The International Rugby Academy, born in New Zealand, is flying in the face of tough economic times and is going international.
IRANZ boss Murray Mexted says "demand for our hugely successful courses means it's logical to expand overseas, and it's a move that will continue to benefit rugby in New Zealand".
Mexted points out that over 30% of this country's Air New Zealand Cup players are IRANZ graduates along with 21 Super 14 players and 5 All Blacks. Fifty percent of graduates from their courses over the past 8 years have been New Zealanders, the other 50% have come from 28 different countries.
He says ‘there is limited opportunity for expansion in New Zealand. We have sought a role with NZRU for 8 years now without success, despite harnessing and developing some of New Zealand’s most iconic rugby players into specialised coaches. Therefore expansion overseas is a natural progression which can only help develop even greater expertise among our staff coaches and players as they are confronted with, and absorb, foreign ideas and knowledge."
Mexted says "the United States is the sleeping giant of the rugby world, and South Africa is full of raw potential."
IRANZ has signed an agreement with Assistant Springbok Coach Dick Muir to operate under license in the Republic. Mexted underlines that "South African interest in IRANZ has been immense with anything up to 50 per cent of the current intake from that country."
Over the last 8 years, IRANZ has also had 15 Americans enrolled on the High Performance course and 6 of them have returned to the USA to gain selection in their national team – the Eagles. Mexted rates this "a fantastic strike rate and one of the reasons IRANZ has entered into a joint venture with USA rugby to run courses for players and coaches out of Glendale, Colorado."
Mexted is to fly to South Africa on Monday March 2nd for the launch of the Investec International Rugby Academy South Africa.