Bridgend College Rugby Academy
Bridgend College established its Rugby Academy in 2005, a vision brought to life by Gareth Nicholas, Head of Rugby, and Paul Adams, Head of Sport. Both men were committed to providing students with development opportunities both on and off the pitch.
In the years since its inception, hundreds of students have benefited from the sporting programme. There have been a multitude of opportunities for both national and international travel for games, to destinations as far as Hong Kong and North America. We have also hosted teams from around the world, including New Zealand, South Africa and the national teams of Japan at both U-18 and U-20 levels.
The Academy continues to go from strength to strength on the pitch. Most recently, the college celebrated a standout 2025 season, culminating in a hard-fought victory in the Conference B final. After overcoming a strong Gower College side, the team secured a well-deserved promotion to the Welsh Schools & Colleges (WSC) Conference A for the upcoming season – the highest tier of collegiate rugby in Wales.
At its core, rugby promotes hard work, discipline, resilience, and perseverance. This foundation, together with the varied curriculum the programme delivers, ensures that anyone who commits to the academy is ready for the next step on their journey, be that in the sporting world or beyond.
This philosophy very much remains in place today. The Rugby Academy not only develops ability within the sport itself, but also is committed to providing transferable skills and experiences that benefit individuals, the College and their communities.
How to apply
Our Rugby academy is open to all students at Bridgend College, regardless of which course you study. Students must be able to attend the academyâs training schedule and fit in training around their course commitments.
To apply for our Rugby Academy please email our Head of Rugby, Craig Warlow at cwarlow@bridgend.ac.uk.
The coaches at the academy
Our experienced coaches, teachers and practitioners will be on hand to keep you safe and help you reach your potential.
Every student will be given the opportunity to test themselves. We know, from experience, that this can be a daunting prospect. However, we offer the full spectrum of support, from our curriculum staff, coaches and medical team to your peers.
For any help or advice, you can contact any of the following via cwarlow@bridgend.ac.uk:
- Craig Warlow – Head of Rugby
- Paul Watkin – Coach
- Simon Norris – Coach
- Jack Spillets – Strength and Conditioning
- Ant Carter – Medical
Our partnership with Bridgend Ravens
Bridgend College is delighted to have recently signed a 3-year agreement with Bridgend Ravens, creating a rugby pathway within Bridgend. This is a unique partnership that sees Bridgend Ravens link with local commercial businesses to help fund sports bursaries for potential semi-professional and professional rugby players in the borough.
Each student that attends the College and is given a bursary will have to demonstrate academic, physical and performance progression as part of the agreement.
To learn more about this opportunity, please follow the link to the Bridgend Ravens website.
Past academy players
From local club players to Welsh internationals, Bridgend College Rugby Academy has produced an abundance of talented players who have thrived in their sporting career.
