IRL partners with etrainu to boost technical education

International Rugby League is further professionalising its technical education by providing IRL members with a comprehensive education management system.

IRL has partnered with leading education solutions provider etrainu to maximise the way coach and match officials learn.

All IRL technical courses and the progress of practitioners through each program will be logged on a customised IRL education portal which will also allow course candidates to access and complete their post-course material in a more efficient manner than ever before.

Online courses will also be made available to support ongoing continued professional development and to streamline aspects of the delivery of IRL’s Level 1 and Level 2 coaching and match officials courses, allowing educators to make best use of “in person” delivery time.

IRL tutors will initially manage and mentor the progress of local educators who will be responsible for training their national coaches and match officials until such time that candidates have progress on the IRL continuum to a point where countries have a sustainable network of local educators in place.

Functionality will be available in several languages, with English, French and Spanish being prioritised to start with.

IRL secretary general Danny Kazandjian said: “This learning platform will provide IRL with the ability to grow the global game’s workforce while ensuring that technical standards are maintained and improved. Our long-term commitment to developing an authentic rugby league sport throughout our diverse membership will be well supported by the etrainu system, which paves the way for IRL to begin a systematic programme of technical education in the field. There are some very talented coach and match official educators spread throughout our member nations, and now their training and progression will be accelerated”.

The etrainu system underpins a global plan for technical education delivery led by IRL’s Membership & Competitions department, which has already seen significant activity undertaken in Ghana, Kenya and Nigeria earlier this year, with several more missions planned for 2025.

Paul Hoon, CEO of etrainu, said: “International Rugby League plays a vital role in uniting a truly global game, spanning cultures, continents and communities. At etrainu, we’re proud to support that mission by delivering accessible, consistent and world-class education to the people who shape the sport. This partnership is about more than online learning. It’s about building the foundation for a stronger, more connected future for rugby league everywhere."