Rugby Heritage

[Rugbyschooladvise]

Can someone please advise me on this situation.
My 14 year old son, very good at Rugby, loads and loads of potential. He has been scouted and is now in a Development Player Programme at the local Prem Team. I don’t know much about Rugby or the pathways but all of his serious team mates seem to be at private schools on Sports Scholarships. His coaches have started asking the question of which 6th Form he wants to attend - recommending certain Private schools with links to the club he trains with. My 2 issues are, My son, as great as he is at Rugby, he is not academic at all, he is unlikely to pass GCSE with the grades to study at Alevel. He might be ok with a Level 2 qual in a subject he enjoys, or perhaps a BTec but he certainly won’t be completing A-Levels at age 16.
My next problem is, even if he did manage to get the grades to study A levels, the schools they want him to attend are Private, I am a single parent and although I could afford something, the fees are out my budget. Even with a scholarship.

So if he decided to attend our local collage, to study sports coaching at L2, would that be the end of his Professional Rugby Dream? This seems ridiculous but if you watch any pro players interview, they all studied at one of these schools or a university of similar standing.

Any advice would be welcomed

Not all private schools are academically selective. Children who are very talented (not necessarily academically) may get substantial financial support if the school thinks it's worthwhile to get them to enrol.

No, you absolutely do not have to have gone to private school to play rugby at a high level. You need to be talented, dedicated, physically tick particular boxes in terms of build depending on your position, be lucky with injuries, be lucky to be one of the best in your cohort.

Hopefully parents whose children have gone down this path will see this thread, but it's worth having a frank conversation with the coach - say what you've said here and ask for the idiot's guide to best next steps. That's part of their job.

There are more non- private colleges opening up courses that are run alongside different sports academies. One of my children attends one of these colleges (B-tech and A-level options available) and is in their rugby academy. If you let me know whereabouts in the country you are I might be able to help?

If he’s not academic that’s even more reason to pursue his rugby career. If he is very talented the schools will want him at any cost and won’t expect you to pay. Definitely speak to them and good luck to your son.

There appears to be at least one specialist sports academy with a rugby academy - this looks to be state https://www.hartpury.ac.uk/college/why-hartpury/academies/mens-rugby/.

If it's not local to you, I am sure they could give you some advice about other options, if you ask them?