Rugby Overview
ISD Rugby is the premier destination in the region for aspiring collegiate or professional rugby players. Guided by the most experienced and proven coaches in Dubai, ISD Academy’s rugby teams will compete in a magnificent, 2,500-seat stadium in the heart of ISD that is also a seasonal training ground for many of the top international rugby teams from Asia and the Middle East.
ISD Rugby student-athletes train and compete with one of three high-performance programs who call ISD home to their practices and games, the Tigers, Sharks, or Falcons. Each player will have a personalized training program consisting of weekly workouts, daily practices, and competition each weekend to continue measuring their development progress in live-action situations. With ISD Rugby, student-athletes have an opportunity to develop and reach their greatest potential faster and more efficiently than anywhere else in the region.
Technology & Facilities
• Two world-class rugby pitches equipped with four full-size changing rooms
• Indoor turf field for speed and agility work on days with high temperatures
VEO Camera: high-performance camera to film all games and provide video analysis of players’ technique and performance
Eupepsia Performance Lab: state-of-the-art strength and conditioning facility focused on optimizing athletic performance through baseline testing and periodic measurement followed by sport-specific, personalized training program to attack deficiencies and maximize strengths
Eupepsia Recovery: whole-body cryotherapy, oxygen and hydrogen therapy, compression remedy, magneto therapy, and infrared sauna
Eupepsia Medical Clinic: sports physiotherapy, recovery, and conditioning, wellness therapies, diet & nutrition, and ayurvedic medicine
Rugby Program Structure
First Term (14 weeks)
Preseason and Measurements (4 weeks)
• General strength and conditioning
• Fundamentals correcting and teaching
• Technical and tactical abilities
• Acceleration and running mechanics training
• Baseline measurements and assessments
Competitive Season (10 weeks)
• Maintain conditioning level
• Injury prevention
• Improving technical abilities at specific positions
• Tactical skills sessions in game understanding and decision making
• Competition preparation - tactics
• Mental training and preparation
• Video analysis sessions
• Specific position training sessions
• Competition - tournaments, matches, and leagues
BREAK WITH 2 WEEKS OF REST (Winter break)
Individualized strength and conditioning plans to keep athletes in shape and prevent injury
Second Term (11 weeks)
Preseason and Measurements (2 weeks)
• General strength and conditioning
• Fundamentals correcting and teaching
• Technical and tactical abilities
• Acceleration and running mechanics
• Baseline measurements and assessments
Competitive Season (9 weeks)
• Maintain conditioning level
• Injury prevention
• Improving technical abilities at specific positions
• Tactical skills sessions in game understanding and decision making
• Competition preparation - tactics
• Mental training and preparation
• Video analysis sessions
• Specific position training sessions
• Competition - tournaments, matches, and leagues
BREAK WITH 2 WEEKS OF REST (Spring break)
Individualized strength and conditioning plans to keep athletes in shape and prevent injury
Third Term (11 weeks)
Season (11 weeks)
• General strength and conditioning
• Fundamentals correcting and teaching
• Technical and tactical abilities
• Acceleration and running mechanics training
• Measurements and assessments
• Maintain conditioning level
• Injury prevention
• Improving technical abilities at specific positions
• Tactical skills sessions in game understanding and decision making
• Competition preparation - tactics
• Mental training and preparation
• Video analysis sessions
• Specific position training sessions
• Competition - tournaments, matches, and international competition*
development process
ISD Academy has all the tools to provide rugby players with a platform to elevate their game to a collegiate or professional level. ISD Rugby student-athletes attend special, individualized daytime training sessions with high-performance coaches and train and compete with the Tigers, Sharks, or Falcons at least five days per week in the evening. Our coaches consistently organize inter-academy tournaments, leagues, and friendly matches against top competition in the area. Through groundbreaking technology and developmental coaching, student-athletes will maximize their potential and achieve their desired results with ISD Rugby!
International Competition
Twice during the school year, ISD Rugby student-athletes embark on an all-expenses-paid international trip to test their skills against the best rugby players in the world and receive scouting from collegiate and professional coaches. For athletes who wish to compete collegiately and professionally following ISD Academy, this trip provides all the necessary experience and exposure to make this goal a reality.