The festivals, run in partnership with the Ospreys Community Rugby Department and Ospreys Referees Society, are being held to kick-start the new season of minis rugby.
As a means of getting youngsters involved in the game, the competitive aspect of the game, though important, marginalised in favour of maximising the children’s enjoyment.
Hosted at the Ospreys’ Llandarcy base throughout October, the festivals will be managed by the WRU and Ospreys Player Development Staff and see clubs from all over the Ospreys region come together to enjoy a fun day of rugby in a festival environment.
A number of the Ospreys players will also attend the events to inspire the next generation of young players.
“The WRU are encouraging rugby to be played in festival format to enhance the rugby experience for children at a young age,” said Ben Rose, WRU Regional Development Manager for the Ospreys region.
“We hope that this will help children to enjoy the game at all levels, gradually improve their skill level and above all keep them interested in the game so that they retain the passion to play rugby.
“We are going to have hundreds of children coming together at the home of the Ospreys to enjoy playing rugby with their friends in a relaxed and friendly festival environment.
“We’ve run a number of festivals for clubs and schools in the region which have always gone down well and I would expect these new season events to prove equally popular. We’ve got around 50 per cent of all our minis teams in the region already confirmed as participating, a figure that I’d expect to rise between now and when registration closes at the end of the month.
The events are open to all teams across the Ospreys Region with the closing date set for 30th September. Any club looking to enrol their team at one of the festivals can do so by contacting their Player Development Officer before the end of September.
Bridgend: Thomas Cole (thomas.cole@ospreysrugby.com)
Neath Port Talbot: Andrew Thomas (Andrew.thomas@ospreysrugby.com)
Swansea: Andy Williams (ADWilliams@wru.co.uk)
U9s event Sunday 7th October 9.30 – 2pm at Llandarcy Academy of Sport, entries so far:
Nantyfyllon, Cwmgors, Bryncoch, Neath Athletic, Abercrave, Tonmawr, Taibach, Tonna, Resolven
Ta Ta, Skewen, Briton Ferry, Crynant, Banwen, Bonymaen, Gowerton and Swansea Uplands.
U10s event Sunday 14th October 9.30 – 2pm at Llandarcy Aacdemy of Sport, entries so far:
Maesteg Welsh, Cwmgors, Ta Ta, Abercrave, Tonmawr, Briton Ferry, Pontardawe, Crynant,
Skewen, Neath Athletic, South Gower, Gowerton, Swansea Uplands, Mumbles and Loughor.
U11s event Sunday 21st October 9.30 – 3pm at Llandarcy Academy of Sport, entries so far:
Ystradgynlais, Ta Ta, Abercrave, Crynant, Tonmawr, Aberavon Greenstars, Neath Athletic, Pontardawe, Skewen, Bonymaen, Waunarlwydd, Swansea Uplands, Gowerton, South Gower
and Morriston.
