It’s a case of 3 down and 2 to go for our 2017 Kilkenny Rugby Academy Advanced players as they work there way through the best residential rugby camp programme in Ireland this summer.
Not that they’ve had the motivation or time to count down the days. The reality is that this group of 28 players have fully embraced the C.A.R.D.S. challenge (Creativity, Awareness, Resilience, Decision Making & Self Organisation – see more here about how England Rugby U18s are using the approach) set by our coaching & staff team. They have shown impressive commitment, focus, skill and teamwork to get the absolute best out of the experience prepared for them.
Despite the mixed weather, they’ve covered a huge amount of rugby content to date, including sessions coaching and testing core skills in the game (passing, rucking, tackling and more). Not only this but a key unique aspect of the 2017 Kilkenny Rugby Academy experience delivered by partners RugbyCamps.ie & PSA Academies are the high performance sessions in Speed Development (with Olympic coach Jim Kilty), Resilience Training, Sevens Rugby (with Irish International Fionn Carr), Sports Psychology (with leading expert Dr. Eddie Murphy), Strength & Conditioning, Nutrition and more that the players are involved in.
But is hasn’t all been hardwork, with fun evening activities like the Scrapheap Challenge testing the players collectively for teamwork and leadership of the mixed teams including Minis as young as 10 years old. The group have also enjoyed the competitive Tag Tournament and the nightly Kangaroo Court where they’ve regularly been dragged across the hot coals by Judge Cory and his staff prosecutors for most minor indiscretions!
The last two days without the Minis players will be a test of the Advanced Group’s resilience as the change in atmosphere and level will force them to double down for a final push of innovative and fun programming.
Click here to see all the best images from the first 3 days of the 2107 Kilkenny Rugby Academy in our Gallery section
