| Chris Czekaj, Bradley Davies, Leigh Halfpenny, Jamie Roberts and Tom James are just some of the players that have progressed through the Blues Academy system to represent the senior Cardiff Blues team.
Based at the University of Glamorgan Playing Fields, Treforest the Academy offers individually based programmes for each player, who will receive expert advice and tuition.
Gethin Watts was appointed the Regional Performance Development Manager in October 2008 and is responsible for managing the players aged between 17 and 21 within the Blues Academy.
Dale McIntosh and Lee Jarvis were also appointed to the Blues Academy in Autumn 2008 as Skills Coaches. Rhodri Williams is the Academy Conditioning Coach and responsible for the design, planning and implementation of all the conditioning programmes. While Gafyn Cooper is the Age Grade Coordinator for the Blues region.
All the management and conditioning team are jointly appointed by the Cardiff Blues and WRU.
The aim of the Academy is to offer a clear and comprehensive development pathway for young players within the region.
The players however can also combine school and college studies with their work at the Academies, while all players are also given advice on future careers and education options.
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