Dublin-based data research team identifies trends to guide investment in new Professional Game Partnership
24 September 2024: Premiership Rugby will use findings from the Insight Research Ireland Centre for Data Analytics in Dublin City University to inform the strategic direction and development of the Regional Club Academies in the Gallagher Premiership.
The newly-established Professional Game Partnership (PGP) between Premiership Rugby and the Rugby Football Union (RFU) has implemented modifications to the Premiership academy system to promote a system driven by developmental rather than recruitment emphasis.
Player development trends identified by Insight’s research team – based at DCU’s School of Health and Human Performance – map a direct link between player productivity and academy investment. This trend, along with others revealed in the data, will help support the programmes in resource allocation.
A 2022 research deal with Premiership Rugby in England has given the researchers access to 20 years’ worth of data on player development in England. The Insight Research Ireland Centre has a strong track record in sports analytics; the Centre conducts data research for sports bodies including the GAA and Premier League Football.
Neil McCarthy, Head of Player Development at Premiership Rugby, is spearheading the project for the league, while the DCU team includes PhD Amy Shelley, Dr Áine MacNamara, Dr Stephen Behan and Dr Jamie Taylor. Taylor previously coached at Leicester Tiger’s academy.
Their work is challenging some of the myths around player origin and development. Modifications to the academy system, recently announced by the PGP, are designed to strengthen the pathway from junior to professional level.
Dr Jamie Taylor of DCU said: ‘It has been a real pleasure working with the Premiership Rugby on this project, we hope that this type of research only strengthens player development and enhances coaching practice. Ultimately, our aim is that this type of research is embedded into the life of an academy and normalises research informed approaches to talent development’.
Neil McCarthy, Head of Player Development at Premiership Rugby, said: ‘This project has provided crucial insight that will underpin vital elements of the new Professional Game Partnership regarding player development. The results of the study will enable Premiership Rugby academies to focus resources on the core drivers of productivity to create a world-leading player development pathway for English rugby.
‘We would like to place our thanks to Jamie and the DCU team for all their hard work over the past two years.’
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The Insight Research Ireland Centre for Data Analytics
The Insight Research Ireland Centre for Data Analytics is one of Europe’s largest data analytics research organisations, with over 450 researchers, more than 80 industry partners and €150+ million in funding. The Centre is funded by Taighde Éireann – Research Ireland, formerly Science Foundation Ireland.
Its research spans Fundamentals of Data Science, Sensing and Actuation, Scaling Algorithms, Model Building, Multi-Modal Analysis, Data Engineering and Governance, Decision Making and Trustworthy AI.
Insight is made up of four host institutions at DCU, University of Galway, UCC and UCD. Insight’s partner sites are Maynooth University, Tyndall, TCD and UL.
Dublin City University
Dublin City University (DCU) is a leading innovative European University with a mission to ‘transform lives and societies’. DCU is proud to be one of the world’s foremost Young Universities and is among the world’s top 2% globally. The University is known for the ‘transformative student experience’ it offers and is recognised for its impact in addressing global challenges in collaboration with national and international stakeholders.
