If you’re an aspiring young rugby player in the UAE there’s not many better coaches to learn from than former dual code international star Apollo Perelini.

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Perelini burst onto the global stage in the 1991 Rugby World Cup as part of a talented and powerful Western Samoa side that captivated the rugby fraternity.

Perelini went on to transcend rugby, appearing at the 1995 Rugby League World Cup, thereafter enjoying a successful career in rugby league with St Helens of Super League, ending his playing days with a stint back in union at Sale Sharks.

So, where better place to go to enhance your skills than becoming part of the Apollo Perelini Rugby Skills Academy, which started again on Saturday.

The academy programme will run over the next 10 weeks, carrying the motto of ‘good coaching is all about the detail’.

The main point of this, according to Perelini, is that his academy focuses on players and their individual skills, which will enhance them as a player and also help them contribute more to their team.

The academy is ideal for rugby-mad youngsters aged five to 18 and is expanding this term, putting on a new clinic at Dubai College.

Sessions will also be held regularly at Repton School, as well as once a week at Dubai Sports City.

“All skills taught encourage the involvement of thought, interpretation and movement, challenging the child to improve their motor skills through active movement,”said Perelini.

“My philosophy is that players should be exposed to a variety of skills during these early formative years.

“By doing so, the player will broaden his or her vocabulary of movement that can be used later to refine the more specific rugby skill taught in training.

“All sessions are aimed at developing the player individually. Whatever may be said of fitness training and the psychological aspects such as motivation, dedication etc, the skills of the game are of the utmost importance.”

Individual sessions for the new term cost Dh200 or you can choose to pay Dh1,500 up front for one session per week over the course of the programme.

Perelini added: “The main point of difference between us and a club or school is the players get to focus on their individual rugby skills at the academy.

“Whereas club rugby is more team focused, we feel that we can up-skill a player at any level who can then contribute to their team as a better player. This term is exciting as we are opening up a new site for the academy based out of Dubai College.

“Our biggest number of academy players from the ages of 11-18 from a single school has come from Dubai College over the past five years, so it is only right that we look to have an academy based at the school servicing all players based around the Lakes, Hills, Greens, JLT, Marina and Jumeirah areas.”

The history of the academy was originally aimed at players aged 11-18, to provide the young players of Dubai with the professional and technical coaching that they would probably only previously have received in their home countries.

“My background in skills coaching, development and training professionally and internationally in both rugby league and union formed the basis of starting up such an academy,” said Perelini.

“We create pathways for players looking to head back to their home countries whether it is for rugby clubs, schools or universities.”

What:  Apollo Perelini Rugby Skills Academy
Where: Dubai College and Repton School and Dubai Sports City, Dubai
When: Sundays (Dubai College 11-18yrs, 17:30-19:00); Mondays (Repton School and Sports City 5-10yrs, 17:30-19:00); Tuesdays (Repton School 13-18yrs, 17:45- 19:15); Wednesdays (Repton School 5-12yrs, 17:30-19:00)
Contact: 050 551 0727 or email info@aprsa.com