Rugby study by DCU and Insight identifies trends to support player development
Premiership Rugby, the English professional rugby union competition, will use findings from the Insight Research Ireland Centre for Data Analytics in Dublin City University to inform the strategic direction and development of the Regional Club Academies in the Gallagher Premiership.
The newly-established Professional Game Partnership (PGP) between Premiership Rugby and the Rugby Football Union (RFU) has implemented modifications to the Premiership academy system to promote a system driven by developmental rather than recruitment emphasis.
Player development trends identified by Insight’s research team – based at DCU’s School of Health and Human Performance – map a direct link between player productivity and academy investment. This trend, along with others revealed in the data, will help support the programmes in resource allocation.
A 2022 research deal with Premiership Rugby in England has given the researchers access to 20 years’ worth of data on player development in England. The Insight Research Ireland Centre has a strong track record in sports analytics; the Centre conducts data research for sports bodies including the GAA and Premier League Football.
Neil McCarthy, Head of Player Development at Premiership Rugby, is spearheading the project for the league, while the DCU team includes PhD Amy Shelley, Dr Áine MacNamara, Dr Stephen Behan and Dr Jamie Taylor. Taylor previously coached at Leicester Tiger’s academy.
Their work is challenging some of the myths around player origin and development. Modifications to the academy system, recently announced by the PGP, are designed to strengthen the pathway from junior to professional level.
Dr Jamie Taylor said:
It has been a real pleasure working with the Premiership Rugby on this project, we hope that this type of research only strengthens player development and enhances coaching practice. Ultimately, our aim is that this type of research is embedded into the life of an academy and normalises research informed approaches to talent development.
Neil McCarthy, Head of Player Development at Premiership Rugby, said:
This project has provided crucial insight that will underpin vital elements of the new Professional Game Partnership regarding player development. The results of the study will enable Premiership Rugby academies to focus resources on the core drivers of productivity to create a world-leading player development pathway for English rugby. We would like to place our thanks to Jamie and the DCU team for all their hard work over the past two years.