This is what PREM rugby looks like

Can you move, grow and handle the demands of the game?

Yorkshire Rugby Academy is a standalone academy. We have no parent club. Our measure of success is simple — developing players who go on to perform in Premiership environments. PREM is the framework that gets them there.

Find out if you have what it takes.

Nominate a player

What is PREM?

PREM is our player development framework. It defines what we look for, how we assess, and the standard players need to reach at each stage of the academy pathway.

A rugby player holding a ball during a game, wearing a blue jersey and black shorts.
A rugby player holding a ball during a game, wearing a blue jersey and black shorts.
PREM Physical icon

Physical

Athletic capacity, movement qualities, robustness and physical potential.

PREM Rugby Intelligence icon

Rugby Intelligence

Decision-making, tactical awareness and adaptability.

PREM Excellence icon

Excellence

Technical execution of core skills across the demands of the game.

PREM Mentality icon

Mentality

Resilience, competitiveness, accountability and ownership.

The Three Stages

  • Yorkshire Rugby Academy players taking part in a scrum during a training session, representing the PREM Potential Foundation stage.

    PREM Potential Foundation — U15 & U16 Discovering PREM

    Players at this stage are building foundations. We look for athletes who are growing — not the finished article. Assessment focuses on trajectory and coachability across all four PREM attributes.

  • Yorkshire Rugby Academy player running with the ball during a match, representing the PREM Ready Development stage.

    PREM Ready Development — U17 & U18 Demonstrating PREM

    Players at this stage must demonstrate PREM consistently — not just in ideal conditions. The standard rises across all four attributes and self-direction becomes a key factor.

  • Yorkshire Rugby Academy player carrying the ball through a tackle, representing the PREM Professional Confirmation stage.

    PREM Professional Confirmation — 18+ Living PREM

    The future stage of the pathway. At this level, PREM is no longer an external measure — it is simply who the player is. Framework is in place for when this stage becomes operational.

Our Players

Our ambition is to have Yorkshire Rugby Academy represented in every Premiership club. These players show what the pathway looks like.

Rugby players running on a field during a game, with one player holding a rugby ball.
A male rugby player running while holding a rugby ball, wearing a navy blue and light blue uniform with a logo, and black cleats, with a focused expression.

SEEN A PLAYER THAT SHINES?

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SEEN A PLAYER THAT SHINES? //

How to Join the Pathway

For players & parents
Think you or your child has what it takes? The first step is a nomination from your club coach or school teacher. Share this page with them and ask them to put you forward during our nomination window.

For coaches & teachers
Nominations open in August and September each year. Use the form below to nominate a player you believe has the potential to develop through the PREM pathway. Before nominating, use the PREM framework above to sense-check that the player is ready for assessment.