Filton College’s list of sports academies has grown again with the launch of a brand new Rugby League Academy based at the WISE Campus in Stoke Gifford – and would-be League stars of the future are being given a chance to stake their claim to a place on the programme.

The Academy, which will open its doors for the first group of students in September, will be run by the newly appointed Head Coach Dan Garbutt. Garbutt , the current Oxford University Head Coach who also works with England Students, was formerly a Scholarship Academy Coach with Superleague team Harlequins Rugby League and coached on the Rugby Football League’s Junior Performance Pathway. With support from The RFL and Leeds Rhinos, the Academy will aim to provide a route through to the professional game for talented Rugby players from across the region.

The Rugby League Academy will be part of the Bristol Academy of Sport that includes the College’s 13 existing Academies, ranging from Football to Taekwondo, that have been built up since Rugby union began at Filton 10 years ago. Students involved in the Academy will benefit not only from the College’s superb facilities, which opened in 2005 as part of the Colleges £18m WISE Campus development, but also have access to full time Physiotherapy and Strength and conditioning support.

[i“We’ll be initially aiming to identify a squad of between 25 and 30 players for the first season and competing against a mixture of college and club teams,” [/isaid Garbutt [i“it’s a bit of a blank canvas currently but with the resources available to us here at the Bristol Academy of Sport, in terms of facilities, injury prevention and facilities, I expect the group to develop quickly” [/i

The recruitment process is well underway at Filton for the 2011 squad with a number of existing students as well as local Rugby players having been identified. The college will be hosting a open trial at the WISE Campus on the 1st of June and will then confirm the squad ahead of pre-season training starting in July. The trial day, running from 10am – 2pm, will consist of coaching in some of the skills and techniques of Rugby League leading in to a series of modified games.

Garbutt is confident that the trial will unearth plenty of Rugby talent“We’ve already been able to identify some talented players, through the help of our colleagues within the College, and I’m certain there are a whole group of players out there that would be ideally suited for Rugby League. The trial is totally open and we hope to see as many interested players there as possible”[/i

In addition to the Academy itself Garbutt will also be working closely with Bristol Sonics, the city’s successful Rugby League Conference Club, in order to develop community Rugby League within the region. This summer sees the launch of an extensive Junior Rugby League Programme in the city and plans are being put in place for The Sonics to develop into a semi-professional National League club by 2015.

For more information about Rugby League at Filton Academy, or if you are a prospective player, contact Dan Garbutt (email -

Filton College’s list of sports academies has grown again with the launch of a brand new Rugby League Academy based at the WISE Campus in Stoke Gifford – and would-be League stars of the future are being given a chance to stake their claim to a place on the programme.

The Academy, which will open its doors for the first group of students in September, will be run by the newly appointed Head Coach Dan Garbutt. Garbutt , the current Oxford University Head Coach who also works with England Students, was formerly a Scholarship Academy Coach with Superleague team Harlequins Rugby League and coached on the Rugby Football League’s Junior Performance Pathway. With support from The RFL and Leeds Rhinos, the Academy will aim to provide a route through to the professional game for talented Rugby players from across the region.

The Rugby League Academy will be part of the Bristol Academy of Sport that includes the College’s 13 existing Academies, ranging from Football to Taekwondo, that have been built up since Rugby union began at Filton 10 years ago. Students involved in the Academy will benefit not only from the College’s superb facilities, which opened in 2005 as part of the Colleges £18m WISE Campus development, but also have access to full time Physiotherapy and Strength and conditioning support.

[i“We’ll be initially aiming to identify a squad of between 25 and 30 players for the first season and competing against a mixture of college and club teams,” [/isaid Garbutt [i“it’s a bit of a blank canvas currently but with the resources available to us here at the Bristol Academy of Sport, in terms of facilities, injury prevention and facilities, I expect the group to develop quickly” [/i

The recruitment process is well underway at Filton for the 2011 squad with a number of existing students as well as local Rugby players having been identified. The college will be hosting a open trial at the WISE Campus on the 1st of June and will then confirm the squad ahead of pre-season training starting in July. The trial day, running from 10am – 2pm, will consist of coaching in some of the skills and techniques of Rugby League leading in to a series of modified games.

Garbutt is confident that the trial will unearth plenty of Rugby talent“We’ve already been able to identify some talented players, through the help of our colleagues within the College, and I’m certain there are a whole group of players out there that would be ideally suited for Rugby League. The trial is totally open and we hope to see as many interested players there as possible”[/i

In addition to the Academy itself Garbutt will also be working closely with Bristol Sonics, the city’s successful Rugby League Conference Club, in order to develop community Rugby League within the region. This summer sees the launch of an extensive Junior Rugby League Programme in the city and plans are being put in place for The Sonics to develop into a semi-professional National League club by 2015.

For more information about Rugby League at Filton Academy, or if you are a prospective player, contact Dan Garbutt (email -