The ACE Rugby Squad at Peter Symonds College operates under the Bath Rugby partnership, providing talented young players with access to professional-level coaching, development, and support.
The competition is overseen by the Rugby Football Union (RFU). The ACE Squad is divided into two groups:
The ACE programme mirrors the professionalism of academy rugby, requiring a high level of commitment.
The ACE programme is intensive. Players selected for the ringfenced ACE Team can expect:
Players also receive the support of a dedicated management team including coaches, S&C specialists, a physiotherapist, and match / training analysis.
The ACE League is a high level and physically demanding national competition featuring many of the best young players in the country, including academy and junior internationals. The programme at Peter Symonds aims to prepare players for these challenges while ensuring their wellbeing, academic success, and personal growth are fully supported.
For more information on the ACE partnership, please visit: https://www.bathrugby.com/club/academy-programme/ace-partnerships
Emerging ACE players are those who show strong potential to progress into the full ACE Team. While not part of the ringfenced ACE squad, they train under the same Bath Rugby umbrella, following the same structures. These players are not required to trial for 1st XV rugby but will play a key role within the college’s 1st XV squad, while also participating in selected ACE sessions.
Emerging ACE players share access to the same Bath Rugby strength and conditioning support, training systems, and game plans as the ACE Team, ensuring an easy transition should they be called up. They train alongside ring fenced ACE players on Fridays and may also join combined sessions during the week.
This pathway allows players to continue developing without the full demands of the ACE League, giving them time to grow physically and technically. They maintain the flexibility to balance college, club, county, while staff work closely with them to prevent overtraining.
Emerging ACE players are invited to pre-season training and Friday ACE sessions throughout the year. Their timetable mirrors that of the ACE Team, enabling a smooth mid-season transition if an opportunity arises. Over the course of the season, they typically compete in 1st XV fixtures, AOC league and cup matches, and development games against other ACE college squads, providing around 12–18 high-quality fixtures each year.
Peter Symonds 1st XV plays competitive rugby in the Association of Colleges (AOC) League, facing strong opposition from colleges across Hampshire, Surrey and Sussex. The season runs from October to February, featuring four home and four away fixtures, as well as participation in the AOC National Cup and the Hampshire Schools Cup.
The college aims to run a large and flexible 1st XV squad to support players who also wish to play club rugby. Students are encouraged to manage their workload sensibly and avoid playing two demanding matches in one week.
There are three pathways into the 1st XV:
Selected players train through September before the league begins, with about 10–12 matches per season. Match weeks include a Monday lunchtime captain’s run before a Wednesday fixture.
The Peter Symonds 2nd XV provides an excellent opportunity for students to enjoy competitive rugby in a supportive and inclusive environment. The team plays in the Hampshire Colleges League, facing local colleges such as Queen Mary’s (Basingstoke), Bournemouth, Itchen, Barton Peveril (Eastleigh), and Brockenhurst. The season runs from late September to February, with around five home and five away matches played on Wednesday afternoons.
The 2nd XV is ideal for players who wish to represent the college without committing to the full training demands of ACE or 1st XV rugby. There is no formal trial, but players are encouraged to attend training sessions during September. Final squad selection is based on attendance and engagement.
Once the season begins, match-day squads take part in a short captain’s run, on Tuesday lunchtimes before Wednesday fixtures. Across the season, the 2nd XV typically plays 10 games and takes part in two or three regional rugby festivals, providing meaningful and enjoyable rugby experiences for all players.
Peter Symonds College offers students the chance to play 7s rugby throughout the academic year, (currently the AOC National Championship qualifiers are held during the autumn term). Players can train and compete in 7s rugby across all three college terms, providing opportunities for both new and experienced players to enjoy this fast-paced version of the game.
Students that demonstrate high potential or students already within the Bath Rugby Academy will be invited to train or play with the Bath U17 Academy or Bath U18 Premiership Team. Such opportunities are managed collaboratively between Peter Symonds College and Bath Rugby to ensure player welfare and workload balance.
In March 2027, Peter Symonds College will make up to 30 conditional offers to Year 11 students for places in the Peter Symonds / Bath Rugby ACE Rugby Squad. These offers cover the full duration of a student’s time at college (Years 12 and 13).
While every offer guarantees a place within the ACE structure, selection for the ringfenced ACE Team, the group that competes in the national ACE League, is reviewed each year. Players who earn a place in the ringfenced team are required to pause club rugby during the Autumn term, ensuring full commitment to the ACE programme. The 2027/28 ACE Team will be confirmed by the end of July 2027, allowing players time to inform their clubs.
For students following a three-year (Level 2) course, a review will take place after the second year to discuss continued involvement in the rugby programme. While Year 14 students will not play in ACE fixtures, they may remain involved in a support or mentoring role within the wider Peter Symonds rugby community, subject to endorsement from Bath Rugby and Peter Symonds College.