Play Rugby USA Attend Munster Rugby School Of Excellence

Munster Rugby were delighted to host two players and a coach involved with Play Rugby USA at our Boys School of Excellence in Rockwell College this month.

The week-long camp provides boys aged 13-16 with the opportunity to develop their rugby skills and understanding through a game sense and technical excellence approach.

At the School of Excellence, attendees took part in a structured rugby development programme which included core skill development, game understanding, position specific workshops, appropriate strength and conditioning training and teamwork. This all helped to give them an idea of what it takes to become a professional rugby player and what is involved in the training and preparation.

This all took place in an enjoyable but challenging environment where players are encouraged to develop their all-round rugby ability. Throughout the week the players received top class coaching from Munster Rugby coaches.

Play Rugby USA’s mission is to provide life-changing experiences and game-changing interventions through rugby. They aim to inspire and empower youths from disadvantaged areas around New York City.

The New York Friends of Munster dinner is hosted annually and raises vital funds for grassroots rugby here in Munster. As Play Rugby USA share the same goal as Munster Rugby, to inspire and develop the next generation of rugby players, it was a great opportunity to invite two players and a coach involved in Play Rugby USA to experience a once in a lifetime trip to Ireland and have them train under some of our best coaches for a week.

Speaking about their time at the camp players Alvin Jerez Mendoza and Angelo Garcia said:

“Everyone here has been really friendly, it has been really easy to make friends and talk to and interact with people.

“It has also been great to get some top level training, coaches here give great feedback, and just getting the chance to be immersed in a different rugby culture that is way different from America.

“It has felt like a professional training environment, and yeah we have just learnt so many new things that hopefully we can take back to America and become better players.”

The players were joined on the trip by North Westall, Head Coach of the Play Rugby USA High School Boys Academy, who spoke about how important it was for himself and the players to have this experience. He said:

“It is incredibly important, especially for the American game, being able to work with the coaches myself and having the players come over here and experience what it is like to be around kids who have experienced rugby from a young age.

“I think the players and the people here might take for granted the level of rugby they are able to experience and be a part of throughout their entire lives. So for us it is just such a treat to be here and see how much rugby is loved.”

Watch the full video below.

Video | Play Rugby USA Attend Munster Rugby School Of Excellence