Performance Rugby Programme - Girls
The Henley College Rugby Programme offers an unrivalled environment for talented and aspirational rugby players to combine their rugby development with a continued education. We have a proud history of performance rugby, offering pathway opportunities that enable selected players to pursue both academic excellence and a performance rugby environment. The Henley College Girls Programme competes at the highest level in the England Rugby ACE League (Girls Performance College and School League). If you are interested in knowing more, see below.
Rugby Head Coach & Programme Manager:
Josh Barlow
Josh is the Rugby Head Coach and Programme Manager at The Henley College, having joined the team in September 2023. He is currently undertaking the prestigious England Rugby Performance Coaching Award (Level 4). With a strong background as a Coach Developer for England Rugby, Josh contributes to the delivery of advanced coaching awards, supporting coaches throughout their professional development. He also serves as the England Rugby PDG Assistant Coach for the South East, working closely with Surrey, Sussex, and Kent to develop emerging talent across the counties. Josh is deeply passionate about cultivating high-performance environments that inspire growth for both students and staff. His previous career as a serving police officer with Surrey Police brings a unique perspective to his coaching, instilling high expectations, discipline, and a strong sense of accountability within the rugby programme. His approach creates a culture where individuals can thrive athletically, academically, and personally.
Email: Jbar@henleycol.ac.uk
Assistant Rugby Coaches:
Quinn Clark
Quinn is an assistant rugby coach at The Henley College with a BSC in Sports Studies. A graduate of Hartpury University, Quinn has two years’ experience as a backs, defence and attack coach working within the high performance environment of Hartpury Mens & Womens BUCs programme, overseeing all aspects of team development, match preparation, and performance analysis. Quinn’s experience also extends supporting young student players with Hartpury Women's College Programme, a nationally recognised development pathway. Quinn is a engaging and dedicated coach with a strong commitment to player development, tactical innovation and fostering positive team culture. A notable success for Quinn was as Lead Coach for Hartpury Women’s BUCs 2’s assisting them to achieve League promotion in 2025.
Luke Thompson
Luke is an Assistant Coach at The Henley College and holds a BSc in Sports Science and Health from TU Dublin. He began his coaching career at Blackrock College in Dublin before moving on to roles with Lansdowne FC and Wicklow RFC. Luke has enjoyed a diverse playing career across Ireland, South Africa, New Zealand and England, competing in a variety of leagues and environments. Currently a hooker for Chinnor RFC in the English Championship, he brings extensive expertise in the set piece, breakdown and defensive systems. Luke is committed to helping players develop not only their technical and tactical understanding of the game, but also the confidence, resilience and professionalism required to improve consistently. His experience across multiple rugby environments enables him to connect with players at different stages of their development and provide coaching that is both challenging and supportive.
Raphael Hollister
Raff is a Rugby Coach at The Henley College, bringing high level playing experience and a genuine passion for developing athletes. He studied Sport and Exercise Science at the University of Surrey while simultaneously being contracted to Harlequins Senior Academy, balancing his academic studies with training in a professional high-performance environment. Alongside his coaching, Raff currently plays for Blackheath RFC in the Championship. He also represents Brazil on the international stage, making his debut in 2025 and competing in Rugby World Cup 2027 qualifying fixtures against Chile, Samoa, Namibia, and Belgium. His experiences across both the professional and international game provide valuable insight that he brings into his coaching. Passionate about skill development and player progression, Raff is committed to creating an engaging and challenging environment where players can build confidence, improve technically, and reach their full potential. He is dedicated to helping young athletes develop not only as rugby players but also as resilient, disciplined individuals both on and off the field.
Performance Analyst:
Max Elvin
Max is the Performance Analyst for The Henley College’s Elite Rugby Programme, with expertise in predictive modelling, sports data analysis, and applied sports science. Holding a Master’s by Research in rugby performance analysis, they have worked with National League and overseas clubs to deliver data-driven insights. A two-time European Champion in martial arts and former University 1st XV rugby player, Max also has coaching experience that enhances their ability to support athlete development. They are passionate about using performance analysis to drive high-performance environments and help players reach their potential.
Sport Therapist:
Harrison Keward
Harry is a dedicated Sports Therapist with expertise in injury diagnosis, management and rehabilitation. He specialises in creating and implementing individualised rehabilitation programs alongside program wide injury prevention programs. With a BSc in Sports Therapy from the University of Gloucestershire, Harry uses evidence-based practice in combination with his personalised hands on approach to rehabilitation and therapy. He has extensive experience in pitch-side medical care, injury prevention and clinical skills from Rams Rugby, University of Gloucester Rugby, Birmingham City FC Academy alongside Elite 7s teams Eggchaser 7s, UR7s, and Artisans 7s. Harry is currently a Senior 1st Team Therapist and the Lead Rehabilitator at Rams Rugby. He was the youngest Qualified Sports Therapist to work at a National One game. Harry is extremely passionate about forming positive relationships with athletes to help them reach their full potential. He ensures he maintains player centred care, with the athletes best interest at heart.
Mamie Blease
Mamie is a sports Therapist with a passion for rehabilitation, injury management, and supporting athletes to return to sport stronger. She holds a BSc (Hons) in Sports Therapy and an MSc in Strength and Conditioning from Hartpury University, combining clinical expertise with performance principles to provide a holistic approach to athlete care. During her time at Hartpury, Mamie gained experience with Hartpury Men’s BUCS Rugby 1XV during their championship-winning season, as well as Hartpury RFC, developing her skills in pitch-side care, rehabilitation, and return-to-play. She has also worked as Sports Therapist for Hartpury Men’s 2XV and covered College and National One fixtures. With a strong interest in bridging the gap between rehabilitation and performance, Mamie is passionate about delivering individualised care to help athletes achieve their goals and return to doing what they love.
Strength and Conditioning Coaches:
Bayley Campbell
Bayley is a former international hammer thrower who represented Great Britain. He achieved notable success, finishing 8th at the World U20 Championships and reaching the finals of the European U20 Championships. At his peak, he was ranked as high as 5th in Britain. His athletic achievements earned him a scholarship to the University of Oklahoma, where he competed in the highly competitive American NCAA collegiate system. During his time there, he became a university record holder, conference champion, and completed a Bachelor of Science degree. Bayley not only brings his experience of being an elite athlete to The Henley College, but also firsthand knowledge of high-performance environments.
Jack Winterbottom
Jack is a Strength and Conditioning Coach with a background in professional cricket. After graduating with a degree in Strength and Conditioning, Jack went on to gain valuable experience working in performance sport, delivering tailored 1:1 coaching for academy cricketers aged 16-18. Alongside this, Jack spent two years as a professional cricketer with Surrey CC, bringing first-hand knowledge of the demands of elite sport into their coaching practice. Now working with Henley College Rugby, Jack applies this blend of academic expertise and professional sporting experience to help players develop physically, perform at their best, and build long-term athletic foundations.
Sport Psychologist:
Theo Abramson
Theo is a Sport and Exercise Psychologist (in Training), with over 1000 hours of experience supporting athletes across a range of levels — from grassroots to Olympic pathways. With an academic background in sport and exercise psychology, he now works holistically to support individuals and teams with both performance and personal development. Theo is passionate about helping athletes build psychological resource that last beyond the game, combining evidence-based approaches with a deep understanding of the pressures and challenges athletes face. He focuses on fostering resilience and long-term growth, empowering individuals to thrive both on and off the pitch.
The level of support offered at The Henley College rugby programme is designed to mirror a professional rugby environment.
It will develop you through:
Performance Coaching:
Our professional coaches are committed to developing the technical and tactical foundations of rugby through structured training sessions and competitive fixtures against Tier 1 opposition, with students benefiting from 12 to 16 hours per week of dedicated programme time.
Strength and Conditioning:
We deliver a bespoke training programme that maximises physical development and enhances on-field performance, ensuring students are fully prepared for the physical demands of competitive rugby.
Sports Therapy:
We offer full-time support through individually tailored prehab, rehab, and treatment programmes, designed to optimise recovery and maximise players' availability and performance on the field.
Performance Analysis:
The programme offers comprehensive matchday analysis through team and individual coding, supported by detailed stat sheets that drive one-on-one performance reviews. Training sessions are also recorded and uploaded to our video analysis platform, giving players continuous access to personalised insights that accelerate learning, support development, and enhance overall performance.
Sports Psychology:
We offer access to Sport Psychologists who provide players the support in effectively balancing the demands of their athletic commitments with the challenges of education and injury rehabilitation.
Rugby Mentorship Programme:
Upon induction, each student within the rugby programme is assigned a dedicated staff member who offers continuous support and guidance throughout their college experience, including pastoral care and the holistic development of the individual.
Established Host Family Scheme:
The Henley College rugby programme provides accommodation through a trusted and well-established host family network which is managed by the college. All host families are DBS checked by the college and personally visited by our Head of Programme before being approved to host students.
The Henley College Rugby Programme incorporates a range of technologies and evidence-based approaches to support student development through innovative and informed coaching practices, such as:
- Nacsport
- StatSports
- TeamBuildR
- VX3
- Output Sports
- Coach Logic
- Physique Management
- Nutrition x
Our facilities include
- Performance gym
- Sports hall
- Performance Analysis suite
- College Rugby Pitch
- Dedicated Rehabilitation gym
- Astroturf (Henley Hawks)
2024/2025
England Colleges Girl’s 7’s Runners up 2025
2023/2024
England Colleges Girl’s 7’s Winners 2024
The following players are alumni of The Henley College Rugby Programme who have gone on to secure professional contracts or represent their country at age-grade or senior international level:
Annabel Meta (England AG and Ealing Trailfinders)
Emily Lunn (England U18’s)
Estella Vaughan (Scotland U18’s)
Hayley Jones (England U18’s and Ealing Trailfinders)
Iley Bailey (England AG, and Harlequins)
Lauren Knowler (England AG, Ealing Trailfinders)
Lucy Finch (England AG, and Loughborough Lightening)
Macey Twine (Saracens)
Malene Bowden-Evans (Norway 7s)
Mary Rudd (Scotland U18’s)
Poppy Love (England AG)
Sam Shields (England AG, Ealing Trailfinders)
Sophie Molton (England AG, Harlequins and Ealing Trailfinders)
Tilly Poland (England AG)
“My first year on the program has helped me grow not only as a player but as a person. It is an environment where we are encouraged to perform at the highest level every time we come to training. The program has helped me build upon my rugby skills to make me a better player by the specific feedback we get given, the 1-2-1 coaching that is provided and the support in S&C sessions. The team as well as the coaches provide a support system that is unmatched, both on and off the pitch. The balance between academics and rugby is done incredibly well allowing a focus on both.”
– Lucy Sharpe, Year 1 student 2024.
“Macey has loved her time playing rugby for The Henley College. When she arrived two years ago her rugby skills were already recognised by Reading RRFU, and Berkshire County. Since then, her skills in all aspects of rugby have improved considerably. Macey has matured as a player and individual whilst being coached by Josh Barlow and his coaching team. Macey has developed into an excellent player and is a lovely girl, and her whole family are proud of her.”
- S. Rickwood, grandad of Y2 Student 2025.
Use the links below to register for trials, contact the head of programme and stay updated with the latest information about the programme, including our social media channels.