We do not hold trials because we prefer to see players within their natural surroundings (playing rather than training) and use county rugby as a baseline standard. We watch a lot of county and representative games and attend the School of Rugby sessions as well as watching university and adult games. A player must be performing consistently well to be considered by the Academy.

Within our three counties, there are infrastructures in place to develop the most talented players from U13-U20. Every year, all clubs and schools will receive an invite to nominate players for screening which usually takes place in the summer. This is the first step on the pathway into the academy system.

There are no set criteria to define what a player must be capable of to be selected by the Academy because everyone is different. Some of the key characteristics and traits we look for in players are: general athleticism, physical potential, attitude towards work, coachability, adaptability, determination, courage, communication skills, spatial awareness and rugby specific skills. The key message to all players is to concentrate on playing well and to not worry about uncontrollable factors.

Only players within the Academy will receive information, advice and treatment from the Academy staff because the system is elitist by nature. For safety reasons, the players we work with are managed individually with programmes tailored to suit their particular needs. If you require specific advice, we suggest you speak to your club, school or county coach about what would be most suited to you.

No. All players working within the Academy are registered with us but only a handful of players will ever gain a professional contract. Each player is viewed in isolation and their potential to play at the highest levels will dictate whether or not a player is offered a part-time contract with the club.

We advise all players to either continue with their education or develop vocational interests alongside their rugby because for those fortunate enough to make a career out of playing rugby, it is not a life-long job. We have strong links with the local universities and have various links in the workplace too. Our academy programmes are tailored to suit the individual player and their specific needs.

We have an A team which plays 10-12 games per season against other Premiership clubs. This team consists of first team players, senior Academy players and some of the best players from local university and club rugby. We also have U16, U18 and U20 fixtures but only play a few games eachy year because of the extensive club, school and county programmes. Players in the Academy are likely to be involved in these fixtures but will also have an external playing programme for their club, school or university. Players within the Academy must play county rugby if they wish to progress into divisional and international squads and, as a guideline, all players should play between 25-35 games per season in total to maximise development and avoid burnout.

Parents undoubtedly have the biggest influence on any young player's life and the key is to support but not manage the sporting development of the player. In order to maximise their potential, a player must take ownership for their own learning by discovering their own motivation for training and doing it because they enjoy it, and not because they feel pressurised into doing it. Parents can play a vital role by taking an interest in the wellbeing of the player, initially managing logistics and finance, providing emotional support and helping the player to develop independence. Many parents find it difficult to let go but reducing parental involvement has to happen if the player is to develop the necessaty skills themselves. Parents managing the player's development in its entirety risk hampering the long-term potential of the player.

No. It is important for players and parents to understand that there are a very small number of career opportunities within professional rugby. Only a few contracts will ever be offered each year to Academy graduates, so the vast majority of players will exit the Academy programme at some stage, hopefully having learnt from their experiences. Because of this, we place a big emphasis on players enjoying their time with the Academy and help them develop socially and educationally alongside their rugby development.

If a player is released from the Academy, they will be directed towards an appropriate playing and training programme for them. Not everyone will become a professional player so the exit routes we have are vital in strengthening relationships with the community game. Some players may even be nominated for talent transfer programmes such as the UK Sport 'Pitch 2 Podium' initiative.

No. The Falcons Regional Academy focuses on the identification and development of elite players. The Community Foundation is a separate branch of the club that operates within the wider community game and organises activities such as touch rugby competitions, beach rugby, residential camps and player visits.

For more information on the Community Foundation please contact Melanie Magee at melanie.magee@falconsfoundation.co.uk