The next generation of rugby union players have been primed during a training camp in Fernie.
About 50 children learned ball and running skills at the camp hosted by Rookie Rugby Elk Valley at Prentice Park on Saturday, June 2.
Training was open to kids aged 3-12 and for some, it was the first time they had touched a rugby ball.
“The aim of the camps is to introduce the sport into the Valley, we’ve had it for a few years with the men’s and women’s team, and feeding from that, a lot of people are interested in getting their children involved in rookie rugby,” said organizer Min Merritt.
“This is why we started it up but I think more fundamentally, I see the importance of rugby because, of all the team sports, the team spirit is at such a high level, the level of respect that you have to have for your teammates and coaches, or for the referee, are such good life skills. I know that as a player myself and I really want to pass that onto the children.”
Players from both the men’s and women’s teams, and some enthusiastic parents helped to run Saturday’s camp, which concluded with a flag drill.
Merritt and her Elk Valley Bulls Rugby Football Club colleagues’ long-term goal is to introduce the game into local schools and develop a youth team to compete in the East Kootenay league.
Rookie Rugby hopes to hold another program this fall, follow Facebook.com/ElkValleyRookieRugby for updates.
