After the huge success of last years RWE npower renewables North Wales Rugby Festival, the Ospreys senior squad once again spread their wings, giving rugby fans the chance to see some of the biggest names in world rugby put through their paces.
The two days comprised of a number of organised events including an open training demonstration by the Ospreys, specially designed coaching clinics for children from local rugby clubs, and a sevens tournament for senior players.
Around 250 children between the ages of 7 and 15 took part in the coaching clinics, where they had the opportunity to pick up tips to improve their game first hand from their rugby idols.
Following the coaching clinics local clubs from Colwyn Bay, Rhyl, Nant Conwy and Llandudno competed in a 7’s tournament for the RWE npower renewables cup – eventually won by Rhyl RFC for the 2nd consecutive year.
In addition to the rugby activities, the Ospreys visit to north Wales also included two very special trips, the first a visit to Ysgol Craig y Don to meet the children involved in an M4 coach fire earlier this year.
The players received a warm welcomed from the 20 children who had decorated the school and arranged refreshments in the form of orange squash and bananas!
The squad spent over an hour with the children signing autographs and handing out gift bags before taking part in a special presentation to the children.
The second trip additional trip of the weekend was to Prestatyn Beach where the players took part in a beach clean organised in conjunction with The Voluntary Council for Wales.
The squad, joined by RWE npower renewables staff, including Head of Operations, Andy Billcliff, and Head of Development and Projects, Wayne Cranstone, cleaned a mile long stretch of beach, collecting in excess of 40 bags of litter.
Katy Woodington, Community Investment Officer for RWE npower renewables said: “We are committed to working in partnership with the Ospreys to ensure that the communities in which we operate continue to benefit from our sponsorship as it enters it 5th year through events such as the north Wales festival.
“We are delighted with the success of this year’s rugby festival and thank all those that attended for helping to make it such a fantastic day. In conjunction with the festival we were thrilled to have the opportunity to visit to Ysgol Craig y Don, and work in partnership with the Voluntary Council for Wales to complete the beach clean at Prestatyn.
“Special thanks go to Rhyl RFC for once again hosting the event and to all the volunteers at local clubs who contributed to the day.”
Andrew Hore, Ospreys Elite Performance Director, said: “It was a really successful day all round, with a great turn out from the North Wales rugby public. The event is certainly a popular one that shows the real appetite that there is for rugby in the area and we are honoured to be a part of what is becoming established as one of the biggest days in the North Wales rugby calendar.
“The response to the event was incredible, with hundreds of people watching the open training session, before the young kids got the chance to receive coaching from the players which was clearly the most popular part of the day. To see so many young players having fun, picking up tips and clearly enjoying their rugby was great to see, hopefully the experience will drive them on to stick with the game over the years to come.
“Speaking to people at the event from the various clubs involved, they are extremely grateful that we attended and said that the kids involved had been looking forward to the day for weeks. That’s great to hear as we want to encourage and play a part in as many youngsters developing a passion for rugby as possible, it will benefit the game in Wales as a whole. We are already looking forward to the 2010 RWE npower renewables North Wales Rugby Festival and continuing with the good work of this last two events.”
