The South West Regional Academy is up and running, helping to ensure that England becomes the best rugby team in the world. Already 13 academies - Bath, Bristol, Gloucester, Harlequins, London Irish, Saracens, London Wasps, Northampton Saints, Newcastle Falcons, Leeds Tykes, The Sharks, Leicester Tigers and Worcester with Birmingham University - have begun the grooming of England’s future stars, and recently the appointments for the 14th academy were made.

Former Exeter Chiefs forward and ex-Master of Rugby at Ivybridge Community College, Roger Hutchinson, becomes manager alongside an impressive team of four assistants - Robin Cowling, Chris Perkins, Craig Townsend and Mark Hewitt. Unlike the 13 other academies which are all linked to either Premiership clubs or a National Division One side, the South West Academy will operate from four colleges - Truro, Exeter, North Devon (Barnstaple) and Ivybridge. This means an end to the marathon trek up to the likes of Bath or Bristol to receive specialist training. Instead, players will spend no more than 45 minutes travelling to and from the high performance centres.

The selected players have already been identified by the region’s Rugby Development Officers, based on standards reached from the excellent training already received. They will combine their rugby training with academic work at the colleges, ensuring that they are able to devote three hours a day to skills, fitness and tactical work.