AFYA Sports Training has announced a partnership with the tackling equipment provider Shadowman Sports.

Shadowman Sports is an industry leader creating innovative training products to enhance individual tackle technique and defensive systems within rugby and American Football.

Its iconic tackling system is used across more than 1,500 football programs in America as well as at National Team events and the International Bowl.

Shadowman allows players to practice their speed and agility as well as their one-on-one tackling and tracking.

AFYA will use the Shadowman training tools in the UK to promote better rugby coaching techniques to rugby clubs and the sport’s governing bodies. AFYA will also be offering coaching packages and clinics using Shadowman.

As part of the partnership, AFYA will be taking Northern Hemisphere rugby tacklsing techniques to America. The company will be running a series of rugby tackle camps across the east coast in the latter half of 2017.

Ben Wood, Managing Director of AFYA, which is headquartered on the Wirral and which has a strong reputation for sports coaching excellence, said: “We’re delighted to be the ‘go to’ people for Shadowman in the UK and are looking forward to working with governing bodies and rugby clubs across the country.

“Our partnership with Shadowman Sports will allow rugby clubs to use this impressive and unique equipment to improve their individual tackle and team defensive systems in a non-player-on-player contact environment during their training sessions.”

Shadowman Sports Chief Operating Officer Steve Flanagan said: “In AFYA, we saw an exciting opportunity to bring Shadowman to a whole new level. We’re looking forward to working with the AFYA team to deliver our innovative training products to schools, clubs and teams across the UK.

“AFYA brings high level rugby coaching which will help players and coaches alike. Combining the skills of AFYA with our Shadowman equipment gives young players the opportunity to learn more effective tackle techniques which we know can help turn a good team into a great team.”

AFYA is led by Ben Wood, a former Army officer and qualified RFU coach, and James Wade, a top coach who was Head of Player Development at Wasps, Head of Sale Sharks Academy and is currently Head Coach at Oxford University RUFC (The Blues).

http://afyasportstrg.com/

www.shadowmansports.com