The International Rugby Academy Australia (IRAA) is taking Queensland by storm, launching the rugby academy aimed towards rugby player and coach development. The not-for-profit organisation is a world-leading rugby academy, providing an independent high-performance pathway for rugby players, rugby coaches and teams.

Despite the challenges of 2020, the IRAA are leapfrogging off the back of a turbulent year to provide opportunities to athletes and coaches of Queensland. Young athletes have a strong appetite to continue with sport, with some athletes travelling from as far as Rockhampton and the Darling Downs region for the academy.

Michael Byrne, two-time Rugby World Cup winning coach said, “The concept of the IRAA courses, founded through the development of the world class IRANZ courses, continue to develop first class coaches and players.

The courses unique components of capturing tacit or implicit knowledge from its facilitators/coaches is what sets them apart from all other courses that I have attended from all over the world. Explicit knowledge gained through text books and presentations are also a part of the experience.

However, the tacit learning from this camp that the likes of George Smith, Sam Norton-Knight, Totai Kefu, Shannon Parry, Rico Gear, Ben Gollings, Hosea Gear, Lote Tuquiri, Moses Rauluni, Berrick Barnes and so many other world class players attending these courses, will pass on to the players will be extraordinary.”

This week, the IRAA aren’t letting the summer storms dampen their spirits for the inaugural Rugby Academy in Queensland at the Gold Coast Performance Centre. The first of its kind of this caliber – the IRAA aims to maximise the potential of rugby talent for the future of Australian rugby.

Bryne noted that “This type of learning has proven to speed up the individual progress and development of all young players, in fact, all players in general. The opportunity to expose coaches and young talent to the development opportunities that IRAA facilitate is a massive boost for the future of Australian rugby.”

The IRAA provide courses for female athletes, male athletes and coaches. You can find out more information about IRAA here.

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