Ahead of the upcoming Premier 15s season, DMP Durham Sharks are pleased to announce details of their new academy structure. The Sharks have confirmed a total of 8 young players who will be the first intake for the new academy, as the club continues its preparations for the upcoming campaign. Sophie Derbyshire, Katie Smith, Meagan Byers, Tamar Benson, April Ashida, Molly Gardener, Grace Trimble and Ellie Thirkell will all be a part of the new academy setup as part of their ongoing rugby journey.

Gordon Brett, DMP Durham Sharks Performance Manager, commented: “This is the first year of our newly established academy and we’re excited to have the first crop of girls join us. The academy will see the girls play their rugby with a linked club while having access to our S&C, nutritionist and skills coaches. They’re continuing to develop physically and rugby wise and we believe they’ll grow into premiership players over the next 2-3 seasons.”

“We feel that these players will contribute to the future of Sharks and we’re delighted to have them with us.”

Many of the new intake were involved in the Sharks Development side last year, with others also coming through local college programmes; an area Brett was keen to develop: “The academy also ties into the Hartlepool 6th Form College where Sophie Derbyshire has come through and two current academy players are studying. We run several sessions weekly in Hartlepool 6th Form, so it’s a great avenue for us to upskills and push girls through to our first team.”

The partnership includes Hartlepool 6th Form becoming one of only ten Colleges in the country to run a DiSE (Diploma in Sporting Excellence) Academy for Women’s Rugby. DiSE is a government funded programme designed to directly measure the athletes’ ability to plan, apply and evaluate their development in the appropriate aspects of rugby.

Hartlepool's Academy currently compete in the AOC Sport North East, Yorkshire and Humber league, and last year saw them represent the North East in the National Championships. Hartlepool 6th Form work with the talented local clubs that continue to invest in and develop female rugby.

Hartlepool's Academies Coordinator Ian Hewitt added: “This is an exciting partnership for our Women’s Rugby Academy and continues to demonstrate that we deliver high level sport performance programmes alongside an excellent education here at Hartlepool Sixth Form.”

For more information on the new Sharks Academy programme, as well as its links to Hartlepool 6th Form College, please email sharks@mowdenpark.com.