A LONG-running Worcester Warriors scheme designed to develop talented youngsters on and off the pitch will be moving to Stourport High School.

The Achieving Academic and Sporting Excellence (AASE) programme is a rugby model for promising 11 to 18-year-old players and aims to realise their sporting and academic potential by providing top coaching and access to a high-quality curriculum.

England international Matt Kvesic, Andy Short and Jake Abbott all come through the system to play first-team rugby for Worcester.

Current Warriors forward Ted Hill also benefitted from the programme which was previously ran at Worcester Sixth Form College but will now be switching to Stourport.

Warriors AASE manager Ryan Watkins said: “Moving to Stourport will allow us to coach more players, have more teams and support more age-groups.

“Geographically, it’s also a great location and it’s a whole new avenue to develop young talent in the region so we’re really excited about this new partnership.”

Lorna Deakin, principal at Stourport High School & VIth Form College, added: “We are delighted to be able to partner with Worcester Warriors to provide excellent academic and pastoral support to all students on the AASE Programme from September 2018.

“We pride ourselves on providing individual, bespoke support for all of our students to enable them to fulfil their potential.

“We are committed to implementing a successful rugby programme for boys and girls from Year 7 to Year 13 as an integral aspect of the strategic direction of the partnership and the provision of excellent rugby facilities in the future.”

For more information on joining Warriors’ AASE Programme at Stourport High School, email ryan.watkins@warriors.co.uk.