Players and coaches from Clemson University, the Greenville Griffins and South Greenville Rugby are partnering with the City of Greer on April 24 to hold a “Try Rugby Camp” that will teach youth the basics of the game and showcase the reason for its current popularity.
“We’ve seen a huge spike in interest in rugby. It’s a sport that anyone can play,” South Greenville boys coach Warren Taylor said. “The boys who come out now just love it. I think girls, in general, are finding a sport where they can go out and show how strong and tough they are.”
The camp, which runs from 9 a.m. until noon at H.R. Turner Park (10 Virginia Ave. in Greer), is open to boys and girls ages 6-18 of all skill levels. There will be no contact at the camp with experienced rugby coaches and players. Campers must pre-register online for the event by using the Additional Info link below. There is no charge to participate and all campers will receive a free t-shirt.
“Size really doesn’t matter because you don’t have to hit someone as hard as you do with pads,” said Patrick Tingom, also a South Greenville boys coach. “We teach proper tackling techniques, and we take pride in that. You don’t have to be a big person to play the sport.”
Tingom said the benefits of participating in rugby for young athletes are evident in the five sport’s core values: teamwork, respect, enjoyment, discipline and sportsmanship.
The Clemson Tigers will host a game following the camp, putting into action the principles the boys and girls learn during the camp. A pair of high school games are also planned that afternoon.