After eight weeks of fun and sportsmanship this year’s Ulster Rugby Summer Camps, sponsored by retailer Centra, recently came to a successful close.
There were fifteen camp venues province-wide this summer, with almost 1,100 boys and girls aged 6 to 13 years taking part. Each camp lasted five days, during which participants were closely supervised by qualified IRFU coaches while they learned new skills. There was also a senior camp at the University of Ulster Jordanstown for young people aged 14 to 17 years with previous rugby experience, where a further 75 took part.
Ulster Rugby says the feedback from the camps has been excellent, with the highlight of each week undoubtedly being the visit by the Ulster Rugby players. Each Wednesday, the players came to the camps to join in some rugby, sign autographs and speak to the boys and girls about life as professional rugby players. In addition, for the first time this year an award was presented to the participant with the most improved rugby skills at each camp.
Speaking about this year’s camps, Community Rugby Manager Barry Willis commented: “The 2011 Ulster Rugby Summer Camps have been a great success, and we have been delighted with the positive feedback from the young people and their parents. I would like to thank Centra for their continued support; it was great to see so many of the retailers attending the camps each week. With so many boys and girls attending, it is obvious that Rugby is still very much to the fore of Irish sport and I hope that this enthusiasm will continue through the clubs and schools across the province.”
Centra Brand Manager, Nicky Kelly added: “Centra and its independent retail partners have been pleased to support the Ulster Rugby Summer Camps again this year and to witness the fun and sporting experience young people got from attending them. Not only did the young players get to improve their rugby skills and meet their Ulster Rugby heroes, but they also had the chance to make new friends and get some valuable exercise at the same time.”
