Aspire Academy

Aspire Academy is a high-performance rugby organisation in the Netherlands, built around the belief that better people make better players, coaches and leaders. Working with Rugby Nederland, Dutch rugby academies and international partners, it supports athletes and rugby professionals who want to keep improving and help advance the sport. Its flagship Excel National Training Centre (ENTC) is a year-long programme for elite players, with training four times a week at the National Rugby Centre Amsterdam. Participants can combine rugby with vocational, university or other studies, a gap year or work; the ENTC is part of Rugby Nederland’s national pathway.

Aspire also develops coaches and players through personal and coaching development plans and international masterclasses. Through its partnerships, ENTC participants can access high-performance opportunities with the Crusaders International Academy in New Zealand and Stellenbosch Academy of Sport in South Africa. The academy emphasises mental, physical and technical development, expert coaching and a supportive rugby community.