ERA Comes to the Midlands — Building a Pathway in the Heart of England

Elite Rugby Academy is coming to the Midlands. From September 2026, ERA will open its Midlands academy at Stourport High School & Sixth Form, Minster Road, Stourport-on-Severn, Worcestershire — bringing a full, professional development programme to a region that has long had the talent but not the pathway.

This is not a satellite operation or a scaled-down version of what ERA does elsewhere. The Midlands academy will run the same 12-month structured programme as every other ERA location — the same coaching methodology, the same competitive fixture calendar, the same access to video analysis and strength and conditioning, and the same pathway to representative rugby, college academies, and beyond.

Why the Midlands?

ERA's expansion has always been driven by one question: where are the players who deserve better? The Midlands has a strong rugby culture — Worcestershire, Staffordshire, the West Midlands — but development provision at the elite level has historically been concentrated in the South East and the North. Players in Kidderminster, Worcester, Stourport, Bromsgrove, Redditch, Bewdley, Droitwich, Pershore and across the wider region have had to travel significant distances to access the kind of structured, year-round programme that ERA provides — or, more often, they simply haven't had access to it at all.

"The Midlands has always been on our radar. The talent in this region is real — there are players in Kidderminster, Worcester, Stourport, Bromsgrove and across Worcestershire who are good enough to go further but haven't had access to the right environment. That changes now. We're bringing the same programme, the same standards, and the same pathway to the Midlands that our players in London and Kent have had for years."

— Nash Cohen, Founder & Director of Rugby, Elite Rugby Academy

ERA's decision to base the Midlands academy at Stourport High School & Sixth Form reflects both the quality of the venue and the geography of the catchment area. Stourport-on-Severn sits at the centre of a region that takes in some of the most rugby-active communities in the Midlands — and Stourport High School provides the facilities ERA needs to deliver its full programme from day one.

The Venue — Stourport High School & Sixth Form

Stourport High School & Sixth Form is a well-equipped secondary school venue with the space and infrastructure ERA requires. The school's sports facilities support training sessions, video analysis, S&C work, and competitive fixtures — everything ERA needs to run a full development programme from day one. The address is Minster Road, Stourport-on-Severn, DY13 8AX.

The catchment area for ERA Midlands is broad. Players from Stourport, Kidderminster, Worcester, Bromsgrove, Redditch, Bewdley, Droitwich, Pershore, Tenbury Wells and across the wider Worcestershire and West Midlands area are all within reach. For many of these players, ERA Midlands will be the first elite development programme available to them within a reasonable distance of home.

What ERA Brings to the Midlands

ERA is not a rugby club. It is a professional development programme — structured around the same principles that underpin elite academies at Premiership and international level. The programme runs across three phases: a Training Phase from September to February, a Competition Phase from March to May, and a Transition Phase from June to August. Every session has a purpose. Every player has a development plan. The environment is built around intensity, accountability, and the kind of honest feedback that accelerates growth.

Players in the programme train alongside others who are serious about their development — not just the best players at their club, but players who have been selected through a competitive trial process and who are committed to the standards ERA demands. That environment is, in itself, one of the most powerful development tools ERA offers. The programme covers technical skills, decision-making, physical preparation, video analysis, and competitive fixtures — a complete development curriculum that no club programme can replicate.

"Opening in the Midlands is something we've been working towards for a while. This is a region with a strong rugby culture and players who are ready to be challenged at a higher level. What ERA brings is structure, intensity, and a genuine pathway. The pre-trial camp on 27th May is the first opportunity for Midlands players to experience that — and I'd encourage every serious player in the area to come and be part of it."

— Bryony Cleall, Elite Rugby Academy Coach

ERA's National Footprint — Nine Academies

The Midlands academy brings ERA's total to nine locations nationwide. The programme now operates across London North, London West, Surrey, Kent, Milton Keynes, Brighton, Durham (Girls Only), Colchester, and the Midlands — a network that stretches from the South Coast to the North East. Each location runs the same programme, shares the same coaching standards, and feeds into the same national fixture calendar. Players at ERA Midlands will compete against ERA players from across the country — a competitive environment that no local club programme can replicate.

This national footprint also matters for the pathway. ERA players have gone on to represent their counties, earn places at college academies including the ACE programme, and enter the professional club pathway. As ERA grows, so does the visibility of its players — and the opportunities available to those who come through the programme. The Midlands is not a new branch of ERA. It is a full member of a national network that is producing results.

Pre-Trial Camp — 27th May 2026

Before the formal trials in July, ERA is running a pre-trial camp at Stourport High School on 27th May 2026. This is a one-day camp designed to give players in the region their first experience of ERA's coaching environment — the standards, the intensity, the methodology. It is also the best way to be seen by the coaching team before places are allocated in July.

The camp is open to players aged U13–U16, boys and girls. Places are limited. This is not a taster session — it is a genuine development day run to ERA's full programme standards. Players who attend will arrive at the July trials with a clear understanding of what ERA expects and what the programme delivers.

Trials — July 2026

Formal trials for the Midlands academy will take place in July 2026. Places in the programme are limited — each squad is capped at 30 players per year group. Selection is based on attitude, coachability, and technical quality — ERA is looking for players who want to be challenged and who are ready to commit to the standards the programme demands.

• —Pre-trial camp — 27th May 2026, Stourport High School & Sixth Form. Open for registration now.
• —Trials — July 2026. Date to be confirmed.
• —Programme starts — September 2026.
• —Age groups — U13, U14, U15, U16. Boys and girls.
• —Venue — Stourport High School & Sixth Form, Minster Road, Stourport-on-Severn, DY13 8AX.

If you are a player aged U13–U16 based anywhere in Worcestershire or the wider West Midlands — or a parent or coach looking for a serious development pathway — now is the time to act. The pre-trial camp on 27th May is the first step. Trials follow in July. The programme begins in September. The pathway is open.