Ulster Rugby and Centra Reflect on another Year of Summer Camp Success. After eight weeks of fun and sportsmanship this year’s Ulster Rugby Summer Camps, sponsored by Centra, came to a successful close recently.
Over the summer months there were a total of 18 province-wide camps,with almost 1,200 boys and girls aged 6 to 13 yearstaking part to learn news skills and make new friends. Each camp lasted five days, during which participants were closely supervised by qualified IRFUcoaches.
2009 also saw the addition of a senior camp at the University of Ulster Jordanstown for young people aged 14 to 17 years. The senior camp was aimed at boys and girls with previous rugby experience, and focussed on the technical, tactical, physical, mental and lifestyle aspects of Rugby Union.
Feedback from all of this year’s 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 a professional rugby player.
There was additional excitement at the Armagh camp when Ulster Rugby staff brought along the Ireland Grand Slam silverware – the RBS Six Nations Championship Trophy and Triple Crown – for the children to see it for themselves.
Another highlight for the young people taking part was a Summer Camp kit bag with T-shirt, Rugby ball and voucher to an Ulster Magners League match, which were included as part of the registration package.
Speaking about this year’s camps, Community Rugby Manager, Barry Willis commented:
“The 2009 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 this year’s camps, it is obvious that Rugby is 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’s three year sponsorship of the Ulster Rugby Summer Camps was launched in 2008. The partnership entails a high profle promotional campaign, with Centra retailers across Northern Ireland attending their local camps to show their support for grass roots rugby.
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 see the fun and experience the young participants got from them. Not only did the children at camps across Northern Ireland get to improve their rugby skills and meet Ulster Rugby players, but they also had the chance to make new friends and take some valuable exercise at the same time.”
