The WRU and the Urdd have announced their joint ambition to establish this event as the biggest and best tournament school age children in Wales can be part of and the relationship between the two organisations is seen as a best practice model for encouraging active lifestyles while promoting the Welsh language and culture. The joint partnership uses alternative rugby formats to engage with boys and girls of all abilities from across all areas of Wales, in a fun and captivating environment.
The playing facilities provided by Cardiff Council mean that for the first time, seven-a-side competitions will be held for every secondary school age group for both boys and girls at the same venue simultaneously, while S4C have agreed to live stream part of the tournament via Facebook, adding to the reach and profile of the event.
Some of last year’s male and female participants have gone on to play for Wales Sevens U18, Regional Age Grade sides, Principality Premiership clubs and now, last year’s Glantaf girls captain Manon Johnes has been called up to the Wales Women squad for this weekend’s Brisbane 7s.
WRU Head of Rugby Participation and former Wales captain, Ryan Jones said: ”It has been fantastic to see this tournament grow and develop, along with the partnership between the WRU and the Urdd. Our commitment to supporting it further confirms the WRU’s ambition to realise its aim of ‘more people, more often with more enjoyment and more success.’
“The tournament is a fantastic prospect for our young players which will hopefully bring a lasting positive rugby experience to engage players and their families in the sport for life. On behalf of the Welsh Rugby Union, I am very pleased to give the support to enable this to happen.”
WRU Head of Rugby Performance Geraint John added, “Sevens equips players with vital all-round skills to help them at any level of the game. It’s important to have tournaments like the Urdd WRU 7s to develop and test players to enable them to step up to regional and international age grade level.”
Engaging large numbers of young people in physical activity helps to support the Welsh Governments ‘Prosperity for All’ Strategy of ‘promoting good health and well-being for everyone’, building healthier communities’, and ‘supporting young people to make the most of their potential.’
The tournament also endorses the work of the Urdd in using the power of the Welsh language to work with thousands of young children and young people, by getting them regularly active in sport.
Gary Lewis, Urdd Gobaith Cymru’s Director of Sports said, “Last year, the Urdd WRU 7s in Pencoed attracted 3,000 participants, and we are confident this will grow to 4,500 this year in Cardiff. Across Wales, smaller primary and secondary school alternative format rugby tournaments including beach and touch rugby, organised by the Urdd and WRU attracted over 11,000 young people.
These figures alone show the strength of working in partnership for the benefit of all young people in Wales.”
In addition to increasing participation opportunities, sevens rugby also offers a pathway to play the game at an elite level, right through to the Olympics. Examples include: Ben Thomas who represented Cardiff & Vale College at the Urdd 7s, and now plays for Cardiff and is in the Wales U20 squad. Rhys Patchell, represented Ysgol Gyfun Glantaf at the Urdd 7s, played for Wales Sevens and now plays for the Scarlets and Manon Johnes, who, before joining up with Wales Women Sevens this week, represented Ysgol Gyfun Glantaf at last year’s Urdd WRU 7s, went on to be part of the Wales Women U18 squad who won bronze at the Youth Commonwealth Games held in Bahamas in July last year, and was also a member of the squad who won silver at last year’s UK School Games.
