THINGS might not look too optimistic on the field for Worcester Warriors as they find themselves at the foot of the Aviva Premiership table.
But off it former Leicester Tigers star Sam Vesty, who joined Warriors’ backroom staff in the summer, believes the club are on course to create one of the strongest academies in the country.
Director of rugby Dean Ryan has made it one of his main priorities to make Sixways a place for talented youngsters to flourish.
And Vesty said he has already started to see positive signs for the future since taking on the role as academy transitional manager.
The 31-year-old said the launch of the Development Player Pathway in September has put them ahead of other top-flight clubs.
The scheme has seen the creation of centres in Birmingham, Coventry, Telford and Worcester, which Vesty believes has helped widen their net in a bid to capture more quality young players in the Midlands.
“I think the fact we can now reach the far edges of our catchment area is vital,” Vesty said. “As we have such a vast geography you can’t ask people to travel two and a half hours there and back for a rugby session.
“So if we can outreach that it will only enhance the amount of contact time we can get with young individuals.
“Other clubs are doing similar things, but I think we have taken a lead on it as we have got it up and running faster and in a much bigger way, so hopefully we will reap the benefits sooner rather than later.”
He added: “I hope it becomes one of the strongest academies in the Premiership. I think we have got the geography and the demographic to do it and now Dean is talking about resourcing it I believe it is a really exciting place to be and I will be very frustrated if we are not creating quality players year on year.”
In the meantime, though, the former England international has been enjoying a new chapter in his career after he made the decision to move into coaching following his release from Bath at the end of last season.
His main responsibility is to help players handle the step up to the senior level and Vesty, who came through Leicester’s academy, has been pleased that Ryan has offered some of the club’s rising stars the chance to shine in recent weeks.
“That exposure is huge,” he said. “If you expose a quality young player to an environment where they are playing against other quality players it can only help their ability.
“But in the end it all comes down to taking your chance and in this game you don’t get that many of them, so if you do get a shot you have to take it.”