by Merrick Parnell

Special to the Sounder

Keeping with the week’s theme of sports at The Funhouse day camp, the campers were introduced to the game of rugby by participating in a clinic put on by rugby coach Megan Sanders and local player Shelbi Rogers.

Sanders is co-coach of Orcas Island Rugby Club, a girls group that was founded this year. She hopes to get enough players to participate in playing in a “Rugby 7’s League.”

The camp covered passing, kicking and some of the basic strategy of the sport.  Second grader Christopher Meadows said that his favorite part was learning how to pass the ball by pitching it underhand, while fellow camper Thomas Holmes enjoyed the tackling portion.

“Rugby is an opportunity for the community and the athletes to experience something new and positive,” Sanders said. “Rugby requires field awareness, eye-hand coordination, body control in tackles, kicking, passing, and discipline.”

She said all of these attributes will help rugby players excel in their other sports.

The Funhouse Day camp and Orcas Rugby are looking forward to working together in the future to provide more of these opportunities and exposure for the game.

“These types of clinics are the future of Orcas rugby,” Sanders said. “I feel that these early experiences for the kids, and allowing the older players the opportunity to teach the game, play a huge part in the spread of the sport. Clinics are the best way to gain community support as well as community participation.”

For more information on the Funhouse’s Day camp, call 376-7177 or email krista@thefunhouse.com. For information about the Orcas Rugby Club, email oirugbyclub@hotmail.com.