Read our Coronavirus (COVID-19) Statement here (updated 26/05/20)
PSA Rugby Academy, Kilkenny
Our largest Academy returns returns to the Kilkenny College campus in August 2020 for a new and even better high-performance rugby experience, when over 120 top young male and female players aged 10 to 16 years will be led by our top quality rugby and camp staff team, with a clear focus on player-specific assessment and development, with a maximum 20 players per coach ratio. The Academy programme, through our key specialist focus areas, promises to positively challenge your player in taking a significant step forward in their rugby and personal development.
Ambitious players will be introduced to our key coaching principles, focusing on the assessment and development of key core skills around passing, rucking, tackling and game management. With the use of leading sports tech, the top coaching team will develop a player-specific report sent to players and parents post-camp to help with ongoing development. But at the PSA Rugby Academy, Kilkenny, there is a focus on the wider development of the person through our varied programme content that covers introductions to key sports science areas, mental wellness principles and fun but challenging C.A.R.D.S. (Creativity, Awareness, Resilience, Decision Making & Self-Organisation) based group activities.
PSA Rugby Academy, Kilkenny is also our original high performance summer venue for the development of girls rugby and we are excited to offer a specifically tailored 5 nights programme, featuring top coaches from the professional ladies game, for girls in the Intermediate/Advanced aged group (12-17 years).
Included In The Price
Accommodation
Our high quality full board accommodation at Kilkenny College varies from shared rooms of 4 to 7+ players. We always have separate quarters for boys and girls (plus different age groups, based on numbers). If your player have any special requirements or would like to request to share with a friend, please provide this information during or after the booking process. *NOTE – bedding including sheets, duvet & pillow plus covers are provided by the venue for the duration of your player’s stay.
Insurance
PSA Academies has partnered with Endsleigh Insurance to provide invaluable cover specifically designed for PSA Academies players. You will receive a summary of insurance cover after booking, however key benefits include:
- Cover for over 90 sports and activities are included as standard (full details are available within policy documentation).
- Cancellation and curtailment of the trip due to accident, illness or sickness.
- If taken ill or have an accident, Endsleigh will pay emergency medical bills and hospital costs that are not covered by the National Health Service.
- Additional costs incurred to repatriate, if medically necessary.
- Reasonable costs to return home if a close relative is seriously ill.
- Reimbursement if luggage is lost, stolen or accidentally damaged.
- Endsleigh will help replace passports, or visas if they are lost or stolen.
- Money stolen either from your person or while locked away, will be replaced.
- If a student accidentally injures someone or damage their property, Endsleigh will cover legal liability.
- Advice and assistance to take legal action is covered.
- Cover for unavoidable or necessary cancellation or curtailment of course before completion due to, death, bodily injury or illness.
As a member of the Advance Payments to Travel Agents (APTA) Guarantee Scheme, underwritten by Evolution Insurance Company Limited, Klub Group Limited complies with the requirements of the Package Travel, Package Holidays and Package Tours Regulations 1992
Pastoral Care & Supervision
Our fully vetted and professionally trained programme staff are responsible for the pastoral care of all those players in our care and ensure that everyone is sleeping & eating well, joining in all activities, making friends and having a great time. As well as ensuring the daily wellbeing of the overall group, our staff get assigned a group of players that they mentor, delivering twice daily ‘Markers’ meeting, where they get to develop a rapport with each individual and can speak about how they feel physically & emotionally, what their daily goals are and how they fell the programme activities have gone. During free time, our players are able to relax in specified areas of the Kilkenny College campus with their new friends, whilst being supervised by our staff. We operate a restricted Mobile Phone Policy, with players only getting access for 1 hour in the mornings and 2 hours in the evenings, when they will be expected to contact their parents.
Professional Coaching
Our elite level coaches at our Irish PSA Rugby Academies, such as Johne Murphy, BJ Botha, Alan Tynan, Ben Swindlehurst, Rocky Clarke and Paula Fitzpatrick have played and/or coached at the highest level of the youth and/or senior professional game. For more information on the high performance aspects that our Rugby Academy programme covers, please see our “specialist areas covered” section, with links to articles, at the bottom of the page.
Player Development Report
Following the completion of the high-performance Academy programme, each player will receive a detailed Player Development Report, containing test results and development comments across four core skills areas (Pass, Breakdown, Rucking & Tackle) plus physical conditioning. The report also looks at the player development holistically and as such, you will receive a written comment from the player’s group staff mentor, summarising their approach to the C.A.R.D.S. aspect of camp life.
Personal Development
Using the C.A.R.D.S. framework, our Staff Mentors, Coaches and Guest Speakers will provide your player with the opportunities to gain important life skills that will help them to prosper, not only as players but as leaders and people.
STC Player Pack
Each player will receive a PSA Rugby Academy branded player pack from STC Teamwear. Intermediate/Advanced players will receive 2 branded tech training T-Shirts and a Wet Top, with Minis/Girls players (of all ages) receiving 2 branded tech training T-Shirts.
Specialist Areas Covered
Upcoming Programmes
Boys
5 Night Residential Package
Sun 9th August – Fri 14th August 2020
(INT/ADV – Boys 12-16yrs) Prices from: €445.00
5 Day Non-Residential Package
Mon 10th August – Fri 14th August 2020
(INT/ADV – Boys 12-16yrs) Prices from: €339.00
3 Night Residential Package
Tues 11th August – Fri 14th August 2020
(M – Boys 10-11yrs) Prices from: €269.00
3 Day Non-Residential Package
Weds 11th August – Fri 14th August 2020
(M – Boys 10-11yrs) Prices from: €205.00
Girls
5 Night Residential Package
Sun 9th August – Fri 14th August 2020
(INT/ADV – Girls 12-17yrs) Prices from: €445.00 / £395.00
5 Day Non-Residential Package
Mon 10th August – Fri 14th August 2020
(INT/ADV – Girls 12-17yrs) Prices from: €339.00 / N/A
3 Night Residential Package
Tues 11th August – Fri 14th August 2020
(M – Girls 10-12yrs) Prices from: €269.00 / £239.00
3 Day Non-Residential Package
Weds 11th August – Fri 14th August 2020
(M – Girls 10-12yrs) Prices from: €205.00 / N/A
Boys Minis = M (10-11yrs), Int = Intermediate (12-14yrs), Adv = Advanced (15-16yrs) Girls Minis = M (10-11yrs), Int = Intermediate (12-14yrs), Adv = Advanced (15-17yrs)
*excludes spending money or additional requirements outside of the standard package. The package must be paid in full in order to secure your player’s place. Full booking Ts&Cs apply.
Contact Us
The PSA Academies team are working either remotely or within Government guidelines to maintain ‘business-as-usual’ hours (9am GMT until late, Mon to Sat!) so we are more than happy to hear from you via any of our active communications channels should you have any queries about this programme or any other aspect of our summer Academy programmes.
”An extremely well organized and engaging camp for the week. My son thoroughly enjoyed it. Learned so much - not just about skills, like passing technique, tackling and kicking but also about nutrition and growth mindset. "The best rugby camp I've been to" according to my son. Can't recommend it enough - will be back next year.
Peter - Parent2019 PSA Rugby Academy Kilkenny
”A great week, with excellent coaches, speakers and pastoral staff. Highly recommended.
Matt - Parent2019 PSA Rugby Academy Kilkenny
”Excellent camp for my 14 yr old son. Great line up of mentors and guest coaches.
Helen - Parent2019 PSA Rugby Academy Kilkenny
Well communicated to parents with daily updates. I would highly recommend.
My son will be back next year!
”Excellent camp for Girls Rugby. Very well organized. Great to get updates every day. Excellent coaching. Food and accommodation great.
Fionnuala - Parent2019 PSA Rugby Academy Kilkenny
”Thank you for “the best week of my son’s life”. Vincent has truly had the most amazing experience - he has learned so much and, more importantly, made so many new friends, from all over the country.
Niamh - Parent2019 PSA Rugby Academy Kilkenny