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England Talent Pathway

DEVELOPING ALL THE TALENT IN ENGLAND

The award-winning England Talent Pathway programme aims to increase the number of quality 12-14 year old Rugby League players through the education and training of children's coaches.

The Rugby Football League's Performance Department believes that every young player from 12 years old is on the England Talent Pathway. The programme of Coach Education, Inclusive Player Profiling and 24 sessions can be used and adapted to meet the needs of all young players.


If your child’s club or school is delivering England Talent Pathway you can be assured that coach or teacher is delivering high quality content in line with the national curriculum of the sport.

The commitment to the ETP coaching philosophy is quality controlled through the accreditation scheme.

This is a recognition of a school and an England Player Development School that is focused on developing the whole player by the integration of mental skills, movement skills and coachability aligned to the needs of the game. It is focused on the whole player and their personal success.

Successful and happy young players enjoy the support of family and friends. This is especially useful as young players develop skills in reviewing and profiling.

Your support is valued and appreciated.

If you have any questions about the England Talent Pathway programme, please speak to the coach or teacher, or contact:

phil.jones@rfl.co.uk

Twitter: @Jonesy4020


The England Talent Pathway (ETP) players are supported to be the best they can be.

The aim of ETP is to improve the quality of all young players by guiding coaches and players on what is best to be delivered to young players.

Many factors affect which young players go onto play for England.

The ETP approach is ensuring the best are better prepared for England and the rest are better prepared for their club and school teams.


The England Talent Pathway (ETP) as a provision for teachers is delivered locally through a network of England Player Development Schools.

To be an ETP Delivery School a teacher within a school makes contact with the ETP team and attends a specific ETP teacher CPD event.

The events are delivery locally through England Player Development Partners. From here the school will submit their plan and agree to deliver ETP in curriculum.

The Rugby Football League will assist to ensure they are supported to deliver mental skills, movement skills, coachability and game sense within their lessons.

Your school may also get the opportunity to get involved via the Sky Try programme.

The teacher CPD is a single block to be attended that provides the teacher a key stage 3 approved curriculum resource containing 8 lessons per year.

The attending Teacher attending becomes an accredited England Player Development Teacher. This sits within the ETP philosophy to develop coaches to develop players.

The teachers are additionally supported to assist their players to profile themselves via the online resource.

Part of becoming an England Player Development School requires the teaching network, via the Youth Sport Trust and School Game Organiser, to provide a localised competition opportunity that links to regional and national competition.

This runs parallel to the existing Champion Schools competition offer and is exclusive to accredited England Player Development Schools.

Accredited schools will also have exclusive opportunities with England RL including the chance to take part in England RL research and events.


The England Talent Pathway (ETP) as a coaching provision is delivered locally through a network of England Player Development Clubs.

To become an ETP Delivery Club a coach within a community club makes contact with the ETP team and attends a series of specific ETP coach CPD events.

The events are delivered locally through England Player Development Partners.

From here the community club will submit their annual plan and agree to annual review by the Rugby Football League.

This ensures they are fully supported to deliver mental skills, movement skills, coachability and game sense within their sessions.

The coach CPD is Block 1, Block 2 and Block 3 with all three blocks to be attended. Coaches attending all three blocks become accredited England Player Development Coaches.

This sits within the ETP philosophy to develop coaches to develop players.

The coaches are additionally supported to assist their players to profile themselves via the online resource.

Beyond accreditation community clubs are then provided with access to support and resource to further upskill their coaches and / or to incorporate more of their coaches annually with the aim of 100% of their coaches delivering ETP within those age groups.

Accredited clubs also have the opportunity to engage with England RL research and initiatives.


The England Talent Pathway approach is centred on helping coaches to develop all talent within the age groups of U12-U14s.

The aim is to grow a greater pool of talent to improve standards and develop potential England players.

It helps coaches answer the question - to make my players better, what should I be doing?

This will lead to:

  • Improved quality of the player
  • Leaves the player in their own environment longer – increased inclusivity
  • More players getting more opportunities to demonstrate their potential
  • Regular, focused, player profiling

In order to design this age specific curriculum many leading coaches and youth specialists were consulted.

This is also under-pinned by cutting edge research as what attributes need to be developed by young players as they move along the talent pathway.

The England Talent Pathway (ETP) is delivered locally through a network of England Player Development Partners.

To become an ETP Delivery Partner a professional club makes contact with the ETP team to deliver a series of continued professional development (CPD) for coaches and open access development days for players for coaches, open access development days for players which should be embed within their wider community delivery plans.

From here the club will submit their plan and meet annually with the Rugby Football League to review and refine delivery. This extends the reach of opportunity for players and coaches alike.

The delivery of coach CPD is Block 1, Block 2 and Block 3 as a minimum. Coaches attending all three blocks become accredited England Player Development Coaches. This sits within the ETP philosophy to develop coaches to develop players.

The open access development days are for all players. They give players the opportunity to attend professionally staffed events that form the first step on the England Player Pathway.

The days contain mental skills training, movement skills training, coachability and game sense.

Additionally many development days include an introduction to player profiling.

Partners are provided with bespoke solutions to the specific challenges they face and are fully supported to deliver to their locality.

ETP Partner Contacts

ClubContactEmail
Barrow RaidersTBCTBC
Bradford BullsRyan Hunkinryan.hunkin@bullsfoundation.org
Castleford TigersMatt Lancastermatlancaster@castigers.com
Coventry BearsDebbie Watsondebbie.watson@coventrybears.co.uk
Featherstone RoversAmy Hardmanamy.hardman@featherstonerovers.co.uk
Halifax RLFCChris Mitchellchrismitchell@halifaxrlfc.co.uk
Huddersfield GiantsDan Wilczynskidan@hgct.co.uk
Hull FCMatty Faulknermatty.faulkner@hullfc.com
Hull KRBen Parkerben.parker@hullkr.co.uk
Leeds RhinosIan Hardmanian.hardman@leedsrhinosfoundation.org
London BroncosRob Powellrob.powell@londonbroncosrl.com
Newcastle ThunderMichael Heapmichael.heap@newcastle-thunder.co.uk
Rochdale HornetsKirsty Crehankirsty.crehan@hornetsrugbyleague.com
Salford Red DevilsDanny Bartondanny.barton@salfordcc.ac.uk
St HelensCraig Richardscraig.richards@Saintsrlfc.com
Swinton LionsDamian Ridpathdamian.ridpath@swintonlionsrlfc.co.uk
Wakefield TrinityJosh Ridingjosh.riding@wakefieldtrinity.com
Warrington WolvesLee Mitchellleemitchell@warringtonwolvesfoundation.com
West CumbriaMartina Jacksonmartina.jackson@townrlfc.co.uk
Widnes VikingsKurtis Marshkurtism@widnesvikings.co.uk
Wigan WarriorsDanny Fullertond.fullerton@wiganwarriors.com
York City KnightsAdam Prentis
a.prentis@yorkcityknights.com

Contacts

Project Lead - Phil Jones 

Phil Jones (National Player Development Manager) is the project lead for England Talent Pathway.
He joined the Rugby Football League in February 2018 having spent the previous 20 years on the Development and Performance Staff at London Broncos and Warrington Wolves.
At both clubs, he held the role of Head of Youth Performance, overseeing the whole length of the player pathway from Community through to 1st grade.

E: phil.jones@rfl.co.uk

Twitter: @Jonesy4020