INTERNATIONAL HOSTING

“What I enjoyed the most at the WPRA was the routinely grind and comradery. It was phenomenal to experience that kind of high performance intensity. The most challenging thing at the Academy was to constantly stay focused on my goals and pushing through when my body and brain wanted nothing to do with getting out of bed. In terms of the coaching at the Academy, the coaches were all extremely motivational and constantly reminding me of the true reason I play the sport – for enjoyment! The staff are all incredible coaches and even better people. In terms of the 3 best things of South Africa, it’s tough to pick just 3. Firstly, the language of Afrikaans as a whole, and the culture that came with it. Secondly, the players to the left and the right of me and the joy and intensity they brought to every session. I will never forget all the people I have met, as they were truly the greatest part of being at the Academy. Lastly, my days off and weekends out were some of the best times of my life. These reasons, as well as many others, have shaped me to be what I believe is a different person than the young man who showed up 3 months ago. A million thanks to everyone at the Academy for everything.”

The most enjoyable part of staying here at the WRPA was by far the coaching staff and being in the giant WPRA gym, ‘The Shed’. I loved every moment of it. The rugby coaching here at the Academy was great! The coaches offered very good support and help when it came to playing and skills development. I learnt a lot from them. My favorite things about South Africa definitely the incredible views that the Western Cape has to offer, the variety of wildlife and of course the incredible rugby culture!”

 “The UXi Western Province Rugby Academy was an incomparable experience rich in culture, world-class rugby, and individual development. One of my favourite things about coming here was being able to train alongside people who spoke Afrikaans, Xhosa, and English; I was exposed headfirst into the diversity of cultures and people South Africa has to offer. In addition, the rugby played here is at such a high level. I often caught myself smiling at how technical the coaches broke down certain skills, and how intricate the drills were – there was always a method to the madness and a rationale to implement techniques into match performance. Furthermore, I’m very happy that I’ve been able to make great relationships with the Academy boys. They’re all goofy, positive, and charismatic, and I know I’ll keep in contact with them for the rest of my life. This academy has challenged me in becoming a better rugby player and a better me in more ways I can count. I couldn’t be more grateful!”

Tucker and Jake were our first two International Players for 2021. Tucker and Jake are both from California, USA, and both spent just over one month with us at the UXi Western Province Rugby Academy.

Hailing from the Californian city, Tucker and Jake are exceptionally talented players from the San Diego Legion Academy. Such as with SA Rugby, USA Rugby also engages in National Development Programs which make use of a High-Performance Pathway initiative, one of them being the San Diego Legion Academy – an American rugby academy where Tucker (22) and Jake (20) hail from. The San Diego Legion Academy and the Western Province Rugby Academy came together to provide once in a lifetime OPPORTUNITIES for these two talented players – the ultimate South African Rugby Experience!

Based in Stellenbosch, Western Cape, Tucker and Jake’s month-long high performance rugby experience has been an incredible experience for both. Not only did they participate in the UXi High- Performance Rugby programme, but also represented the Hamilton’s U/20 team in the Super A Club League of the Western Province Rugby Football Union. The highlight of this stay included a match against the WP Stormers U/20 squad, one that tested the Academy players development progress against some of the best SA Rugby U/20 players in South Africa. An experience for both the South Africans and the American players, as they learnt so much from one another both on and off the field. Friends were made for LIFE and bridges built across so many borders!

Have a listen to Tucker’s and Jakes’ exit interviews:
https://youtu.be/9KkDmh6PGY0
https://youtu.be/WP6s2Dljafg

“I want to thank everyone at the WPRA; the players, coaches, the cooks, and the groundskeepers. Thank you for giving me the experience of a lifetime where I not only grew as a rugby player, but as a person moving forward. Here I was able to make friends that I will have for the rest of my life, work with world class coaches, and experience all that the beautiful Western Cape has to offer. I will always cherish my time here and I will take everything I’ve learned with me back home to Canada. So once again, thank you Western Province Rugby Academy.”

Have a listen to Kyle’s exit interview:

“My experience training at the UXi WPRA has been unforgettable! I have had so many opportunities to learn new skills and improve both on and off the rugby field with the help of great coaches. It has also been great to be able to compete, train, and socialize with the other players at the academy. Everyone here at the academy has been very helpful and supportive of us foreigners, providing a great environment for improvement and memories that I will have forever.”

Have a listen to Quintin’s exit interview:

“The UXi Western Province Rugby Academy was an amazing experience! The coaching is world class, and the atmosphere is like that of a professional side. The one-on-one sessions with the coaches allowed me to develop in the aspects I wanted to develop in, and the player pool pushed me to be the best I could be. Whether it was game time, or small field sessions, the environment was conducive to development. The Academy gave me the opportunity to not develop as an athlete, but as a person. The stories I heard from my teammates, coaches, and even the people of Stellenbosch were humbling and meaningful. Alongside that, the life skills sessions we had taught me how to have a better mentality when approaching life on and off the field.”

Have a listen to Hunter’s exit interview:

“As a rugby academy, the program is meticulously designed to provide players with the necessary tools for success in their respective rugby careers. Following that, the UXi WPRA is a melting pot of cultures and diverse backgrounds, that complement the rugby experience. With each individual inside the WPRA family comes a story, and each story paints a greater picture of the diversity among people across the world. If there is a place truly experience the heart of rugby, it is at the WPRA.”

Have a listen to Blake’s exit interview: