Club News Round Up: Ulster Branch

Developing rugby in Clan Na Gael in Lurgan; Summer camps continue at RBAI, Carrickfergus RFC and Rainey Old Boys; City of Derry commemorative fundraiser all in the round up of club and community news from the Ulster Branch.

Ulster Branch Development Officers Take Part in Clan na Gael Summer Camp
 
Ulster Branch Development Officers, Darren McGuigan and Hamish Fraser recently attended a 4- week multi-sport summer camp at Clan na Gael GAA club, where they spent the 3rd week teaching rugby to over 150 girls and boys. The children were divided into 8 groups, aged between 6 and 14 years, and were put through various Tag and Mini rugby drills and games.

The children really enjoyed their week-long rugby experience, and were able to build upon some of the skills they had learnt in the other sports.

Ulster Rugby Summer Camps Continue

Despite the rain, the Ulster Rugby Summer Camps still went ahead at R.B.A.I, Carrickfergus RFC and Rainey Old Boys RFC, and children continued to develop their rugby skills under the supervision of qualified coaches. The excitement of the week came when the Ulster Rugby players paid a visit to the camps and posed for photos with the children, signed autographs and answered questions about life as a professional rugby player.

As the end of this year’s Summer Camps approaches, coaches and Camp Managers have remarked on the real improvement in the children’s rugby skills as each week progresses. The fun and enjoyment at this year’s camps has been great and the players’ visits have been a real point of excitement.

The final week of Summer Camps will see children attending Q.U.B., City of Derry RFC and Ards RFC.

City of Derry RFC Hosts Commemorative Fundraiser

Two rugby clubs in the North West recently joined forces to remember two of their players who died tragically on the pitches at their respective clubs. In what has become an annual fixture, the ‘Golden Oldies’ of the City of Derry and Londonderry YMCA fielded a combined XV against the Ulster Perennials at Judges Road.

Jim Huey of Londonderry YMCA and Marty McIvor of City of Derry died within months of each other whilst playing rugby in 2004 and 2005. Their club mates have come together every year since to pay tribute to them by playing rugby. This year they also did some fundraising for the Coronary Care Unit at Altnagelvin Hospital. The total raised was £2,575. Both Londonderry YMCA and City of Derry RFC would like to thank everybody who helped make it a successful day.