RUGBY UNION: Suffolk cricket allrounder Kevin Shaw is to play an active part in a new rugby school being opened in Suffolk. West Suffolk College, Bury St Edmunds, is to open the school in September.

SUFFOLK cricket allrounder Kevin Shaw is to play an active part in a new rugby school being opened in Suffolk.

West Suffolk College, Bury St Edmunds, is to open the school in September. Players will have the chance to advance and play for county or professional sides – and links with professional clubs are being developed.

But the scheme is not primarily designed for boys who aspire to becoming professional rugby players.

"This is an opportunity for young men who are keen rugby players at school to carry on playing their sport and to further their academic studies at the same time," said Martyn Wagner, student and business services manager at West Suffolk College.

Wagner is a former school and college rugby player. He is captain of the veterans team at Bury and coaches youth rugby.

"We will be offering more and better chances to develop skills on the field than are generally available in schools after the age of 16.

"The Rugby School will be affiliated to the Schools Rugby Football Union and we hope to establish a strong fixture list with the best school sides in the Eastern Counties and further afield."

Boys aged between 16 and 19 will have the opportunity to play rugby while following a course which leads to recognised qualifications such as NVQ, GNVQ, a National Diploma or A Levels.

The programme of rugby training will be supported by lifestyle advice and sports coaching.

Shaw has been appointed manager of the Rugby School and will be working on a part-time basis while continuing as head of PE at County Upper School.

The Rugby School adds to the College's sports provision, which already include a successful Football School for boys and a Girls' Football School, which opened in September 2001.