Summer Scrummage Around The Country

The Ulster Bank/IRFU Summer Scrummage Summer Camp programme is in full swing at venues around the country. One of the highlights is the chance to meet some of the professional players.

Pictured above: The boys and girls at the Letterkenny Summer Scrummage were delighted to meet Ulster and Ireland star David Humphreys.

The Ulster Bank/IRFU Summer Scrummage caters for kids from 7 years of age to 13 and some of the younger members were delighted to pose with David Humphreys.

Some of the drills and skills at Letterkenny RFC.

Meanwhile over at Sligo Grammar, one young star was working on his passing game.

Re-enacting the All Blacks v Ireland at Sligo’s Summer Scrummage.

Drive it, drive it, drive it!

Ulster and Ireland ‘A’ star Neil McMillan signs some autographs at the camp in Cavan.

The boys and girls of the Cavan Summer Scrummage Camp.

Well he did sign a lot of autographs – David Humphreys could still be at Letterkenny RFC for all we know!

Barry Murphy and Ian Dowling give some medical advice to a future Munster star at one of the province’s Summer Scrummage camps.

…Leinster’s Des Dillon and Gary Brown helped the coaches out at the Summer Scrummage in Wexford.

Leinster winger Gary Brown is swamped for autographs.

Des Dillon at the Wexford Summer Scrummage.

The Ulster Bank / IRFU Summer Scrummage programme runs throughout July and August.

The camps are run by IRFU accredited rugby coaches and the emphasis is on fun and learning new skills, with the camp content designed by the IRFU.

Coach Colin O’Hare stressed: “The camps achieve a fine balance between improving the kids’ skill levels across a broad range of areas, as well as giving them an insight into conditioning, how professionals go about warming up for instance.

“But just as importantly, they’re just about having out and out fun and getting to know and socialise with new people. The feedback from both parents and kids last summer was fantastic.”

The girls mix in with the boys and care is taken to ensure that kids are graded according to their age and skill level. One of the big thrills that the kids get is meeting up with some of the professional rugby players from each province. For more on a camp in your area click here.