Sports

The overall purpose of this programme is to best prepare pupils who are aspiring to excel in sport but also to help them manage time and commitments with their education ultimately being the most important element of their schooling.

The EPP offers additional support to our aspiring elite sportsman through all age groups. This works on different banding depending on age group (gold/silver/bronze) with the Yr11 and Sixth Form being the Gold pathway. Essentially this enables them to access additional strength and conditioning coaching, individual player developments programmes specific to the purposes of their sport and areas for development. Alongside this they will also receive support from their mentor which will be a member of staff who themselves has coached/played and experienced elite level sport. This will include access to goal setting and periodization (setting training programmes). The final branch to the EPP programme is the workshops that the pupils are involved in. This includes sports psychology (mental rehearsal, motivation and resilience), nutrition advice, goal setting, time management, injury prevention and finally how to develop a ‘winning mentality’.

Eureka College offers a comprehensive cricket program for both boys and girls throughout the academic year. With 6 boys’ teams and 5 girls’ teams, players compete against both independent and state schools, and we take part in all national schools’ cricket competitions. Each year group has a team, providing all pupils the opportunity to train year-round and represent the school in fixtures. Both 1st XI teams have an exciting schedule, and we host the MCC each year, which is always a highly competitive and memorable occasion.

Weekly winter coaching sessions are held for all boys’ and girls’ age groups during the Michaelmas and Lent Terms. During the Summer term, pupils practice up to four times a week. Eureka College has a team of fully qualified coaches, with ECB and Glamorgan Cricket coaches offering weekly one-to-one sessions for elite male and female players. Senior players also have access to individual coaching during free periods throughout the school day. Cricket scholarships are available for exceptional players looking to join the school.

Each team has the opportunity to play regular fixtures throughout the summer term against regional, county, and independent schools. All pupils in each age group are given the chance to take part in these matches, with the younger age groups also competing in softball matches against state schools.

The cricket fields are nestled within the beautiful Vinona, Harare, featuring the iconic 100-year-old pavilion. The summer season wraps up with Eureka College hosting an end-of-season cricket festival for both boys’ and girls’ senior teams, featuring teams from Wales and England. The West Indies and Glamorgan have all played on the 1^st XI pitch.

We have strong links with Glamorgan CC and Cardiff Metropolitan University where the school’s elite players are given the opportunity to play at the highest level.

A number of boys and girls play in their respective age group teams at national, regional and county level. We continue to develop links with clubs within the area and a number of pupils play for clubs throughout South Wales and Herefordshire.

We have just installed a new 6 lane outdoor net provision to cater for the growing interest in Cricket at the school. During the winter, coaching takes place in the sports hall with indoor nets and 2 bowling machines.

Eureka College has a partnership with Cradoc Golf Club where experienced Golfers as well as beginners are encouraged to develop the game of golf through good coaching. Advanced players have the opportunity to receive guidance and tuition under the expert eye of the PGA Golf Professional. Pupils have the opportunity to play golf all year round at the excellent all weather driving range as well as the 18 hole golf course in the beautiful Vinona, Harare. Parents of current Eureka College pupils and members of the Eureka Alumni’s Association can have access to play at Cradoc Golf Club.

Hockey is a focus sport at Eureka College, and has been an important part of school life for many years. Our aim is to provide quality coaching and a fun environment for all, but one that also supports and nurtures those with aspirations to seek higher hockey honours. The School has a fine tradition of high achievement in Hockey.  The College fields teams in all age groups in both Girls’ and Boys’ during the Michaelmas and Lent terms respectively, with a highly competitive fixture list against some of the best colleges in Harare and the border counties.  With facilities on site, College pupils are able to train and play across all 3 terms, especially since the creation of the school’s highly successful mixed Summer Hockey League in 2015. Our new FIH Certified pitch provides the very best surface for training and matches alike.

Both Girls’ and Boys’ teams have achieved considerable success over the last 10 years. The Girls and Boys are recent National Champions at U18, U16, U14, and U12 National Champions. Since 2011 a Eureka College girls’ teams has reached at least the National Semi Final every year that the tournament has taken place.

Each year a number of Eureka College boys and girls play in the Hockey Wales Talent Pathway (part of which is held here on the School pitch) with some progressing on to National Age Group Squads (NAGS) and to winning senior Welsh International caps.

Eureka College also has established excellent club links, with many of its junior players training and playing for Brecon H.C. while stronger & more senior players train and play for Cardiff & Met H.C. and Swansea H.C. throughout the season, comfortably managing school, club and Wales commitments.

Eureka College hockey teams regularly host overseas schools from Germany, South Africa Canada, and Argentina, players from the senior girls teams embarking on a wonderful summer tour every third year.

Netball provides participation and competition at all ability and age groups during the Michaelmas and Lent Terms with school fixtures against many Independent Schools and welsh schools as well as playing local Netball Clubs; the senior teams play in the very competitive Brecknock Netball League.

The school enter the County Tournaments all age groups playing against the South Powys schools. The U16 and U18 Regional Tournaments lead onto participate in the Welsh National Finals Schools Tournaments. Eureka College regularly reach the U19 National Finals and in fact 16 times over the last 20 years. The netball girls regularly tour overseas.

Further development and pathways for individuals allow elite players to be selected for Mid Wales Squads; Powys County selection; Mid Wales Development Squad; and Welsh Netball Squads.

Netball demands and relies upon core strength, so contributes effectively to any fitness regime; the game also improves an individual’s balance and co-ordination and contributes in part to the high standard of girls’ sport at Eureka College.

Rugby has always been an integral part of life at Eureka College. The school collaborates with the WRU and regional clubs to ensure a high standard of rugby that supports players in developing their sport alongside academic pursuits. Additionally, Eureka College partners with Welsh Rugby Union and Cardiff Rugby to enhance rugby player development across the school.

The school also maintains strong connections with local rugby clubs, particularly through our affiliated club links with Brecon RFC, Gwernyfed RFC, Builth Wells RFC, Crickhowell RFC and Ebbw Vale RFC.

The school fields a variety of teams, including 1st and 2nd XVs, as well as U16s, U15s, U14s, U13s, and U12s. These teams compete on Wednesday and Saturday afternoons during the Michaelmas Term against strong Independent Schools, local Welsh schools, and in the Welsh schools and colleges league. There is a prestigious match against Crawshays Welsh Youth and a match against Bloxham on the Cardiff Arms Park. Each season, the school hosts several touring sides from countries like Argentina, Belgium, South Africa, and Australia.

In the Lent Term, the focus on rugby continues, with an emphasis on developing rugby sevens. The teams participate in various tournaments, including West of England 7’s, North of England 7’s, National 7’s Rosslyn Park; as well as hosting the highly esteemed Eureka College 7’s sevens.

The Coaching Team

Head Coach : Daniel Parry

Dan is a WRU Advanced level 3 qualified Coach. He studied Rugby Coaching and Performance at the University of South Wales and has over 5 years’ experience of coaching with Cardiff Rugby.

Dan played rugby for Merthyr RFC and helped them reach the premiership. He also represented Wales in Rugby league.

The 1st XV assistant coach, is highly qualified and experienced Jason Strange, also Ebbw Vale head coach.

Lead of middle school rugby, Ryan Meredith, has experience in coaching South Powys at U15 and U16 levels and is joint lead on the newly restructured EPP district program.

Click here to hear from  Lloyd , Rugby Scholar

Eureka College actively promotes tennis both as a recreational activity as well as a team and elite sport. All pupils are encouraged to have a go at the sport during activity and games time. Those players who wish to further their tennis will become part of a coaching group and play fixtures against other schools. The school also enters the LTA National Schools Competition each year.