The Excel Programme — A New Pathway to Unlock Potential
Over the past 12 months, work has been put in start and launch our Excel programme, a programme designed to keep those who love the game, in the game.
Not every player’s journey is the same, and not every pathway to success looks identical. At St Helens R.F.C., we recognise that talent comes in many forms, and development happens at different speeds.
The Excel Programme is an exciting next step for players aged 14-16 from across St Helens who love Rugby League, want to keep developing their game, and are ready to challenge themselves in a new environment.
What is Excel?
Our Excel programme is a high-quality development programme for players outside of the traditional scholarship system. It offers selected players the chance to train, learn, and grow with the support of professional coaches from St Helens R.F.C. Players on the Excel programme continue to play for their School and Community Club, maintaining a core connection to Community Rugby League.
Our Excel programme, we feel ‘It’s not about where you are now, it’s about where you could go’.
Excel focuses on growing all aspects of a player, such as rugby skills, game understanding, physical development, and the mindset needed to keep improving. It’s a space where commitment, effort, and a love of the game matter most.
Why Excel Exists
Three core reasons for the creation of the Excel programme we believe are:
- Because some players develop later than others.
- Because ability isn’t always obvious at 14 or 15.
- Because disappointment shouldn’t mean dropping out.
But one of the key reasons for the Excel programme is simple, to keep players in the game. By keeping them in the game post 14, we provide them a real and exciting route to stay engaged, get better, and keep chasing their rugby ambitions.
What Players Can Expect
- Weekly, high-quality training sessions led by St Helens R.F.C. Development & Pathway Coaches
- A focus on improving core rugby skills, movement, strength, and game understanding.
- Personal development plans to guide individual growth.
- A supportive environment where effort and attitude are valued just as highly as ability.
- The chance to be seen, develop, and progress.
Excel is something we believe is just a programme, and not just about the select players on the programme, we believe it to be building something bigger and greater for Rugby League in St Helens.
Coaches and their role
Our Excel programme also offers an opportunity for our community club coaches to play a vital role too. When coaching on the Excel programme, our community club coaches will be gaining experience alongside professional staff, learning new ideas, and bringing those skills back to their local teams. Our Excel programme is all about growing players and coaches, and strengthening the game at every level.
Who Is It For?
Players aged 14-16 from St Helens Schools and Community Clubs, are non-scholarship players with the right attitude, work-rate and desire to improve, and who want to be part of something special.
The Excel programme shows that there’s always another way forward, if you’re willing to work for it.
Want to Know More?
If you want to know more about the Excel programme both Players and Parents can do so. Players ask your coaches at your clubs about the programme; Parents get in touch with us for more information.
The game doesn’t stop here. In fact, for many, this is just the beginning.
