as many as closest rival South Africa, and 300,000 of these youngsters go on to play the sport in their teens, over 100,000 more than any other nation.

On the world stage England has only one senior World Cup to show for this incredible numerical advantage, while Southern hemisphere nations continue to dominate the U19 and U21 global tournaments, and Australia remain the only country to win the main prize twice.

But before you write to the IRB requesting the 15-a-side rule be scrapped so we can field all our 1,117,000 players in all age groups at one time and trounce everyone, just be patient, because changes are afoot.

The England RFU believe development strategies put in place over the last decade will soon enable us to come out on top of the pile, if not all the time, at least more often.

Three Wiltshire lads and close pals, Fraser Clilverd, Sam Alford and Jamie Miller are currently at the epicentre of these strategies, and tomorrow they will travel north to reconvene with their various England U18 squads.

Chippenham junior Alford will vie for the starting scrum-half spot in an older squad to take on Ireland at Cork on March 26, France at Bournemouth on April 2 and Wales at Neath on April 9. That team convenes at Castlecroft, the RFU's National Centre for Schools and Youth near Wolverhampton.

Meanwhile Chippenham mini representative Clilverd and Wootton Bassett junior and Bristol academy member Karl Brant will join up with a younger team at RAF Halton, Buckinghamshire to tackle Italy and France at the Association Europen Rugby festival at Lille on March 17 to 26.

Throughout the three-days of training, they will be striving to join Miller, who grew up in Westbury, in a third squad for the Four Home Unions Festival in South Wales on March 25 to April 1, which also reconvenes at RAF Halton. The squads are finalised at the end of the month.

All three boys are members of the Bath Rugby academy, one of the main development schemes put in place by the RFU to turn England's promising juniors into worldbeaters.

Five years ago the England RFU put in place two pilot academy schemes, one in Bath and one in Durham.

The thinking was to give the best prospects in schools and clubs from throughout the South West every chance to make it to the top level of European club rugby, and as far as England were concerned, hopefully unearth a few more Jonny Wilkinsons along the way.

Director of academies David Shaw, who has been with the England RFU over 20 years and sees the nationwide scheme as his 'baby', said the ground gained over the last five years has been remarkable.

"What we found from the pilot schemes was that the players achieved huge physical development and tremendous technical development, while still over achieving in the classroom it certainly seemed to be the right model."

Devizes and Chippenham junior Simon Whatling, Wootton Bassett youngster Liam Cameron and lively Chippenham scrum-half Joe Alford were among the initial influx in the pilot academy at Bath which involved A-levels at Oldfield School and guidance in what it took physically and mentally to make it in the newly professionalised game.

As far as England's advantage in overall player numbers, Shaw said this had little do to with success, but broadening the amount of elite players in the country was the RFU's mission.

"We have tried to cover every avenue with the academy system so no player misses the boat.

"It doesn't matter what school you go to, your geographical position, your financial or ethnic background, we don't care, I just want to see the best players playing for England."

Since its inception in the 1999/00 season, the system has developed whereby England now has 14 regional academies run mainly in conjunction with the Zurich Premiership clubs, as well as a set up at first division Bristol Shoguns.

The organisation is equally funded by the England RFU and Bath Rugby, and Academy Manager Frank Butler has eyes and ears all over the South West scouting for talent. If there happens to be a young full-back carving up defences for the Aldbourne Dabchicks in Dorset and Wilts Two North, chances are he'll know about.

"The base funding is equal, but owner of Bath Andrew Brownsword (also chief executive) is very keen to see us produce players from the South West for the first team so he puts in some extra resources," Butler said.

"I do watch an enormous amount of rugby, but I have lots of eyes. From development officers (Richard Major in Wiltshire), to contacts in clubs or schools, or even a parent who has seen someone at a game and thinks they're worth a look.

"We'll take a look at anyone, you never know who is out there" he said.

There are a number of levels in the academy, with 11 full-time contracted players, such as Wootton Bassett's Mike Baxter, and then 16-20 'scholars' on top of that who are training full time at the club in conjunction with studies at school or university.

A third tier of 20 or so players makes up an Elite Player Development group, most of which are still based at schools and clubs throughout the South West, but travel each week to train at Lambridge in Bath with academy coaches, former Wasps player Aaron James and Bath old boy Chris Lilley.

Promising Chippenham scrum-half Lee Audis is a good example, the 16-year-old recently accepted after being recommended by his Dorset and Wilts coach.

Another 15 to 18 players comprise an outreach category. This is for players who train full-time in Bath during summer holidays and half-term breaks, but the rest of the year play with their clubs or schools throughout the South West.

It is the scholars who are the most interesting from a development point of view. The full-time contracted players have chosen rugby as a profession, but the next tier are at the crossroads, being given every chance to succeed in the game while also following specially adjusted timetables at school or university.

Clilverd, brought up in Upper Seagry and a former student of Hardenhuish School in Chippenham, is the son of Ron Clilverd, coach of the Bristol U19 squad and a director of the Shoguns. He was in the consortium of seven who rescued the club from financial ruin after their relegation from the Zurich Premiership in 2002/03.

Rugby is in the blood, and the flanker also has a burning desire to succeed in the sport, modelling his game on that of rampaging French back rower Serge Betson.

"I haven't actually played a game since the England trials (on December 31), but I can't wait to get back out there. I'd say I'm more of a try saver than a try scorer, my game is more to run off the centres and set up attacking play," he said.

Clilverd joined Bath academy at the same time as Miller, and both are now doing A- levels at City of Bath College, just across the road from the club's famous Rec ground.

Alford continues to study his A-levels at Sheldon School in Chippenham and academy manager Butler said that's just fine with him.

"If Sam has lessons on a Wednesday morning then we don't ask him to come, we are here to fit the rugby around the rest of their lives," he said.

Butler said there's an extremely fine line between supporting his future stars, and pushing them.

"The biggest part of this job is really mentoring. If the other bits of their lives aren't right, school, relationships or whatever, then the rugby just isn't going to fit.

"When these guys turn 18 or 19 they are their own men, they aren't nursed through, but we are here to offer the advice or support as it's needed."

All three players are regulars in the Bath U19 and on occasion the Bath A team, which plays in the Zurich A league, a step down from the Premiership.

Alford has also debuted for the first team this season, coming on for fellow Wiltshire lad Mike Baxter in the closing stages the Powergen Cup defeat of Harlequins in late December.

"At the start of the year my target was not playing first team rugby at Bath. For that chance to come along was a huge bonus.

"Now I just have to bide my time and take that chance again if it comes along," said the former junior footballer who still lives with his parents, one of which is Chippenham first team coach Rob Alford, in Queens Close, Chippenham.

The junior representative rugby with England is a big plus for all three because the scrapping of U21 competition has meant there is one less stepping stone towards the first team at Bath.

This also means they must be ready to tackle the challenges of top level European club rugby earlier than ever before, Alford made his debut having just turned 18 against men almost twice his age.

But David Shaw says the fact players are appearing in and performing at this level of rugby earlier than ever before is proof the academy system is working.

"We can't cut the corners for these youngsters, but we can certainly help them get around the corner quicker," he said.

"We start to identify around age 14 or 15, the gain from 16 to 18 is significant, but when they reach 19, that's where the benefits are becoming huge."

But the lads themselves are also conscious of reaching the top level as early as possible, and powering through any setbacks threatening this progression.

"I injured my wrist just before summer so couldn't do any upper body weights for almost six months," said Clilverd.

"It really put me behind a bit and I'm trying to catch up now. I'm big enough for U19s, but then there's really nothing else before senior rugby, and I've got to be ready," he said.

Alford's position at number nine has allowed him to play more in the A team, largely protected behind his forward pack.

"U19s is just as quick, but the hits are much bigger in seniors, you feel it the day after," Alford said.

"It is tougher to break into the seniors in the back row," agreed Miller, "but there's a lot of emphasis on injury prevention, it's one of Frank's big things. Having the bulk to protect yourself against the knocks is really in your own best interests."

When he didn't make the U16 England side, Miller was told he was too small. The back rower has taken heed of the advice and made the U18 national squad a year early last season.

"Having the time to devote to your rugby, having all the facilities and all the sessions arranged around school, it makes a massive difference," he said.

"We aren't fully professional but we are living sort of a professional lifetsyle, it certainly feels professional."

But as players are physically ready to tackle the challenges of playing rugby for a living earlier in life than ever before, are they mentally prepared to make such a life decision at 18? "I definitely want to do a degree at Bath University, but the first team shirt if the focus, I want to play to the best of my ability," Alford said.

Part of the academy's close relationship with Bath University is the option of a foundation sports degree. "I really want to sort my life out first, finish my schooling and the foundation degree. But within two or three years I would expect to at least be training with the first team," Miller said.

Cliverd, beyond the foundation degree, seems to have the clearest goals of all. "I'm just looking forward to playing rugby at the highest standard possible, freedom, independence, and m aking lots of money."

Butler and Shaw both agree a modern day international needs to have just as much brain as brawn, and identification of outstanding skill upstairs can often tip the balance at selection time. "The international game is more physical and quicker than ever before, and it's getting faster," Shaw said.

"I think the biggest factor in dealing with this is mental toughness, having the ability to make the correct decision in a split second, a player who seems to have that extra time."

But all the intensity of academy commitments, education and maximising rugby prowess can get a bit much at times. Lowering your handicap must also be regarded as a high priority. If there's no game on a Saturday the Wiltshire trio can usually be found at Bowood or Chippenham, tearing up the fairways.

"We all play off between 12 and 14, but we're pretty evenly matched, so it makes it highly competitive," Miller said, with the smile of a recent victor.

Having a deft touch around the greens probably won't help when you make a vital one-on-one tackle, at least not as much as the number of other skills the boys pick up using the world class facilities at Bath University Sports Village almost daily.

The days when young players were signed and just told to turn up to training are long gone. Under the gaze of full-time academy strenghth and conditioning coach Patrick Hogben, the academy squad utilises the indoor and outdoor running track, weights facilities and myriad of undercover training areas.

England U21 manager Pete Drewett chose to prepare his squad at the university for the Six Nations campaign which starts tomorrow against Wales, and it's not hard to see why.

Wherever our three potential England players end up in five years time, whether its playing Premiership rugby, finishing a degree or cladding a roof, Butler is adamant the academy system will have set them up in life as well as rugby.

"Sure, not every player who comes through the system is going to make the top level, and it's made obvious that not making it is not failure," he said.

"The guys are given every chance, we put them in an environment where they can mature as rugby players, but also men and we like to think that what they learn in the process will give them a solid grounding in life whatever they end up doing."