An affiliated development programme supporting young, ambitious players aged 12-16 who want more from rugby. Train, think, and prepare like athletes in high-performance rugby environments.

Welcome to The Rugby Buddy Player Development Programme

Affiliated with Saracens Academy

Why Rugby Buddy

One programme, many starting points

Every player develops at a different pace. Some are ready to be challenged early. Some need a safety net after release. Some are late developers. Our programme is built to support all of them.

Built for continuity

We know the rugby pathway can be difficult. If a player is released and not quite mentally or physically ready for the next stage, they still have a place to train, improve, and be seen again by Saracens pathway coaches. Development does not stop when selection changes. 

Built to build confidence

Build core skills, good habits and life long friendships, in a less pressured setting. Be coached by current and ex professional players, plus Saracens academy players who bring energy, experience, and encouragement to every session.

Built for competition

The younger groups will be able to test their skills against players from the Game Changer academy, whilst the older ones will have an opportunity to be invited to play for one of the Saracens pathway teams, and be ready for future assessment days

  • "Charlie coached and mentored my son for many years. Charlie's calm and measured approach to coaching is very reassuring when supporting young players. I can absolutely recommend him."

    —James S (parent)

  • "'I've learnt enormously from Charlie's experiences as a professional rugby player, helping me through tough times and challenges I have faced in my rugby life. I am grateful to have worked with him over the years.

    —Louie Sinclair. Bristol Bears

  • "I really understand how the mental side of the sport can deeply affect the physical side. Thank you for the course, the skills and the confidence you have given me."

    Tom (Saracens U18)

  • "Charlie has a calm, understated confidence. He has been a fantastic role model and influence for our son, and we cannot thank him enough."

    —Steve R (parent)

  • "Charlie, you had a very positive impact on my son Will at a critical phase of his rugby journey - he went from 'not making it' with an academy to playing for Bath in the Premiership. I can highly recommend you to others on their journey!"

    —John F (parent)

  • No doubt Charlie was his favourite coach. He said that his interventions and stoppages to discuss play or skills and the subsequent advice offered was really impactful and engaging. He felt it helped him learn something

    Harry H (parent)

Everything you need to know

Structured, year-round development designed to support your child both on and off the pitch.

£87 per month

Season Overview

SEPT–MAY

Weekly, 1 hour rugby sessions between Sept-May.

Term time only.

Mental skills workshops once per half term.

JUNE–AUG

Recovery and prep for next season.

Online calls with special guests plus group monthly check in's with players (google meet). Therefore 2 calls per month in that period.

TRAINING DAYS

MONDAY EVENINGS – U12 and U13 Boys
TUESDAY EVENINGS – U14-U16 Girls
WEDNESDAY EVENINGS – U14, U15, U16 Boys

Programme Highlights

Year-Round Development

SEPT–AUG

In collaboration with AthleticIQ, players will also have year long athletic development, nutrition education, hydration recording and step recording (more to be added).

Compete against your peers by earning points for your activity.

Term and end of season prizes for the most disciplined and those who show the right behaviours.

Group Size
Maximum of 26 players per age group.

Player Feedback
Half term reports with strengths and focus areas

LOCATION: Hertfordshire. More venues to be announced

SESSION TIMES: Evenings between 6-8pm

COACHING TEAM: Our coaches range from current Saracens academy players, to coaches who have been involved in the game for a long time and understand what is expected.

TRIAL SESSIONS AVAILABLE: New players are welcome to join a trial session before committing. *Players will be assessed according to coachability and ability.

PARENT EDUCATION: We understand how difficult this journey can be for parents, which is why, in collaboration with Saracens academy, we also offer an educational programme for them too.

Building confident, disciplined, high-performing young athletes

£87 per month

APPLY HERE
A smiling man with glasses takes a selfie next to a black jersey with the number 10 on it. The man has short hair and a beard.

Meet Charlie

As a teenager, I was told I was too small to make it. Yet I went on to have a 16-year professional career and win multiple trophies along the way. I’ve also seen ‘standout’ academy players; bigger, faster, and more naturally talented, released at the final hurdle.

If rugby has taught me one important thing, it’s that talent is only part of the picture.

What separates players is confidence under pressure, developing the habits that elite environments expect and having the right support around them at the right time.

The problem is, most young players are never shown how to develop these qualities.

That’s why I created The Rugby Buddy Player Development Programme to give ambitious players the focused support, structure, and environment they need to develop properly and keep moving forward.

Frequently Asked Questions

Still have questions? Take a look at the FAQ or reach out anytime. If you’re feeling ready, go ahead and apply.

Apply here

  • For younger players U12-U14, it means preparation. It’s about learning the behaviours, standards, and technical elements that Saracens expect throughout the pathway.

    For the older players, we are aware that talent identification can be a challenge when taking into account the maturation and relative age effect of adolescent athletes. Being affiliated with Saracens Academy provides the players who were perhaps missed, under-served, or simply not physically or mentally ready at the point of pathway review, an extra layer of focused development. Think of it as a safety net when the time isn’t quite right.

  • From Game IQ and Athletic development, to nutrition, mental skills, and educational support for parents, everything is covered.

    Bring the right attitude and a desire to improve, and we’ll match it with the support, coaching, and feedback to help you get there. Including tracking your progress along the way.

  • A monthly direct debit of £85.

  • There is no other rugby coaching group that works in affiliation with an official Premiership academy. That means that for the younger age groups, we can prepare them for the journey ahead, knowing the exact behaviours and traits that are expected. And for the older ones, players still have a place to train, improve, and be seen again by Saracens pathway coaches. Development does not stop when selection changes.

  • In person sessions are for an hour, once per week. The rest of the programme is to be done in your own time, whenever it works for you.

  • No. Every player is welcome.
    However, all players will be placed in a group that is designed for their playing ability. We know that some will be late developers, so it is about protecting what is right for them at that specific time of their development.

    Players can move between groups when the coaches feel it is the right time to do so.

  • If we haven’t worked together before, please come to a trial session and be assessed. If you like it, the coaches will then decide what group you will join.

  • We limit the playing groups to 25 players

  • This is definitely not another academy and it is definitely not a shortcut to the Saracens academy pathway. This is also definitely not us promising future contracts.

    We will provide as much support as possible to help you get back into the pathway. We will work with you on your IDP and come up with a plan to improve on your work-ons.

    We will have meetings across the season to share updates on players within the Rugby Buddy player development programme.