FOOTBALL

In this academy athletes, of all levels, learn safe and effective techniques and develop all the fundamental skills to play fast and safe.

PLAY FOOTBALL & FOOTBALL ACADEMY

PLAY football

Experience our vision of sport and let yourself be inspired.

The Rugby Academy allows athletes to improve their Rugby and individual skills with the best coaches available in a safe, enjoyable and stimulating environment within the best rugby countries in the world. For 2025, 2026 and 2027 we will be running the Rugby Academy in conjunction with important leading rugby schools and clubs based in Ireland, England and New Zealand, considered among the best in the world.

We promote active learning and also the intellectual, physical and social development of the learners with a variety of coaching styles involving both coach centred and athlete centred components/game-based approach.

The Rugby Academy provide each athlete with the best possible coaching staff with the aim to empower the players to reach their full potential via a high quality and inspiring education, which consider the age and ability of the players.

Why choose Play Sport?

Experience

Education

Skills Development

High Performance

FOOTBALL PROGRAMME

Our programme has been created in conjunction with the “long-term player development programme” fostered by World Rugby.

All athletes will learn the essential techniques required to play safely, they will learn and develop new skills and ways to express themselves in a team environment. There will be “humbleness” that comes by working with a group and the “conscientiousness” for the safety and enjoyment of all players involved. We encourage fun and healthy competition.

COACHING

Our programme has been created in conjunction with the “long-term player development programme” fostered by World Rugby.

Age Grade of Play

Our programme has been created in conjunction with the “long-term player development programme” fostered by World Rugby.

FOOTBALL course contents

Our programme has been created in conjunction with the “long-term player development programme” fostered by World Rugby.

FOOTBALL destinations

Where Rugby Academies can take you?

UK

Train and learn in the UK

Ireland

Learn from the Irish

New Zealand

Learn from the All Blacks

South Africa

Learn from the Springboks

Australia

The Rugby topics and positional clinics

Travel the world with Play Sport

Discover the world of rugby

our COURSES

Short Term Courses

Short-term courses are delivered all year round (2 to 6 weeks).

Medium and Long Term Courses

Medium-term courses and Long-term courses (more than 3 months stay).

Customized Courses

Customized courses are available throughout the year.

Workshop

The workshops 

Clinics

The Rugby topics and positional clinics

High Performance Intensive training

Intensive training camps

ProgrammeS

Football and Language

The Rugby and Language programme is open to students who wish to develop their second language and improve their fundamental rugby skills.

High Performance training

The High Performance Rugby Training programme is open to athletes who wish to enhance their rugby performance.

Football Experience

The Rugby Experience programme is open to everyone who wishes to live a season overseas.

Intensive training

The Intensive Training programme is open to athletes who wish to develop and improve their rugby and english language skills.

Player Development

The Player Development programme is open to athletes who wish to develop and improve their fundamental rugby and personal life skills.

Academic Programme

The Academic Programme is open to everyone who wishes to go to a rugby school.

Focus on

Skills Development Programme

Join Skills Development Football Training Camp Programme and Live the Experience of a Lifetime.

FOOTBALL Skills Development

Skills Development Programme

At  The Football Academy athletes focus on all aspects of the game and performing skills under pressure.The Rugby Skills Development Programme is designed to develop players, based on the core four skills.

  1. Catching and Passing or Kicking
  2. Tackling
  3. Support and Evasion
  4. The Breakdown (Defensive and Attacking with individual, mini-unit and team skills assessment and progressive development )
All sessions will have one of these four core skills as its main focus, which will be assessed and developed progressively. Particular emphasis will be placed on the following topics:
  • Communication and the ability to make decisions under pressure
  • Leadership activation; mental strength; tactical intelligence
Additional aspects include (when appropriate):
  • Functional assessment and development
  • Speed, Agility and Quickness
  • Game related fitness
  • Strength and conditioning
Players who attend the Rugby Academy will be coached by Top Level coaches, fully DBS checked and first aid trained. Our staff, which includes a full-time physiotherapist, will be looking after players at all other times. They conform to Ireland, England, France and New Zealand’s Rugby Football Union and the World Rugby’s guidance in coaching rugby.

Focus on

high performance football

& skills development training camp

Join Our High Performance Football Programme and Live the Experience of a Lifetime.

HIGH PERFORMANCE

Hi-Performance Development Programme

The Rugby Academy will provide players and teams with an opportunity to experience a development programme which will be tailored to the team and/or the individual.

The rugby academy programme includes:

  • Technical skill assessment and progressive development
  • Positional play
  • Tactical skill assessment and development
  • Game Management Development & Training analysis through video supports where appropriate
  • Mental Preparation
  • Physical fitness, Strength, Power and Conditioning assessment and development
  • Nutrition Analysis & Planning
  • Access to expert coaching and fitness training
  • Access to top-level coaches and playing facilities
  • Performance analysis, Goal setting, Performance planning
  • Medical and Functional Assessment and support (where and when applicable)
  • Personal Development

Focus on

intensive footbal Programme

& skills development training camp

Join Our Intensive Football Programme and Live the Experience of a Lifetime.

INTENSIVE FOOTBALL ACADEMY

Intensive Academy Programme

The Intensive Football Academy provides a Intensive development programme that include the most current and up to date trends in the game. The programme is delivered by highly qualified & experienced coaches in a professional and engaging manner.
The programme follows a traditional developmental model including the following Key areas :
  • Fundamental Skills
  • Individual Skills
  • Team Clinics
  • Fast and Safe Football
Additional aspects include (when appropriate):
  • Workshops
  • Football Consultancy
  • Video Analysis

We provide a high standard of football specific coaching that will increase and improve players and coaches’s football knowledge, individual specific skills and overall qualities and abilities to perform and deliver under pressure.

Focus on

Training and education

Join Our Training & Education Programme and Live the Experience of a Lifetime.

Football and English

Play Football and Learn English

Football and French

Play Football and Learn French

Football and Spanish

Play Football and Learn Spanish

FOOTBALL STAFF

Sports Facilities

Excursions and other Activities

FOOTBALL Academy Weekly Timetable

HOLISTIC APPROACH
At Play Rugby, we promote active learning and also the intellectual, physical and social development of the learners with a variety of coaching styles involving both coach centred and athlete centred components.

THE PLAY RUGBY HOLISTIC APPROACH includes principles of leadership, empowerment, emotional intelligence, athlete learning preferences, Teaching Games for Understanding (TGfU), game-based approach (GBA) within increasingly V.U.C.A. environments, Inner Game, implicit motor learning and experiential/discovery learning with an authentic respect for each individual willingness to achieve happiness while participating in rugby.

RUGBY ACADEMY - SAMPLE WEEKLY TIMETABLE*
TIME MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY SUNDAY
9:30-11:00 RUGBY/CLASS RUGBY/CLASS RUGBY/CLASS RUGBY/CLASS RUGBY/CLASS Full day Excursion Activity day
11:00-11:30 Morning Break Morning Break Morning Break Morning Break Morning Break
11:30-13:00 RUGBY/CLASS RUGBY/CLASS RUGBY/CLASS RUGBY/CLASS RUGBY/CLASS
13:00-14:00 Lunch Lunch Lunch Lunch Lunch
14:30-16:30 RUGBY RUGBY RUGBY RUGBY Excursion/ Rugby
18:00-19:00 Dinner Dinner Dinner Dinner Dinner
EVENING Evening Activity Evening Activity Evening Activity Evening Activity Evening Activity
The Educational Programme is recognised by the Irish and British Departments of Education. The Academy offers high-performance and position-specific training programme within World-class training facilities. The programme includes: technical skill assessment and progressive development, positional play, tactical skill assessment and development, game management development and training analysis, mental preparation, physical fitness, strength, power and conditioning analysis, development & planning.
* Please note: Schedule is subject to change without notice depending on Local Governments Responses to COVID-19 and Public health guidelines.

ACCOMMODATION & SUPERVISION

Host families & Homestay

All our families are inspected and carefully selected.

College and boarding schools

Boarding schools offer an alternative to the “host family” option.

Residential

University Residences offer an alternative to the “host family” option.

Host Families: Students attending the Academy should stay with host families. All our host families are carefully inspected and selected by our accommodation coordinators, who maintain regular contact with each family throughout the student’s stay. The host families are located near the schools or close to bus routes that lead to the school and the center where sports activities take place. Most of them have several years of experience hosting students. Accommodation is on a full-board basis, with a packed lunch provided from Monday to Saturday. Typically, students share a room with another student of the same age group but of a different nationality. Unless otherwise specified, and if possible, only one student of the same nationality will be placed in each host family. Students usually travel to school daily using public transportation, such as buses, DART (suburban train), LUAS (tram), metro, or similar means. Private transfers can be arranged at an additional cost. Living with a host family offers insight into Irish, British, or New Zealand family life. Interaction with the host family plays an important role in developing communication skills, especially language skills. Our host families have been chosen for their interest in welcoming young people from around the world. They are selected based on the care and comfort they can provide to students who may be traveling abroad for the first time. Choosing to stay with a host family is the right option for those who want to experience authentic life in the country, as it gives students the opportunity to use English in a real environment and integrate with the family. In general, host family accommodation is recommended for slightly older students.
College/Residential accommodation: Our residences offer an alternative to host family accommodation for students who wish to fully immerse themselves in the school experience. The boarding school/residence provides a unique community-focused lifestyle and is ideal for outgoing, athletic, and adaptable students. It offers a comprehensive academic and extracurricular environment that helps students develop their full potential in all aspects. The Rugby campus is a self-sufficient community, giving students a certain degree of independence and freedom to explore while maintaining a safe and secure environment. Student well-being is at the heart of our accommodation offering. With a generous staff-to-student ratio, we ensure 24-hour support in a welcoming and well-organized setting. We encourage staff to create a friendly, lively, and family-like atmosphere to ensure that all students feel comfortable, happy, and supported during their stay away from home. The boarding school/residence can accommodate students on-site, primarily in comfortable single, double, or triple rooms. All accommodations used for Rugby students are of high quality. Each residential center varies slightly in room and bathroom types. Every room is located near modern bathroom and shower facilities, or alternatively, has its own en-suite bathroom with a shower. Rugby students will have a wardrobe, drawers, a desk, and a chair in their room. The dining facilities offer hot and cold meals, as well as a wide range of snacks. Our residences provide a truly fun and international environment where students from all over the world live together and use English as their primary means of global communication. The residences are supervised by staff who are available to assist students day and night. Boarding accommodation is highly appreciated by parents who send younger children or those who want their children to experience the unique atmosphere of boarding school life in a safe and supportive setting.
Our supervisors constantly monitor all solutions to ensure the highest standards of care, safety, and organization. All meals are included

FEATURES

The best campus facilities

The programme takes place in our vast campus located in Ireland. Here you’ll be able to use the most up-to-date facilities and equipment.

Education
Throughout the week the players gain a real insight into the core values of Leinster Rugby. They will be coached in a professional environment to give them an understanding of the fundamental values of teamwork, commitment, integrity and communication.

Excursions

The activities programme provides students with an opportunity to absorb some of Ireland’s rich heritage in a fun and relaxed way while also allowing students the opportunity to improve their English.

FRIENDLY AND CARING ATMOSPHERE

All Camp Managers are fully accredited IRFU coaches and have additionally completed IRFU Safe Rugby and World Rugby First Aid in Rugby.

Practice Makes Perfect

We know the only way you truly understand a subject is by practising it in a real environment. This is why we’ve set a playground area that’s full of hours of exercises, questions and challenges. It even has a gaming section. 

Contact us

If you wish to receive more information please fill in the form below.

We will reply to you as soon as possible. Thank you.

Level up

Skills Beyond Boundaries

play Sport

Join our course and start building the most wanted skills available today. We make sure every class is easily understood, and that all students reach the same level of expertise needed for today’s sport and english environments.

Working hours

Monday- Thursday:8:00-18:30 Hrs
(Phone until 17:30 Hrs)
Friday - 8:00-14:00

We are here

Belfield, Dublin 4, Dublin, Ireland
Phone: +353 (0) 1 254 2324
Email: info@playsport.org

PLAY FOOTBALL & FOOTBALL ACADEMY