Summer comes early

The five day Ulster Rugby Summer Camps, sponsored by independent retail group Centra, will take place at province-wide locations during July and August and are for boys and girls aged 6-12. A series of taster sessions are also to be held during Easter week, where children can sample some of the activities that take place at Summer Camps.

Ulster Rugby Development Officers are visiting dozens of local schools over the next few weeks, distributing Summer Camp information and giving pupils a feel for what’s in store; including opportunities to build upon the coaching they receive in school, as well as offering young people new to rugby the chance to experience the game and learn new skills. Children taking part in camps also get to meet their rugby heroes, as players from the Ulster squad visit camps across Northern Ireland.

Application forms for Ulster Rugby Summer Camps will be available at local Centra stores and on the Ulster Rugby website. As part of the registration package for this year’s camps, children will receive an Ulster Rugby goody bag. Further details on the booking process will be posted on www.ulsterrugby.com in the coming weeks.

Ulster Branch Development Officer Sam McBurney said: “It’s great to bring a bit of summer to schools during the winter months and we are getting a great response from pupils. At the minute we are putting the finishing touches to the 2013 Ulster Rugby Summer Camp programme and will be announcing full details over the next few weeks. Once again, we are delighted to have the continued support of our partner Centra and look forward to working closely with them for another year of Summer Camps.”

Jennifer Morton from Centra commented: “Centra and its independent retail partners across Northern Ireland are proud to have supported grass roots rugby through our sponsorship of the Ulster Rugby Summer Camps since 2008. Our community involvement programmes focus on the health and well-being of young people, and as well as backing the Ulster Rugby Summer Camps Centra also supports Action Cancer’s health promotion programme for schools - Health Action.”

For further information on this year’s camps and to register your interest, email [email protected]. Full details of all summer camp venues will be announced in April.