About 30 student-athletes attended the East Coast Rugby Combine August 1 and 2 at the United Sports Center in Downingtown, Pa., with young players showing their talents to several top college rugby programs.

Navy Head Coach Mike Flanagan works with the players.

Steve Darnell of South Carolina with a few pointers.

Joey Freeman gets moving.

The players had an opportunity to learn from well-respected coaches and players, including coaches from from Kutztown University, Lafayette, US Naval Academy, St. Bonaventure, St. Joseph’s, and the University of South Carolina.

Day One started with skill drills, and throughout the session coaches assessed players on their skill level. The players were then divided into two teams.

On Day Two, the coaches led the players in specific drills, with some college players helping set up some activities, and then each team split off, and trained for full-contact 7s games played in the afternoon.

"I thought it was a great event," said Navy head Coach Mike Flanagan. "It's a good recruiting forum and certainly coaches were interested in that. I saw some really impressive athletes - kids who are good at a variety of sports, but are really working hard at rugby."

Flanagan said the more experienced players adapted better to some of the curveballs thrown by the coaches, but  all worked hard.

"It was good for the kids to be in that kind of environment," he said. 

East Coast Rugby Combine is designed to further the athletic and academic careers of high school rugby players through exposing them to high-level coaching and college programs.