A NEW education and coaching partnership between the Bristol Rugby Foundation and Bridgwater College Sports Section that will start in September 2015 has been announced.

This exciting and new partnership aims to engage students in the competencies of being a rugby and sports coach by combining studies with training and competitive matches in order to aid personal game development and improve student's rugby performance on the pitch.

The course will be based at Ashton Gate Stadium, the new home of Bristol Rugby and will include both theoretical and practical elements and students will also play for Team BC Rugby at Bridgwater College and Bristol Rugby Community Foundation.

The course will enable students to develop and learn about being a professional rugby coach and experience working along and supporting Bristol Rugby Community Foundation development programmes and match day activities.

Jason Gunningham, Head of Sport at Bridgwater College said: “We are delighted to be working in partnership with the Bristol Rugby Community Foundation to provide this unique and innovative rugby coach education and performance programme.

“Bristol Rugby is at a very exciting place right now and we are delighted to have been chosen as their lead education partner.

“The course will develop the next generation of rugby coaches and each student will gain key employability skills that will see them support the great work of the Bristol Rugby Community Foundation and enable students to enter the rewarding world of coaching fully equipped with all of the skills and attributes to be successful in their careers.”