Wanneroo Academy of Rugby
Develop the Athlete. Develop the Rugby Player. Develop the Person.
A structured rugby and athletic development program for aspiring young rugby players entering the U13–U18 age groups in 2027.
Led by Wanneroo Rugby's Head of Athletic Performance, Keith Brady, the Academy combines strength and conditioning, technical rugby development and game-based training to help players improve their performance and prepare for the next stage of their rugby journey.
2 Development Streams
8 Weeks of Training
U13 - U18 in 2027
2026/27 Program
Orientation
Compulsory Orientation & Goal Setting
Wednesday 4 November 2026 | 5-7:15 PM
Block 1
Mon 9 Nov – Wed 2 Dec 2026
Block 2
Mon 18 Jan – Wed 10 Feb 2027
Training Days & Times
Mon & Wed | 5–7:15pm
Location
Wanneroo Rugby Club
More Than Just Rugby Training
The Wanneroo Rugby Academy is an off-season development program designed to help young rugby players build the physical, technical and personal foundations needed to perform at their best. Combining structured athletic development with specialist rugby coaching, the Academy provides players with an opportunity to improve their strength, speed, fitness, technical skills and understanding of the game. Our approach goes beyond simply developing better rugby players. We aim to build confidence, discipline, resilience and teamwork, helping young athletes develop the qualities they need to succeed both on and off the field.
Led by Keith Brady, Wanneroo Rugby's Head of Athletic Performance, the Academy is delivered through two age-specific development streams, ensuring players receive coaching appropriate to their age and stage of development. Whether your goal is to improve your club or school rugby performance, prepare for future representative opportunities or develop the foundations for senior rugby, the Academy provides a structured environment to support your development.
ONE ACADEMY. TWO DEVELOPMENT STREAMS.
One structured program, tailored to each player's age and stage of development.
Two Streams. One Development Pathway.
The Wanneroo Rugby Academy offers two age-specific development streams for players entering the U13–U18 age groups in 2027. Both streams follow the same core training program, combining strength and conditioning, technical rugby development and game-based training, with coaching tailored to the age, physical development and experience of each player.
U13 - U15 IN 2027
Development Stream
Build the foundations. Develop your game.
The Development Stream is designed for players entering the U13–U15 age groups in 2027 who want to improve their rugby skills, develop their athletic ability and build the foundations for future success. Through structured coaching and age-appropriate training, players will develop strength, speed, movement quality and technical rugby skills while improving their game awareness, decision-making and confidence on the field. With an emphasis on individual development, this stream helps young players build the physical and technical foundations needed to progress through junior rugby and prepare for future representative opportunities.
THE FOCUS
Building stronger, more skilful and more confident young rugby players, with the foundations to progress towards future representative and senior rugby opportunities.
U16 - U18 IN 2027
Pathways Stream
Develop your performance. Prepare for your next level.
The Pathways Stream is designed for players entering the U16–U18 age groups in 2027 who want to take their rugby development to the next level and prepare for the demands of higher-level competition. At this stage of their rugby journey, players become eligible for state representative selection opportunities. The Pathways Stream helps players prepare for these opportunities by developing the physical attributes, technical skills and game understanding required to compete at a higher level. Building on the Academy's core development program, this stream places an additional emphasis on athletic performance, position-specific skills, decision-making under pressure and preparation for representative and senior rugby. Whether players are working towards state selection or looking to improve their club or school rugby performance, the Pathways Stream provides structured coaching to support their development.
THE FOCUS
Helping players improve their performance and prepare for representative selection opportunities and the transition towards senior rugby.
Learn from Experienced Coaches
The Wanneroo Rugby Academy is led by Wanneroo Rugby's Head of Athletic Performance, Keith Brady, supported by AJ Preketes and specialist guest coaches throughout the program. Together, the coaching team will deliver a structured approach to athletic development, technical rugby skills and game-based training, helping players develop the skills and physical foundations required to progress in rugby.
ACADEMY HEAD COACH
Keith Brady
Head of Athletic Performance, Wanneroo Rugby Club
Keith will lead the Academy's overall development program, combining his expertise in athletic performance with a structured approach to rugby development. He will oversee the strength and conditioning framework, player development, performance testing and training progression, ensuring that each player is challenged appropriately for their age and stage of development.
ACADEMY ASSISTANT COACH
AJ Preketes
Wanneroo Premier Grade Player | Rugby WA Development Officer
AJ brings his experience as a Wanneroo Premier Grade player and RugbyWA Development Officer to the Academy. Working alongside Keith, AJ will support players in developing their technical rugby skills, game awareness and understanding of the game, drawing on his experience in both senior rugby and player development.
SPECIALIST GUEST COACHES
Additional Expertise Throughout the Program
Throughout the Academy, Keith and AJ will be joined by specialist guest coaches who will deliver targeted sessions across different areas of rugby development. These sessions will provide players with additional technical expertise, different coaching perspectives and opportunities to develop specific aspects of their game.
Your Road to the 2027 Season
The Wanneroo Rugby Academy runs across two four-week training blocks, separated by a six-week Christmas and New Year break. Players attend two coached training sessions per week on Mondays and Wednesdays, with a structured home training program provided during the holiday break to support their continued development.
BLOCK 1 · FOUR WEEKS
Build the Foundations
Wed 4 Nov – Wed 2 Dec 2026 | 5-7:15 PM
Wednesday 4 November: Compulsory Orientation & Goal Setting Session
Monday 9 November – Wednesday 2 December: In-person training every Monday and Wednesday, 5:00pm–7:15pm.
The first four weeks focus on establishing each player's athletic baseline, developing correct strength and conditioning techniques and building core rugby skills. Players will complete initial performance testing and work through a structured development program focused on strength foundations, speed, technical skills and game awareness.
The goal: build strong foundations for continued development.
SIX-WEEK HOLIDAY BREAK
Continue Your Development
Christmas & New Year holidays
During the six-week break, players will be provided with a structured training program to follow at home. The program will help players maintain their progress, continue developing their fitness and strength, and return to the Academy ready for the next stage of training. Players will also have time to rest, recover and enjoy their holidays before returning for Block 2.
BLOCK 2 · FOUR WEEKS
Prepare to Perform
Mon 18 Jan – Wed 10 Feb 2027 | 5-7:15 PM
The second block builds on the foundations established before Christmas, with an increased focus on strength, conditioning, advanced rugby skills and preparation for the upcoming season. Players will continue their athletic development while working on more complex game situations, defensive structures, position-specific skills and competitive scenarios. The program concludes with performance testing to measure individual progress and help players assess their readiness for the 2027 rugby season.
The goal: enter the new season stronger, more confident and better prepared to compete.
Three Development Pillars
One Complete Development Program
Every Academy player will participate in a structured program combining three core areas of development. Each training session is divided into three 45-minute blocks, providing a balance of athletic development, technical rugby coaching and game-based training.
1Strength & Conditioning
Build the physical foundations needed to perform at your best.
Players will follow a structured athletic development program focused on improving strength, speed, power, fitness and movement quality.
Training will be tailored to each player's age and physical development, with an emphasis on correct technique, safe progression and building strong athletic foundations.
2Rugby Skill Development
Develop the technical skills required to perform confidently and effectively on the rugby field.
Sessions will focus on catch and pass, ball carrying, tackle technique, footwork, evasion, breakdown skills and support play.
As the program progresses, players will work on more advanced skills, including passing at speed, defensive technique, kicking and position-specific development.
3Rugby & Game Development
Put your skills into practice through game-based training, competitive scenarios and decision-making exercises.
Players will develop their understanding of attacking and defensive situations, including one-on-one and two-on-one scenarios, support play, defensive line speed and set plays. The focus is on developing players who can read the game, make better decisions under pressure and apply their skills effectively in match situations.
PERFORMANCE TESTING
Measure Your Development
The Academy is designed to deliver measurable development, not simply additional training sessions.
Players will undertake a series of athletic performance tests throughout the program to help establish their baseline, monitor improvements and identify areas for continued development. Testing will take place at the beginning of the Academy, following the holiday break and at the conclusion of the program, providing players with a clear indication of their progress.
Performance Testing Includes
Bronco Fitness Test
Aerobic fitness and rugby conditioning
20m Sprint
Acceleration and speed
Standing Broad Jump
Lower-body power
Push-Ups & Chin-Ups
Upper-body strength and endurance
Strength Assessment
Age-appropriate strength and technique
Registration Information
All registrations will be taken through RugbyXplorer app
Open the profile of the player you’re registering
Find a Club: Wanneroo Junior Rugby CLub | Role: Player | Registration Type: XVs Academy | Duration: Season
Cost: $260 per participant* + $40 training jersey (optional)**
*Registered Academy participants with attendance of 85%+ over the program will receive 50% discount on the club portion of their 2027 Wanneroo Junior XVs registration fees.
**Academy training tops must be purchased at time of registration. It is an optional add-on during the registration process in RugbyXplorer.
Contact Us
If you have any questions about the program, please reach out to academy@wanneroorugby.com.au