The Springfield Celts Rugby Club, in collaboration with the Illinois Inter-Agency Athletic Association, hosted a Rugby Skills Camp for at-risk youth. Children from children's homes across Central Illinois met at Kennedy Park in Springfield on August 6th to participate in rugby for the third straight year.

“In the past the Celts have been extremely encouraging, positive and kind to our youth,” Tom Corr, Athletic Director for the Illinois Inter-Agency Athletic Association said at the event. “It is not an exaggeration to say that every boy has left the Celt’s field for his trip home as a little better person.”

The camp was organized by James Carlberg, the Celts coach, with the help of Tom Corr, athletic director of the Illinois Inter-Agency Athletic Association. All participants were given a history of rugby. Afterwards, the youth were split into teams to various stations to practice different skills. Passing, kicking, and tackling are the order for the day as the youth learned segments of the game. The finale of the day was a game of keep away geared to teaching the youth the art of passing the ball in order to make a tri.

Last year’s event saw 65 at-risk teenage boys in attendance. The 2011 Rugby camp had over 125 teens as it strives to reach out to at-risk youth with a positive and fun training camp.