National Talent Camp Develops Future Players
The National Talent Camp brings together Ireland’s top underage players to educate and develop them as future stars of professional rugby. We spoke to IRFU High Performance Manager Colin McEntee at the recent camp in Campbell College.
National Talent Camp – Watch Online
Over the thee days of the camp the boys receive practical on-field training tied to off-field development presentations.
The overall aim is to educate and develop players with the capacity to play at professional and international level. In addition it serves as an opportunity to identify players for the various age-grade squads.
There were 34 players for the Ireland Under-18 Clubs, 33 for the Ireland Under-18 Schools and a futher 32 at Under-19 level – drawn from all four provinces and from the Exiles system.
Presentations included:
The Elite Player Pathway – Colin McEntee
Physical Monitoring – Eamonn Flanagan
Nutrition For Young Players – Ruth Wood-Martin
Concussion Awareness – Garret Coughlan
Mental Skills – Ultan O’Callaghan
Speaking about the three-day camp, Colin McEntee, IRFU High Performance Manager, said: “These camps are an important part of our player development pathway. We bring in the guys that we have identified through the provinces and the Exiles and we give them a flavour of the culture and values of the Irish system.
“These young men will go on to represent Ireland at Under-18, Under-19, Under-20 and hopefully in the national senior team.
“They will be the next generation of players in the four provincial Academies, so it is important that we start them on that road with the best advice and training.”
National Talent Camp – Watch Online