HOW far ahead do you plan your rugby?

Some may have booked a place on the coach for Exeter, bought a ticket for the cup tie against London Irish or even scanned the fixture list to see who they are playing on the final Saturday of the season.

But even that is extremely short sighted compared to Worcester's development officer Carl Douglas who is already planning the first team for the start of the 2009 season, if not beyond.

Now two years into his job, the former teacher is charged with monitoring the club's steady conveyor belt of fresh talent while avoiding making the club exclusive to potential superstars.

Key to the whole programme has been the production of the club's coaching bible, the 'Worcester Way,' which applies the same principles to international professionals as the mini juniors.

Only when boys reach the age of 15 does the club start to cream of the potential stars of the future and currently 25 lads receive extra coaching to bring out their best.

The Sixways academy, which sees players study at the Sixth Form College and train at the club, now boasts 25 teenagers while five players are involved in the scholarship programme with the university.

Early signs are good with three U18s players, John Higgins, Peter Knight and Jim Price getting outings in this season's second team.

But Douglas, a former teacher at North Bromsgrove High and RGS Worcester, said patience is the key to promoting players through the ranks.

"We have to make sure the players are comfortable in their new environment," he said.

"Sometimes players go on sometimes they go back down but we try and make sure their experience at the higher level is a positive one.

"We want them capable of performing and doing what's expected rather than let them sink or swim."

The 35-year-old is also in charge of the first team's fitness programmes, works on individual skills and has set up a range of coaching in schools across Herefordshire and Worcestershire.

He left a good job at the Grammar school and knew that with three young boys there was an element of risk in tying his career to the volatile world of professional rugby union.

But after almost two years in the post and with everything going well he has no doubts about his change of heart.

"With a family of three boys it was a major career move but I don't regret a thing," he added.

"I'm glad to be part of such a club and I just want to do things the right way."

Forward thinking appears to be reaping its reward for Douglas and Worcester Rugby Club.

Thursday, December 2, 1999.