Photo: 2017 Bonnies Rugby Camp
The Bonnies Rugby Camp added a girls segment last year and has more than doubled its attendees for July 2018 (a few vacancies remain). For camp head coach Clarence Picard, who also serves as St. Bonaventure University women’s head coach, the opportunity to work with eager high schoolers and alongside Bonnies alumni makes for a special time of year.
“Obviously, a huge amount of work goes into setting up a camp, but it’s definitely the most rewarding coaching experience of my year,” Picard enthused. “The goal of our camp is to very specifically improve the quality of play in Western New York, so hopefully we can do our part.”
Several elements intertwine at camp. The campers obviously hail from the high school ranks, mostly from the Buffalo region but this year also sees some players from Celtic Elite, an Ohio select side. Picard is involved with the Western New York Lightning, the Buffalo-area high school all-star team. The camp guest coaches are St. Bonaventure alumni: former St. Bonaventure captain Rachel Noone, who now plays for Buffalo Women and Queen City 7s; and former men’s captain and assistant coach Nick Maurer, now the head coach at Canisius High School.
Kelly DeGrood had a fantastic freshman year at St. Bonaventure.
“And then it’s our counselors who are the real stars,” Picard added current St. Bonaventure student-athletes to the mosaic. “Bonaventure in general is known for our welcoming environment, and the counselors really personify this. I know they stay in touch with the campers throughout the year, and I really think their effort to make the campers feel like Bonnies is what sets the experience apart. The whole point of the camp started as a way to show our unique approach to rugby – and life in general – at SBU so it’s super gratifying to coach with two former captains of mine, and have our team leaders request to take part and help the camp.”
Bonnies team captain Rachel Newton and Sara Goodwin are rising seniors and return from last year’s camp. Kelly DeGrood is also a 2017 returner and she’ll be fresh off her trip to California for the USA Rugby Women’s Junior All-American assembly. DeGrood is a prime example of how small-school rugby still flows into the women’s pathway, having also spent freshman year playing for the Upstate New York conference and NSCRO 7s all-star 7s teams.
New counselors include Carlie Jacque, who graduated from St. Bonaventure this spring, as well as incoming freshman and Orchard Park graduate Grace Weber, a 2017 camper who has also represented the Lightning and Allegheny Rugby Union all-stars.
Grace Weber at the 2017 camp
All of this connectivity translates into the staff’s ability to understand and cater to the players’ needs. Last year, for example, the primary focus centered on understanding space and the passing game, and Picard noted good improvement in those campers when representing their high school teams during the regular season.
“This year we want a bit more focus on core positional skills, understanding of work rate and how to move on the field, and some basic structure for attack and defense,” Picard explained. “With our increased numbers [from 16 to 35+], we anticipate some competitive scrimmages throughout the camp.”
The camp is capped at 40 attendees and there are still a few vacancies remaining. Visit the Bonnies Rugby Camp for more information.
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