Plans for the world's first international rugby academy were unveiled in Wellington on Wednesday.

The brainchild of former All Black greats Murray Mexted and Sean Fitzpatrick, the International Rugby Academy will provide world class tuition to young players and coaches throughout the rugby world who are aspiring to make a living through professional rugby.

"The aim of the International Rugby Academy," says Mexted, "is to provide a unique rugby experience that will ultimately 'fast-track' these young players and coaches into the uncompromising world of professional rugby."

In many cases the time gap between players leaving school to the time they play their first professional game is now only two or three years. The playing standards required of them to remain there at such a young age are often overwhelming. The aim of the academy is to build a solid foundation for these young players that will better prepare them for the rigors of professional rugby.

"The physical and mental conditioning demanded of today's professional rugby players is extraordinary," says Mexted. "It doesn't compare to the game we were playing 15 years ago".

Therefore, the International Rugby Academy courses will not focus only on developing physical ball skills, but will also cover vital aspects of the game including mental focus, rugby intelligence, technical 'position specific' tuition, off-field career/financial management, nutrition and injury prevention.

"At the same time the overseas players and coaches who take part will get a real taste of and insight into the unique rugby culture that exists here in New Zealand" said Fitzpatrick.

Located in New Zealand's capital Wellington, this ideal rugby facility will host intensive one-month courses throughout the year. Two separate courses will be run simultaneously - one for young players and the other for aspiring professional coaches.

Former Taranaki and Auckland Blues coach Jed Rowlands will manage the aspiring-player courses, and will be calling in specialist experts such as Sean Fitzpatrick, Richard Loe, Grant Fox, John Boe and various other NZRU accredited coaches.

"Jed is the ideal man to manage the player coaching side of the business. Not only does he possess an extremely astute rugby brain, he is fantastic at imparting that knowledge on young players and teams. I guess his illustrious mathematics teaching career in Taranaki can be thanked for that!" said Mexted.

Meanwhile, Laurie Mains, arguably the world's pre-eminent coach, will work full time managing the coaching of coaches side of the business.

"For a while now Laurie has expressed a burning desire to play a lead role in improving the overall standard of rugby coaching - not just in New Zealand, but globally. The International Rugby Academy will provide a fantastic opportunity for Laurie to achieve that goal. We're thrilled to have him on board - not just as a coach, but as an equity shareholder," says Fitzpatrick.

Next week Mexted embarks on an extensive promotional campaign to sell International Rugby Academy to the rugby world at large and ultimately to begin signing up recruits for the inaugural intake planned for August this year. First stop will be Queensland, before heading off to South Africa, Argentina, France, Italy, the United Kingdom and Japan. He will team up with Mains in South Africa and will be joined by Fitzpatrick in the UK.

Mexted has established a network of International Rugby Academy sales agents in these key markets by essentially tapping into the network of rugby contacts and friendships he has forged throughout his rugby career.

"For me, the lifelong friendships you make throughout your rugby career is the most special thing about being part of this great game. Bringing together young players from all over the rugby world to International Rugby Academy and exposing them to this unique international brotherhood at such an early stage in their careers will be remarkably rewarding.

Many of them will go on to compete against each other on the international stage - by then they will already be great mates. I wish I had had that opportunity as a 16-year-old."

Mexted begins his International Rugby Academy crusade next week in Brisbane with the assistance of his Australian International Rugby Academy agent, former Wallaby fullback Greg Martin.