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York's experience of a life-time at International Academy - Simply Awesome!

Albert Heenop
Sharks Magazine
August 2004

Murray Mexted, David Nucifora and David York

Imagine you are on the brink of breaking into the big-time. Imagine you could attend an International Rugby Academy in New Zealand that is run by former All Black great, Murray Mexted. Imagine you are a loose forward and you are personally coached by the likes of Mexted and All Black flanker, Josh Kronfeld. Imagine you are also afforded coaching sessions by England World Cup captain, Martin Johnson, and champion Brumbies coach, David Nucifora.

Well, all the above is possible. Just ask KZN Wildebeest loosie and former Natal Under-20 captain, David York.

York in June attended a three-week Elite High Performance Course of the International Rugby Academy of New Zealand (IRANZ) at the Adidas Institute of Rugby in Palmerston North. And he is absolutely stoked with the experience.

"I could never have imagined the training and the whole setup to be as awesome as it was," York says. "It certainly covered everything connected with rugby and training."

"I especially enjoyed the mental toughness sessions as I have never been exposed to anything like that before. It was amazing."

The High Performance Course is highly intensive and covers crucial physical, mental, position-specific and core business skills required to become a successful professional rugby player.

Major emphasis is placed on each player's position and the role of that position. Specialist experts and position-specific coaches at the course included Mexted, Laurie Mains, Jeff Wilson, Grant Fox, Josh Kronfeld and Ian Jones.

And, as already mentioned, there were also special sessions presented by Martin Johnson and David Nucifora.

This year's student intake consisted of upcoming players from the major New Zealand provincial academies, as well as the English Premiership Academies.

"I made a whole lot of new mates over there," York continues, "but it was the training sessions that really blew me away - it was of an exceptionally high standard."

"I found that they place huge emphasis on the development of ball skills; which is vastly different compared to here in South Africa. They also focus quite heavily on rucking drills and skills."

"I learned so much from both Mexted and Kronfeld. I never before had the opportunity to do one-on-one sessions with internationally acclaimed loose forwards like them."

"Basically, they taught me to handle the ball a lot more - their analysis of my game showed that I wasn't touching the ball nearly as much as I am meant to as a loose forward."

"And, quite interestingly, the emphasis over there is on stepping your opponent and not running straight into him, as we here in South Africa are often inclined to do."

"IRANZ simply was an unbelievable experience; awesome."

IRANZ promotes the philosophy of specialisation and the player discovering the position in which he can reach the highest level. And, significantly, Mexted and Kronfeld determined by the end of the High Performance Course that, although he is a quality tradesman at No 8, David York actually has higher upside as an openside flanker. Subsequently, he will be looking at specialising as an openside in future.

"Technically David was very competent as a No 8," Mexted observes. "A tidy player who is capable of generous support to his openside flanker and provides good clearance and distribution from the back of the scrum."

"His ball sense, vision and anticipation indicate he would be able to make the transformation from No 8 to openside flanker. We believe David will reach his highest level in rugby as an openside flanker after considering his physical and mental attributes."

"This will require a focus and game time as a true openside from scrum and the back of the lineout. A concentration on the breakdown and support from his fellow loose forwards will fast track this option."

Fascinating approach to rugby, isn't it? Watch this space...