The dates for the 2008 program have been confirmed. The program will run July 5 - August 30, 2008 (8 weeks). The arrival window will be July 4- July 6. This should provide for some flexibility in getting the best flight deal possible.
This first weekend is reserved for orientation, unpacking and introduction to the Rugby program. Should you arrive fresh and ready to go, there is always the possibility of playing your first game Down Under Saturday July 5.
The last night of the program will be Saturday August 30. The ideal departure date from Sydney would be Sunday August 31. Should you need to return home sooner than this it is ok. Please let us know your commitments so that we can work with you to best accomodate your needs.
This will be the third DUR program. We look forward to receiving your applications.
The 2007 Program was an awesome experience for everyone involved. The 6 athletes who came Down Under had a complete blast as did DUR coaches Matt and Grant. It was great to see guys from Louisiana, Toronto and New York mixing it with the Aussies on their home soil.
Check out the 2007 Program review to see pics and read tales from the guys who came to Sydney in 2007. Will the 2008 program (set for July-August) be able to match the phenomenal success of the 2007 program?
Click here to read more...
Down Under Rugby has been established to give Nth American Rugby athletes the opportunity to play and train for Rugby in Australia. Athletes participating in the program will play for Sydney Rugby Clubs and be coached at an individual level by Down Under Rugby. This provides athletes with the opportunity to play and train as part of an Australian Rugby team and also receive expert individual coaching separate to that. The Down Under Rugby 8-week personal training program for Nth American athletes runs between July - August every year. The exact dates for the 2008 program will be provided as soon as possible so that you can work DUR into your college summer break or work schedule. The DUR program runs during the back half of the Sydney Club Rugby competition (Winter Season).
If you aspire to; play for your country, become a collegiate representative, or to simply become a better player for your home team, come Down Under, experience Sydney and take your game to the next level.
Down Under Rugby is based in Sydney, Australia in the beachside town of Coogee. Coogee is home to both the Randwick Rugby Club and the University of New South Wales (UNSW) Rugby Club. These Clubs embrace the entertaining, attacking style of Running Rugby – the style that the Down Under Rugby coaches love. Down Under Rugby have strong relationships with Randwick and UNSW and this provides the opportunity to accept players into the DUR program with skill/experience levels that are intermediate or advanced.
We will position you with a Club that suits your level of experience so that you can achieve as much of possible while in Sydney (Randwick have 4 teams and UNSW have 6 teams). Please note that you do not have to be a student at UNSW to play Rugby at this Club. As a Down Under Rugby athlete you will become part of a Sydney Rugby Club and have the experience of a lifetime.
Down Under Rugby personal coaches Matthew Bowman and Grant Houldsworth played years of First Grade with the Randwick Rugby Club. As a result we have strong relationships with the Randwick Club as well as the University of New South Wales (UNSW) Rugby Club.
Matt has played at the Super 14 level for the NSW Waratahs and was this years' coach of the Sydney Boys High 1st XV. In 2005, Grant coached the Chicago Lions (US Super League) alongside Marty Wiggins (US Eagle Assistant Coach at RWC 2007) and helped players like Phillip Eloff and Scott Peterson improve their world class play.
Together, Matt and Grant embody a wealth of Rugby know-how and will help you uncover your Rugby X-factor. Both the 2006 and 2007 DUR Programs were a huge success and it is great to hear that the athletes are doing so well with their Rugby now that they are back home.
