CLICK HERE: NSW U20s and U19s squads announced

Newly appointed NSW Waratahs General Manager of Rugby Tim Rapp believes the club’s restructured Elite Development Program will help produce quality Waratahs and Wallabies for the future.

A new two-tier program has replaced the Gen Blue under 20s squad in 2017, with younger players given more opportunity to grow and develop away from the competitive spotlight.

The EP1 (Elite Development One) squad is filled with under 19s players and focuses more on development, while the EP2 squad will contest the Super 20s tournament later this year.

“We play in the Super 20s competition and results are important, but at the end of the day that isn’t our main focus,” Rapp told Rugby News.

“We want guys to develop and progress into EP3 players and then graduate and play for the Waratahs, because that’s when it is really important to be winning.

“The whole focus of the Elite Development Program is to produce Waratahs and then hopefully Wallabies and now we’ve got a clearly defined structure that allows for that.”

After winning the national championship in 2014 and 2015, the NSW U20s didn’t make the final of the inaugural Super 20s tournament last year, but Rapp said he and his coaching staff learnt plenty from that experience.

“We tried to train as one big group together and it just didn’t work. We learnt from that and now we can split the squads up which helps the older guys to prepare to play the Super 20s tournament and helps the younger guys in their transition from school to senior rugby.”

“The under 19s now have more time to grow and develop while they get used to their club rugby and life outside of school, weather that is work or uni. They can develop under the eyes of our coaches, without disrupting the under 20s group.”

While the two squads were officially announced last week, they both began on and off field sessions in November last year.

“We’ve got six pillars of development. Not only is it tactical, technical and physical, but we’re also focused on our nutrition, on our mental skills and on a more holistic approach,” Rapp said.

“What are they doing for work? Are they studying? Where are they living? If we work really hard on building a better person, hopefully we’ll get develop a better rugby player as well.”

The realignment of the NSW Waratahs and NSW Rugby boards has also allowed Rapp to tighten the talent identification process which begins with the under 15s Junior Gold Cup.

In the under 16s, players are then selected in either the NSW Schools, NSW Country or Sydney Juniors sides. The three sides play one another in trials before two NSW U16s sides will be picked to play at the revamped National U16s Championship in 2017.

From there, the focus turns to the under 18s State and National Schools trials, however NSW Country and Sydney U17s teams will also be selected for those players who leave school.

“We have a lot more opportunity to identify players from all backgrounds and regions right across the state now,” Rapp added.

He said the EP1 squad (U19s) is initially selected based on a player’s performance at school, junior rep and colts levels. The Waratahs also host a mid year under 19s internal trial, where club coaches are asked to nominate talented colts players to play in front of selectors.

“The way the program is now, we’re still giving kids an opportunity to get to the top, but we understand that everyone travels at different speeds. If you come out of school or have been playing well for your club and you come into the under 19s program and excel, then there’s an opportunity to push up into the 20s squad a year early.

“But we don’t want to leave behind the guys who aren’t developing as fast. Now the 19 year olds can focus on their development and their club footy, then have a crack at the 20s a year later.

Both squads took part in live sessions with the Waratahs senior squad last year and played a live game against one another just before Christmas.

“After that six week block of training last year and the internal trial game, we identified five or six under 19s guys who we’ve accelerated into the 20s program and they will hopefully play this year.”

The NSW 20s play three trials in February before their opening Super 20s clash against the Western Force on February 25.

CLICK HERE: NSW U20s and U19s squads announced