Irish women’s rugby star Sophie Spence is giving young girls a unique opportunity to develop their rugby playing skills and to follow their dreams of playing for Ireland.
The talented second-row player has developed the Spence Rugby Academy in association with Nissan and is inviting clubs all over Dublin and in the provinces to seize the opportunity to host one of her one-day training camps.
The first camp is taking place this week at Greystones Rugby Club in Wicklow, the home club of Guinness PRO12 Commercial Director Dermot Rigley.
Spence, who is also a Nissan Generation Next ambassador, has spent the past year developing the training academy to pass on the skills and expertise that she received from mentors throughout her career.
Aspire
“Young girls can truly aspire to play rugby for Ireland,” Spence told Sport for Business.
“The Spence Rugby Academy is about inspiring girls to take up rugby, to develop their playing skills and to work towards achieving success at the highest level while enjoying everything that the game has to offer.”
“It is about passing down top level skills to a new generation of young players and helping them with their development pathway. I had the opportunity to learn from great players and coaches and I want to share that with the new talent that is coming through to develop the game.”
Awareness
“I am organising camps for clubs with girls aged 13 to 18 years. Each camp takes place from 9.30 p.m. to 2.30 p.m. and will concentrate on ball handling, game awareness, contact and decision making. The skills that girls learn on the pitch can also equip them with important life skills off the pitch,” said Sophie.
Clubs who are interested in hosting the camps can contact Sophie for further details at spencerugbyacademy@gmail.com and on Twitter at @spenceacademy.
Sophie is also playing an inspirational role in encouraging Ireland’s next generation of leaders and champions to follow their dream and to achieve their ambitions as Nissan Generation Next ambassadors. Applications are now open for the 2017 Nissan Generation Next ambassador programme which helps young people to succeed by supplying them with a brand new, taxed and insured Nissan to drive for a year.
Opportunity
“Nissan Generation Nest is a great opportunity not just to drive a great car but to put yourself out there and to promote what you are trying to achieve. Having the car really helped with my training and getting the Spence Academy up and running. The branding is great and it generated a lot of interest from those who saw it on the road,” said Sophie.
Applicants can apply online at www.nissangenerationnext.ie up to Wednesday, 17th May 2017. Family and friends can also make applications on behalf of individuals whom they consider to be an ideal Nissan Generation Next ambassador.
“Sophie is an exceptional player and a fantastic Nissan Generation Next ambassador. We are looking for like-minded individuals from all walks of life to follow in her footsteps. If you are ambitious, passionate and fearless about making your dreams a reality and could use a new Nissan to help you on your way then now is the time to apply to become one of our ambassadors,” said James McCarthy, CEO of Nissan Ireland.
Nissan, Allianz, Electric Ireland and Vodafone will be among the brands featuring as part of Partners ’17 at the National Sports Campus on Wednesday April 26th, looking at how sponsorship works equally well away from the brightest lights and the biggest deals.
