There was some Ballina RFC skills on view in North West Spain this week when the Healy family from Foxford began training with the local rugby club in Vigo.

Employment opportunities means that the Healys are currently relocated to the continent, but they haven't left their love of the oval ball at home by the Moy.
Rugby is the fastest growing sport in Spain and the sports-mad clan soon sought out their nearest club in Vigo.

Saturday morning saw the Mayo family arrive for training at the University of Vigo as the sun beamed out of the sky.

Catherine was the only girl in the U16 age-group but there were 25 in total at that squad's session. Girls play alongside the boys up to U16 level and afterwards join the Womens' team. The rest of the players made Catherine very welcome and helped translate what their coach Danny was saying.

James joined the U14 group alongside 20 other players. The U14 team is captained by a girl named Lucia, an excellent player who helped translate what the coach Jabxai was saying. The session concluded with a game of tag in order to perfect their passing and line skills and James loved every moment.

The club is very much Galician with an international element also with families of ex-pats from other European countries as well as New Zealand and South Africa. Like Ballina RFC, the club is very welcoming and very family-orientated with training three times a week.

Ronan joined the U6s and really enjoyed it, while Siobhán is hoping to join the U10 section next week and add to the number of Healys bringing Mayo style to Vigo's grit.

Parents and guardians watched from the sidelines and there was a big attendance for the whole session which lasted 90 minutes.
The coaching system for each age-group consists of one senior player assisted by two parents/coaches and this helps establish a strong linkage between the Youths and Senior sections of the club.

The temperatures are still in the high 20s so the Friday session was held on a beach just outside Vigo, allowing the parents get in some beach-time while chaperoning the rugby stars of the future.