Severn Stars netball franchise is excited to announce that it is launching a new Nova Academy at RGS Worcester from September 2020 to continue to develop the Severn Stars performance player pathway.

The school, based in Worcester, will host a Severn Stars Under 17 Nova Academy in partnership with Stars, which is a joint franchise between the University of Worcester and University of Gloucestershire.

Severn Stars’ Director and Co-founder, Dr. Anita Navin, commented that she was “really thrilled to see the Nova Academy programme extend to new partners. RGS Worcester demonstrates a strong passion and commitment to sports performance and netball. We are sure this new Nova Academy will help develop the next netballing stars”.

Severn Stars currently runs Nova Academies for Under 17s in educational centres across the West Midlands and South West region, including in Worcestershire, Herefordshire, Staffordshire, Gloucestershire and Shropshire.  The aim is to engage with the surrounding area and develop a pool of young talent. Each education centre that hosts a Nova Academy, provides talented Under 17 players with weekly training sessions, strength and conditioning programmes and provision, high level technical training, as well as sports therapy and off-court support.

Players attending the Nova Academies will be working towards competing in the Severn Stars Under 17 National Performance League team and, beyond that, the Under 19, Under 21 and professional side.  They have the opportunity to put what they have learned into practice when the Nova Academies compete against each other with monthly match play sessions.  The season usually culminates in the Supernova Tournament in May.  As part of the programme, the players receive a Severn Stars training kit, a training journal and a ticket to a Severn Stars home game.

Gareth Roots, Director of Sport at RGS Worcester stated “At RGS Worcester, we pride ourselves on identifying and empowering every pupil to fulfil their sporting potential. Establishing positive links with outside agencies, such as Severn Stars, is an integral part of this development as it will give our netball talent the opportunity to build their expertise and be exposed to the next level of the game. We are delighted to become a Nova Academy for 2020-21, and with our existing coaching team, alongside our new Head of Netball, Ellie Gibbons, who is already part of the Severn Stars set up as a player, we are confident that RGS has a fantastic structure in place to support our athletes.”

Applications are now open to trial for the RGS Worcester U17 Nova Academy, and Severn Stars other U17 Nova Academies at Oswestry School, Stafford Grammar School, Wrekin College, Birmingham Metropolitan College, King’s School Worcester, Monmouth School for Girls, the Crypt School, Wycliffe College and Clifton College. Any player born in 2004 or more recently can apply by 1st September 2020 at https://www.severnstars.co.uk/player-pathway/