Starting at next week's
four-day rugby courses, the young players attending will be introduced
to judo in the rugby environment by some of the country's leading
judo coaches under the guidance of Tigers' very own judo expert,
Wayne Lakin.
The Tigers senior set-up
have recently seen the impact Judo can give to top professionals
who are constantly striving to improve their contact techniques,
balance and weight transfer. So much so, that the first team and
academy now have their very own judo coach. Wayne's brief is to
develop specific judo skills & techniques that cross over to
the rugby environment. He also works on behalf of the BJA with his
team of coaches in schools around the country.
"It is great news that the
rugby courses have taken this element of our training onboard,"
says Paddy Mortimer, Tigers' sports psychologist and strength trainer.
"The direct benefit to younger players in gaining movement skills,
strength, contact skills and body management through judo will not
only turn them into better rugby players but better sportsmen too.
Judo has a strong ethos of discipline and respect and Wayne and
his team of coaches will demand a high level of excellence. All
of the coaching team have competed at the highest level and will
bring something extra special to what is already an outstanding
rugby week."
Scott Clarke, Tigers' community
manager, said, "We have always looked to run our courses on the
basis of what the big boys do week in week out. For the past two
years, the first-team squad and academy have looked at judo and
wrestling to develop contact skills and techniques to give them
the edge over their opponents. The rugby course programme has always
had a direct link to the training ground in terms of its rugby content
and, now we have secured the next addition, things can only get
bigger and better for all the attendees.
"Our ideal outcome is that
all rugby course attendees get a chance to sample judo and its cross
-over skills and then perhaps look to join a judo club outside of
the course. Learning how to fall and utilising someone else's strengths
to your benefit is a key element to rugby. Couple this with the
focus on core skills and techniques throughout the week and even
the highest level of player cannot fail to improve on a Tigers course."
A few places are still available
on the courses
To book or to find out more
about the Leicester Tigers Rugby Courses, visit the Tigers website
at www.leicestertigers.com/rugbycourses
or contact the community department on 0116 2171221. |
