A new academy for 16 to 19-year-olds officially gets under way in Oxford next Wednesday with the £50,000 backing of construction company Leadbitter.

The Leadbitter Oxford Rugby Academy launches at 7.30pm when the squad will train and play at the Southern Bypass ground.

Leadbitter's headquarters are in Abingdon and the company's chief executive officer is former Oxford Marathon player Bob Rendell.

The sponsorship, invested over a three-year period to help ensure junior players progress to senior rugby with Oxford and Oxford Harlequins.

There will be a new Colts team with the focus on developing skills, tactical awareness, fitness and health using techniques such as video analysis and one-to-one training programmes.

Ultimately the hope is to support National League rugby in Oxford, while the academy also want to convert one of the existing buildings into a new education centre.

A part-time coach and schools liaison officer will be employed to promote rugby across more schools in the county, and a prestigious mini tournament will be established in September.

Players will even be encouraged to do their RFU Level One coaching badge and, if they want, combine their academic studies with rugby related BTECs through Witney and Abingdon College.

Academy director John Brodley said: "Rugby in Oxford has great potential and we have a clear vision about where we would like to take the sport in this city.

"The academy is a first step in delivering this vision. It will act as a feeder club for both our senior sides: Oxford RFC and Oxford Harlequins.

"I would estimate that we are currently losing as much as 75 per cent of players aged between 16 and 19 because there is no structure in place to support them through to the seniors.

"We have lost some really talented players as a result.

"That's why it's so important to have the backing of Leadbitter.

"The fact that Leadbitter is a local company as well means even more to everyone associated with rugby development in the area because of that local connection."

Rendell said: "Whilst Leadbitter is now firmly established as a major UK contractor, we have not forgotten our local routes and are therefore delighted to have this opportunity to show our support for Oxfordshire rugby.

"On a more personal note, Having first started my association with rugby way back in the early 1970s as a colt for Oxford Marathon, it means a huge amount to now be able to play a small part in the creation of a centre of excellence for Oxfordshire youth rugby.

"I would therefore like to wish John and his team every success and have no doubt that the academy will play a significant role in creating Oxfordshire's rugby stars of the future."

For more information about joining the Colts, visit www.oxford-rugby-academy.com or contact Brodley on 07771 766390.