Strabane Rugby Club and Strabane Academy are excited to announce the launch of the Northwest Barbarians Elite Rugby Academy, a groundbreaking partnership aimed at developing young rugby talent in the region. This collaboration will see Strabane Academy’s facilities—gym, classrooms, and pitches—shared with the Northwest Barbarians, offering local players access to top-tier resources and expert coaching.

At the heart of this partnership is Strabane RFC head coach Ruan de Beer, a seasoned coach from South Africa, known for his elite rugby training background. Having worked with some of the best in the sport, de Beer brings a disciplined, high-performance mindset that emphasizes not just physical fitness, but also leadership and tactical intelligence. “South African rugby is about more than skill; it’s about building character and resilience. That’s what I’m excited to bring to the Northwest Barbarians,” says de Beer.

“Strabane Academy are delighted to partner with Strabane Rugby Football Club in providing opportunities for all young rugby players through the formation of the Northwest Barbarians Academy” said David Hampton, the school’s Principal.

Both partners are actively seeking Ulster Rugby funding to install floodlights on Strabane Academy’s pitches, which would make them the first floodlit grass rugby pitches in the area. This would allow for evening training and matches throughout the winter, an essential upgrade to meet the growing needs of the club and the academy.

This partnership represents a major step forward for rugby in Strabane, combining world-class coaching with top-notch facilities to create a new pathway for young athletes to reach their full potential.

The Academy runs on a Monday night at Strabane Academy from 6-8pm, the programme is open to all schools and clubs, and in true Barbarians fashion participants are free to wear either their representative school or club socks.
Contact Ruan deBeer @ ccro@strabanerfc.com for more information.