The Men’s Collegiate Stars & Stripes camps is underway and going well at Cal Maritime Academy.

Above Mike Tolkin addresses the players. Below top to bottom, Chris Brown in the classroom, Tolkin on the field, and Gavin Hickie shares a laugh with the players. Click image to enlarge.

Wednesday morning players had a session with USA 7s team assistant coach Chris Brown, who worked the players through skills sessions, and then gave them a taste of the fitness work done with the USA team at the Olympic Training Center.

“Our boys found it tough, but appreciated the insight into the work required at the top level,” said MCAA Coach Gavin Hickie. “Chris Brown made the trip to cast his eye over our players and I believe he was suitably impressed.”

In the afternoon it was the turn of the USA 15s staff to work with the players, and they led a session focusing on scrums and backline plays from scrums. Then they finished up with some game scenarios.

Hickie said the players are being bombarded with information - both in the classroom and on the field. It’s a huge amount of work, but it’s also a taste of what it’s like to bounce from top club to national team and back again and be on top of the plays, the terminology, and the basics.