Rene Garcia - BSc (Hons) Sport and Exercise Science graduate
Rene Garcia, who has recently graduated from BSc (Hons) Sport and Exercise Science
Rene Garcia graduated from BSc (Hons) Sport and Exercise Science in 2010 and has been training young talent with the Elite Player Development Group (EPDG) and the Academy at top rugby club Leicester Tigers.
Rene's placement
Rene was one of just eight students selected from universities across the region during winter of 2009 to assist in the EPDG training sessions of some of the UK's top young rugby players. The sessions involve leading strength and conditioning training with children aged 13 to 16 at Newark Rugby Club each week.
Rene said: "This has been a fantastic opportunity. Strength and conditioning training is designed to help young players with their overall athleticism. The sessions that we lead are predominately focused on basic body movements, grappling and wrestling techniques, and reactive sprint drills which will prepare them for the higher academy level."
What support was available
The EPDG academy group has also been introduced to a new system called Movement Dynamics, a full assessment of an athlete's functional movement. It was developed by Kelvin Giles, one of the most respected athletics coaches in Great Britain, who has offered advice and support to Rene and the other seven placement students.
He also spent four weeks taking part in strength and conditioning gym training sessions for players aged 16 and above who are in the Tigers' first team academy, at Oval Park in Leicester.
