Around 50 children took part in the inaugural Next Gen You rugby camp which has been organised by former England international, Christian Wade.
Being held at his old stomping ground in the Royal Grammar School, the youngsters took to the field which saw the 31-year-old teach them the basic skills when playing rugby.
The camp is on for three days (August 2-4) with several coaches also being present to help the children work on their technique.
It’s Official !!! 👍🏿
— Christian Wade (@ChristianWade3) July 11, 2022
Next Gen You Rugby Camp 2022!
NOW OPEN FOR REGISTRATION ✍🏿🇬🇧
Click the link below and book now:https://t.co/CvD6Z2d2dz #NextGenYou pic.twitter.com/FqgQzSRwB4
One of the mentors at the camp is former sprinter, Julian Golding.
Golding, who won gold for England at the 1998 Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, was Wade’s sprinting coach during his youth.
See you tomorrow!!! @RGSHWSport
— Christian Wade (@ChristianWade3) August 1, 2022
NEXT GEN YOU RUGBY CAMP 2022! pic.twitter.com/4oRQsZycHo
Speaking exclusively to the Free Press, the 47-year-old said: “I think it’s been brilliant.
“We’ve highlighted skills such as speed and agility that players need and using that to try and promote rugby, I think is brilliant.
“I’ve known Christian for a long time as I used to coach him when he did his athletics when he was 16-years-old, and I think speed is a fundamental part of rugby.”
Golding is now the assistant principal at the St Mary Magdalene School in Greenwich.
Ian Taplin, who coached Christian during his Wasps days, added: “It’s been well put together and it’s been well prepared by him as he wants the boys to have a great time, be free and be expressive.
"He also wants to teach them the principles of what they need to do to be an athlete or be the best version of themselves.”
Starting in the morning, the event saw all the students arrive and receive a warm welcome from the ex-England star and his team.
The children were each given a free t-shirt before the 31-year-old listed five ground rules that he wanted his students to follow which were the following:
1. Always have respect
2. Keep everything tidy wherever you go
3. Have gratitude be thankful to everything around you
4. Compete as you always need to be the best you can possibly be
5. Have fun and do things that you want to enjoy
Speaking to the Free Press about his Next Gen You camp, Christian said: “I’ve never done a camp before so I wasn’t too sure what to expect.
“I feel very comfortable here [at the Royal Grammar School] as this is my school but will they feel comfortable and will they enjoy themselves?
“I’m happy that we’ve made it to this day and things are running smoothly.
“Everything you see from the t-shirts, the posters, the banners, the food and drink, everything we have got, I’ve been involved in and even though it’s been challenging, I want the kids to benefit from this.
“This isn’t me for, this is for them.”
The camp will conclude on August 4.
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