Players and coaches from Clemson University, the Greenville Griffins and South Greenville Rugby are partnering with the City of Greer on May 1 to hold a “Try Rugby Camp” that will teach young people the basics of the game and showcase the reason for its current popularity. The event has been rescheduled from April 24 due to the forecast for heavy rain.
“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.