|
British Judo’s Performance
Institute in Dartford hosted phase two of the National Governing
Body’s 2016 Olympic heavyweight talent search on Sunday 22 August
in conjunction with the English Institute of Sport and UK Sport’s
Pitch2Podium programme.
A total of 19 former rugby
players tested their mettle on the mat having been selected by
the UK Talent Team to feature on the Pitch2Podium or Tall and
Talented programmes which aim to match rugby or football prowess
and physical attributes into another sporting arena.
Pitch2Podium, an exciting
talent transfer programme, partners with football and rugby authorities
to provide opportunities for players who failed to secure professional
contracts.
The day involved assessing
their ability to pick up fundamental judo movements. As many were
introduced to the sport for the first time, several were really
taken with the sport and see it as a new sporting challenge.
Karen Roberts, British
Judo’s Performance Operations Manager, said: “We have been working
with EIS and UK Sport who have screened rugby and football athletes
for possible transfer to judo.
“Phase 2 saw 19 rugby players,
who are targeting the over 100kg heavyweight mark, come to the
BJPI on Sunday and trained with coach Luke Preston and Olympic
silver medallist Kate Howey.”
The number of players in
contention will now be whittled down further as those who made
an impression on Sunday will be invited back for phase 3 on September
30 at the British Judo Performance Institute.
Ian Yates, Talent ID Scientist
at the EIS, thinks rugby players have the attributes and close-contact
experience which bodes well for a smooth transition to judo.
“The rugby lads we’ve seen
at assessment days have shown raw power and strength, not to mention
experience within a contact sport” he said.
“Being able to set up a
second phase with judo is a good opportunity to see where these
talents may have the potential to be developed”
Former World Champion judoka
Kate Howey MBE, now the British Judo Association’s lead development
coach, supported led by Camberley Judo Club’s senior coach and
GB support coach Luke Preston.
“I was impressed by all
of them actually,” said the four-time Olympian.
“In the morning we did
groundwork which they found hard as it was totally different to
what they’re used to and in the afternoon we went through some
fundamentals.”
Howey, who worked with
the England rugby team in the build-up to the 2007 World Cup,
added: “There are rugby situations that are similar to judo and
the phase 2 sessions helped to show them that the sports are not
too far away from each other.”
Many rugby players trying
out become enamoured with the sport and plan on pursuing judo
regardless of their progression through the programme.
David Boycott-Brown, formerly
of Guinness Premiership outfit Leeds Carnegie, said: “The judo
assessment day was thoroughly enjoyable and very well managed.
“I now love judo and want
to take it up regardless of the outcome of the assessment day.
Since retiring from rugby I have been looking for a new challenge
and I know I’ve found it in judo.”
For more information on
the UK Talent Team visit www.uksport.gov.uk/talent
or EIS visit www.eis2win.co.uk
Former
rugby players get to grips with judo at the BJPI
|