Club Affiliates
U o N on the Stratford Blackswans Programme
After having worked with and got to know the Blackswans and their hard working and innovative President Aaron Parsons through my many summers spent coaching in Ontario, in 2013 we decided to establish a mutually beneficial arrangement in which we from the University of Nottingham would offer our students the opportunity to spend a summer playing rugby for the Blackswans in the beautiful town of Stratford. The first two players went over in June 2013 and had the most fantastic experience while also contributing to the Black Swans growing success on the field. Aaron and the club organized everything superbly and when the boys returned to us in September they were absolutely buzzing about their time in Stratford, both on and off the field. After the initial success of that first year, a couple of players have gone over every summer since, and the opportunity to do so has become a very important part of the University’s Rugby programme. I am very happy indeed that my successor as Director of Rugby has continued to offer this wonderful chance to the students. To have the opportunity to live and play rugby in Canada for a summer is a life changing experience, and many lifelong friendships have been formed. The Black Swans have proved to be the perfect partners and have looked after our boys extremely well. In turn I would like to think that our students have been good ambassadors for both the University of Nottingham and the United Kingdom in general. I have always believed that rugby’s primary purpose is to make better people, and the experience offered by Aaron and the Blackswans continues to fulfil that function in a big way. Long may it continue!
— Paul Walsh, Director of Rugby 2012-17, University of Nottingham
Exchange Program:
Initiated by former club executive, Bill Chenier using his connection to Paul Walsh who was director of rugby for Nottingham University. Paul was an international level coach for England and was used by rugby Ontario to coach elite level players for the summer programs.
The player exchange gives players a change to experience Canada while helping our club move forward, by playing, coaching and mentoring Blackswans players during their stay. The reciprocal to this is, the development of the players as individuals upon their next season at Nottingham. The players involved, return to Nottingham with more life experience and the challenge of playing mens rugby all summer.
We have seen many of them move up the ranks with the university and become larger parts of the Nottingham University community outside of rugby. Most importantly, they leave here with friendships that go on past rugby and connections for a lifetime.
This is a two way partnership and continues to be stronger with each passing year.
Please get in touch with our executive members to talk more about rugby exchanges within the Stratford Blackswans.
“The University of Nottingham is proud and delighted to be part of a unique student exchange with the Stratford Black Swans Rugby Club in Ontario, Canada. Established in 2014 the exchange takes place each summer and provides an amazing opportunity for 2 students to play and coach rugby. It’s an awesome experience for the students who not only develop lifelong skills and experience a different culture but also make new friends for life and do some travelling in a wonderful country. ”