UEA and North Walsham club partnership extension and new women’s pathway

By: Communications

L-R: Mark Heazle, Philip Anthony, Phil Steele, Niall Lear

L-R: Mark Heazle (Head of Sport and Physical Activity at UEA); Philip Anthony (Rugby Operations Director from NWRFC); Phil Steele (Director of Sport & Commercial Services at UEA); Niall Lear (Director of Rugby at NWRFC)

The University of East Anglia (UEA) has extended its formal partnership between the University and North Walsham Rugby Club (NWRFC) until the end of the 2027-28 academic year.

This extension will provide another four years to develop and grow the partnership, which is crucial to realising both uea+sport’s performance objectives and the NWRFC club’s playing ambitions to remain Norfolk’s premier rugby club.

It will also give both parties certainty to be able to recruit high-calibre rugby-playing students to both the University and the club, providing a sustainable performance pathway for players.

This news follows on from the announcement of Niall Lear, who joined the partnership last year as Director of Rugby for NWRFC, with aims to drive forward the UEA Rugby partnership.

UEA Valkyries

UEA and NWRFC are also jointly developing a women’s pathway, with the formation of the UEA Valkyries team. This team will compete in the RFU’s Inner Warrior programme in 2024-25, with the ambition to progress into the regional league structures from the start of the 2025-26 season.

This will provide parity to both the Men’s and Women’s game, in addition to access to competitive opportunities across both UEA and North Walsham RFC settings.

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UEA and North Walsham club partnership extension and new women’s pathway

UEA Valkyries

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