January 11, 2019
Presented by Ethan Willis, Co-Director
Nike Rugby Camps Joins Forces with Major League Rugby’s San Diego Legion
Nike Rugby Camps and San Diego Legion set to offer co-branded camps and clinics in 2019.
January 11, 2019 – US Sports Camps, operators of Nike Rugby Camps, recently announced a new relationship with San Diego Legion of Major League Rugby. Under terms of their agreement, Legion players and academy coaches will join the existing Nike Camp staff for all 2019 San Diego-based offerings. Longtime Nike Camp Co-Directors, Ethan Willis and Ian Denham, will work closely with Legion Academy Director and highly decorated former USA standout, Zack Test, to deliver professional instruction programs for youth, high school, and college athletes. Both parties will provide marketing support for the newly created Nike Legion Rugby Camps in San Diego.
“Over the past decade of running camps our core belief has been that we can progress rugby by providing young players with the most high-level programming and coaching available,” says Nike Camp Director, Ethan Willis. “At Nike Camps, young attendees work directly with top level coaches and players in their area. Our partnership with Legion enhances our campers’ experience by providing them direct access to professional players and coaches.”
“It is an amazing time to be a rugby player in the United States,” says Zack Test, Academy Director for San Diego Legion. “Our goal is make every person we come into contact with a better player on and off the field. We look to enhance their skill & game IQ along with the essential values that the rugby culture offers.”
Nike Rugby Camps and San Diego Legion will offer four separate age-based camps in 2019. In addition to the long-standing youth and high school camps, two new formats—one dedicated to high school girls and one for prospective professional players—are slated to launch this summer. Several two-hour youth clinics are also scheduled to coincide with Legion home matches. All camps and clinics take place at University of San Diego, the host site for Nike Rugby Camps in Southern California, and home venue for San Diego Legion.
“San Diego Legion’s involvement presents an incredible opportunity for our campers to see first-hand what is expected to take their rugby careers to the highest level,” says Westy McQueen of Nike Rugby Camps. “There are very few opportunities for young athletes to work directly with professional players and we are so pleased offer this unique instruction setting.”
About Nike Rugby Camps
Nike Rugby Camps (NRC) is a division of US Sports Camps, Inc., America’s largest sports camp network. NRC is dedicated to providing the best instruction experiences in the country by working with top coaches at the youth, collegiate and professional levels. To explore a variety of camp options and locations please visit the official website for Nike Rugby Camps.
About San Diego Legion and MLR
San Diego Legion is a professional rugby club which joined Major League Rugby upon its opening in 2018. Based near downtown San Diego, Legion plays its home games at University of San Diego’s Torreros Stadium. MLR (Major League Rugby) is a professional rugby league that launched in April of 2018. It’s an initiative of the American rugby community, in partnership with private investors, who believe that American rugby can thrive at the highest levels: as a commercial enterprise; as an influential player on the international scene; and as a participation sport at the youth and senior level. MLR is the pinnacle of the American rugby, and provides a rallying point for local communities, a focal point for American rugby fans, and an aspirational destination for young athletes.