A WEE COUNTY rugby club would not let Covid stop their Easter Junior Rugby Camp and even had a visit from a Six Nations winning coach.

Hillfoots RFC held their usual Easter junior camp last week but, with the Covid-19 restrictions, they had to limit the numbers of kids and adapt the sessions to be compliant with the regulations put in place by the Scottish Rugby Union.

Despite the harsh weather conditions, the maximum number of boys and girls from across all the age groups trained each day.

The camp was run by the club's rugby development officer Barry Munro who said: "Throughout the Covid-19 lockdowns, the kids have been desperate to get back onto Tillicoultry Park to run around and have fun, practising the game that we all love.

"It's great that during the holidays we can make up for some of the lost time and get the kids exercising, healthy and honing their skills."

Undoubtedly, the highlight of the week was a visit from Jon Humphreys, former assistant coach of the Glasgow Warriors and now coach to the Welsh team that won the Six Nations.

Jon's sons are involved with Hillfoots and he was impressed with how well the camp was organised and was delighted to see the kids having so much fun.

Speaking of how important camps like these can be, Jon said: "I think it's massive, I don't think you can speak highly enough of Barry. Not just for making sure these camps go on but for the energy in them and the positivity he has with the kids, I think it's exceptional.

"To see kids running about enjoying themselves again is massive.

"It's huge for them. It's huge for their mental health and physical well-being."

Not only are the kids able to run around and have fun with their friends, they also took away some key points to help them succeed.

Jon continued: "Barry's been spreading the message of positivity and being positive with each other and I've just been reiterating that message.

"Also, in any sport, you've got to work hard and that was the biggest thing: you can't just have talent to succeed, you've got to work really, really hard if you want to be good at anything."

Not able to practice contact rugby yet, the camp focussed on the other key skills like the hand pass and evasion.

Each day the most positive players were singled out and awarded certificates for displaying the best attitude, sportsmanship or displaying the greatest development.

Barry added: "The camp could not take place without the great support of our fantastic volunteers, whether coaching or helping with the administration and I'm sure that our kids and their parents would like to thank them for their time and dedication over the Easter holidays."