Rugby Development Centre

If you're under 19 and have got the ambition and determination to succeed in rugby - league or union - our Rugby Development Centre can help you reach the top of your game.

We've teamed up with Gateshead Thunder and the Rugby Football Union (RFU) to form a rugby ‘super academy'. We can offer you a complete training, coaching and education package with a clear progression programme. You will even have the opportunity to train with Gateshead Thunder and will benefit from extra coaching and training opportunities and the chance to have individual performance and training analysis.

As part of the collaboration you will have the chance to complete coaching and match official courses, and to go out and work with the local community with Thunder players and the RFU Community Coaches.

While studying with us you'll benefit from our superb facilities at our Academy for Sport based at Gateshead International Stadium.

If you want to find out a bit more about what you get as an academy member, such as 9 hours professional coaching each week, then visit our introduction pages.

Update: Student lands professional contract

Student Mark Bentham has beaten off stiff competition from 40 other players to land a contract to play for Doncaster Academy Knights Rugby team.

The 19-year-old, who is currently studying for a National Diploma in Sport Performance and Excellence at the college, was scooped-up by talent scouts after showing promise playing for the North East College's team.

Mark is delighted with the training he has received at the college:

"I owe my success to the College and its staff as without them, this opportunity would not have been possible."

Former students beat 500/1 odds to win League

Going against all the odds, Gateshead Thunder romped home to an impressive victory this season to lift the National League Two Trophy. A spirited crowd watched their team beat Doncaster 22-18 to secure their place in the National League Division One - which they were at 500/1 to do.

Playing that night were Ryan Clarke and Matthew Barron, former students of Gateshead College's Academy for Sport, where they both studied on the Diploma in Sports Science. Both players had an excellent game and are getting geared up for their promotion into Division One. This is a fantastic achievement for both former students - our tally of professional players just keeps getting higher!

Talking about the achievement Ryan said ‘Nobody expected us to do as well as we did and it felt fantastic proving everyone wrong and winning the league in great style. The sense of achievement for me personally, the team and the area is so strong - we are promoting a sport in what is a football dominated culture. Studying at the college and being able to access the facilities certainly set me off on the right path and to now be playing professional Rugby shows that anyone can live the dream!'

Get in touch

So if you're a keen rugby player and want to come to college full time then get in touch.

If you would like to see the course we can offer then visit our course finder.

You can find out more about Gateshead Thunder - the region's only professional Rugby League side - at http://www.gateshead.ac.uk/curo/www.thunder-rlfc.co.uk