The Northeast Rugby Academy has announced that is has begun partnering with Saratoga Rugby Club (SRC) and will work with the SRC and the City of Saratoga Springs, NY, to create a full-time training environment and centrally-located home base.

The project is scheduled to open for the 2017-18 season. The Academy’s role as an officially sanctioned, designated pathway for coaches and athletes to USA Rugby national team selection was initiated in 2013. With numerous Cup championships, Silver and Bronze medals and some Bowl and Plate trophies at tournaments like the World Club 7s in Limerick and London, the Northeast Academy has forged player growth and placed seven of its men’s team members on USA national teams in 2016, and several more women players on the Women's Collegiate All American team.

Previous partnership ventures between SRC and the Academy organization include last June’s National Tracking Camp. At the NTC, Saratoga Springs proved itself very capable of hosting and entertaining a large volume of teams, staff and fans.

“Saratoga is a natural choice for the continued expansion of the Northeast Academy, combining a central location, top-notch facilities and a knowledgeable and passionate local rugby community,” said Stephen Lewis, Founding Member of Northeast Academy and Director of Operations at PRO Rugby North America.

The summer of 2016 also saw the Academy launch a successful partnership with Play Rugby USA in New York City, helping that organization become the United States Olympic Committee’s first ever rugby specific Community Olympic Development Program (CODP). The CODP High School boys and girls teams competed in their first elite level tournament on July 30, at the North American Invitational 7s tournament (NAI7s) in Salt Lake City, Utah.

“These are exciting times in American rugby," added Sean Horan, Director and Founding Member of the Northeast Academy. "I am extremely excited about the opportunities in Saratoga, where The Northeast Academy can stay true to its mission of identifying and developing local talent with the overall goal of placing ambitious athletes on our national and Olympic squads.”

“The Northeast Academy has tremendous success in developing talent, creating high performance events, and promoting pathways for aspiring athletes," said Jaco Visser, President of the Saratoga Rugby Club. "We are extremely excited to become a Northeast Academy destination and bring these values and curriculums to the next generation of Olympians, Pro Rugby Players, and USA Rugby National Team players. This is an amazing opportunity for our club, our city and our region to play a prominent role in developing rugby in the USA.”