The 2008 Down Under Program will run July 5 - August 30 (8 weeks). The
DUR program runs during the back half of the Sydney Club Rugby
competition (Winter Season).
The program is open to all Rugby Athletes with Intermediate - Advanced
Rugby Skills, 20 years of age or older. The 2008 Program will be capped
at 16 athletes.
It is expected that athletes arrive in Sydney on the weekend of Saturday July 5 Sunday July 6. Either day is fine, any time of day. We will be as flexible as possible with arrival times and in special circumstances we will accept athletes that need to arrive earlier or later than this weekend. For instance, if you are participating in the NA4 and want to arrive after that is finished - this is ok. Please just let us know in your application.
The DUR program will end the weekend of August 30/31. If you need to
leave earlier than this to return to work or study this is ok. If you want to stay in Australia and travel after the program, this is ok too. In fact, we encourage you to travel in Australia after the 2006 program - the guys went to the Great Barrier Reef together.
Please note that you lose a day travelling to Australia and gain one
when returning to the US when planning your trip.
Provide an opportunity for North American Rugby athletes to:
* Play Rugby in Australia with local Sydney Clubs
* Develop their core Rugby skill set
* Take their game to the next level and become US Eagles or
play for Rugby Canada.
* Learn how to uncover and realise their own special X-factor
* Experience Australian culture and lifestyle
* Become close friends with other elite North American Rugby
athletes
* Build friendships with elite Australian Rugby athletes
* Increase their strategic and tactical understanding of the
game
* Practice their skills in an elite/mature Rugby environment
* Develop a platform to measure and analyse personal performance
