The Southwest Rugby Union has created a new development initiative for youth aged 11-15 in Middlesex and Huron county. The initiative will run clinics for both boy and girls, in Clinton, Exeter, Lucan, Ilderton, Parkhill, Grand Bend, Strathroy and Komoka.
The goal of the program is to give young athletes the opportunity to learn and develop their skills before they go on to play in the competitive environment.
It will start with a series of free come and try clinics, with no physical contact, focusing on teaching the basic skills so they have a basic understanding of the game.
After the free clinics, there are 20 other dates planned, which athletes can choose how many they attend, and can attend all 20. The flat rate for this flexibility is $50. Participants will also receive their own rugby ball.
Kids of all sizes and abilities are encouraged to go out and learn the game.
The program will be led by the coaches of the strongest High School programs in this region. Both Medway High School in Arva and St. Anne’s Catholic Secondary in Clinton have a long history of excellence.
Head Coaches Ryan Clancy and Ryan Kimmerly are both OFSAA Leadership in Rugby Award winners. Additionally Southwest Rugby president Rob McQueen who also has many years of coaching experience at Medway High School as well as 4 years as Head Coach at Wilfred Laurier University will be providing the main leadership for this initiative.
These three individuals represent over 50 years of rugby coaching experience. In addition to these longtime rugby coaches a team of nearly 20 additional coaches is available to assist in providing the most high-quality experience possible.
Most of these additional coaches are Medway and St. Anne’s graduates who have won OFSAA medals and gone on to high level success in university rugby.
Further information on this initiative can be found by contacting Ryan Clancy at (519)450-8229 or rclancy@hotmail.ca or Rob McQueen at (519)995-1495 or robmcqueen123@hotmail.com.
You can join the public Facebook group as well to keep up with any ongoing information. Search Middlesex-Huron Youth Rugby.
Dates and places:
Komoka: Parkview PS 6.30pm 5 August
Ilderton: Oxbow PS 6.30pm 7 August
Parkhill: North Middlesex DHS 10am 8 August
Clinton: St Anne’s CSS 6.30pm 9 August
Strathroy: North Meadows PS 6.30pm 11 August
Exeter: Wagner Field 6.30pm, 12 August
Grand Bend: Klondyke Sports Fields 6.30pm 13 August
Lucan: Wilberforce Elementary 6.30pm 13 August
