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Ulster Rugby Brings Taste of Summer Camps to Schools

Above: IRFU Ulster Branch Community Rugby Manager, Barry Willis and Centra Brand Manager, Nicky Kelly tell the pupils of Cairnshill PS in Belfast about what can be expected at this year's Ulster Rugby Summer Camps

Ulster Rugby Development Officers are out and about in schools across the province this month, talking to pupils about this year's Summer Camps and the new Easter 'Taster' sessions taking place in April.

The Ulster Rugby Summer Camps, sponsored by independent retail group Centra since 2008, will take place at 15 different locations province-wide and are for boys and girls aged 6-12 years. Camps will run between 5th July and 27th August and each will last five days. The Easter taster sessions will take place between 7th and 9th April.

Rugby Development Officers are visiting dozens of local schools, distributing Summer Camp application forms and answering questions about the camps. They will be telling pupils that camps provide them with a great opportunity to build upon the coaching they receive in school, and also offer young people new to rugby the chance to experience the game and learn new skills. Children taking part in camps also get to meet their rugby heroes and make new friends.

Application forms for Ulster Rugby Summer Camps will also be available from local Centra stores and on the Ulster Rugby website. This year, for the first time, Ulster Rugby is offering a series of taster sessions during Easter week where children can sample a variety of the rugby activities that take place at Summer Camps.

As part of the registration package for this year's camps, children will receive a kit bag, Ulster Rugby T-shirt, rugby ball and a voucher for a Magners League rugby match at Ravenhill. Further details on the booking process will be posted on http://www.ulsterrugby.com/ in the coming weeks.

Ulster Branch Community Rugby Manager, Barry Willis said that the work of development officers in schools together with the Easter taster sessions will do a lot to enhance the scheme and allow children to see what exactly happens at the Summer Camps. He added: "We are currently putting the finishing touches to the 2010 Ulster Rugby Summer Camp programme. I look forward to announcing full details of the camps over the next few months and to confirming a number of new venues for 2010. Once again I am delighted to welcome the continued support from Centra and look forward to working closely with them for another year of Summer Camps."

Centra Brand Manager Nicky Kelly added: "Centra and its independent retail partners across Northern Ireland are proud to support the Ulster Rugby Summer Camps and through them grass roots rugby. Centra's focus for its community sponsorship programmes is on the health and well-being of young people and as well as supporting the Ulster Rugby Summer Camps we sponsor Action Cancer's school health programme and the DOE Cycling Proficiency Scheme."

For further information on this year's camps and to register your interest, email summercamps@ulsterrugby.com Full details of all summer camp venues will be announced after Easter.