Pictured launching this year’s Ulster Rugby Senior Summer Camp at Jordanstown are (l-r) Nevin Spence, Ulster Rugby Academy, Darryl Callaghan, Ulster Rugby Talent ID Officer, Matthew Wilson from Monkstown Community School, Catherine English from Centra and Chris Henry, Ulster Rugby
Phoenix Ulster Rugby Academy staff and players, both past and present, helped to launch this year’s Ulster Rugby Senior Summer Camp at Jordanstown, which offers young people taking part the chance to experience a week in the life of an Academy player.
The Senior Summer Camp, sponsored by independent retail group Centra as part of a package of support for the full programme of Ulster Rugby Summer Camps, is for young people aged 13 to 17 years and is specifically for those with previous rugby experience. The camp is based at the University of Ulster Jordanstown and will last 5 days.
Camp date- Monday 9th- Friday 13th August (9.30am-2.30pm) at University of Ulster, Jordanstown
Under the guidance of Ulster Academy High Performance Manager, Gary Longwell and his team, young people attending the camp will gain an insight into the pathway taken by Ulster’s Chris Henry who attended the Academy from 2003 to 2006 and current Academy player, Nevin Spence.
While the senior camps will be led by qualified IRFU coaches and development staff, High Performance coaches from the Phoenix Ulster Rugby Academy will take specific training sessions throughout the five days, based on the various aspects of Rugby Union. These sessions will focus on the individual skills of evasion, catching, passing and decision making, as well as team and unit skills, such as back-line attack and forward play. In addition, strength and conditioning coaches will be on hand to offer practical advice and guidance to participants.
As well as the practical sessions, Summer Camp staff will offer advice on nutrition for young rugby players, and will hold a workshop on mental preparation.
Young people attending the senior camps will also have the opportunity to sample the excellent facilities at the High Performance Centre in Jordanstown and learn more about the training involved in playing higher level rugby.
Commenting on the Senior Summer Camp, newly appointed Ulster Rugby Talent ID Officer, Darryl Callaghan said: “The senior Summer Camp is an excellent opportunity for young people experienced in rugby to further their skills under the watchful eye of our much experienced High Performance and IRFU coaches. The facilities at the High Performance Centre are fantastic and will give the participants a great insight into the environment of a player at this level.
“Chris Henry is a fine example of a player who came through the Academy system and made the transition to professional rugby. He is now a proven leader within Ulster Rugby and is currently with the Irish Squad preparing for their tour to New Zealand and Australia. Nevin is a member of the current Academy squad, who gained his first cap for Ulster last season and who continues to work with High Performance staff to prepare for what he hopes will be the step up into the professional game. By spending a week at the Ulster Rugby Senior Summer Camp, the young people will gain a taster of the pathway taken by both Chris and Nevin during their time at the Academy.”
Catherine English from Summer Camps sponsor Centra added: “Centra’s association with Ulster Rugby in support of the popular Summer Camp scheme is in its third year and Centra retailers across Northern Ireland are very proud of the partnership. During the summer there are camps all over the Province, which give young people the chance to sample the game, meet their rugby heroes and make new friends. The senior camp at Jordanstown allows more experienced young players to develop their skills under expert tuition and to get a flavour of what it takes to be a professional player. There’s every chance we’ll see some future Ulster Rugby stars at the camp.”
Registration for the Senior Camps costs £85, with discount available for a second family member. These prices include an Ulster Rugby kit bag, T-shirt, Rugby ball and voucher to an Ulster Magners League match.
Application forms are also being distributed to schools and rugby clubs across Ulster and are available from local Centra stores. Full information on this year’s Summer Camps and how to book a place are available on www.ulsterrugby.com
