Thousands of players in Cardiff tournament
WALES’ largest rugby sevens tournament will return to Pontcanna and Llandaff Fields in Cardiff next week.
Following a two-year break because of the pandemic, organisers have seen a 20% increase in teams and 1,000 more players registering to take part compared to the 2019 tournament, including more girls’ teams than ever before.
The Urdd and the Welsh Rugby Union expect to welcome more than 100 schools, 400 teams and 5,000 players from across Wales to take part in the fully inclusive fiveday festival.
The tournament includes categories for secondary schools, colleges and special education needs schools as well as a separate category for girls and boys.
A rugby festival for children and young people from Special Educational Needs schools will be held during the tournament, with pupils given the opportunity to play TAG games and learn new skills.
The WRU have also invited local primary school pupils to taster wheelchair rugby sessions, with the aim to raise awareness of the game ahead of the World Wheelchair Rugby European championships due to be held in Cardiff in 2023.
For the first-time, S4C will be broadcasting the tournament live during the whole week on YouTube and Facebook.
WRU Community Director Geraint John said: “Welsh rugby is a vital part of the fabric of our nation. Thanks to sharing a set of goals and philosophies with the Urdd, we can harness our combined resources and use the power of Welsh rugby to inspire the next generation and promote another intrinsic part of our culture – the Welsh language.
“Our partnership with the Urdd enables us to make a difference to non-traditional rugby communities, utilising our respective apprentices to take fun rugby activities to the communities themselves and introducing them to clubs and school-based opportunities. In addition, we are thrilled to be able to include a disability rugby festival in the Urdd WRU 7s programme this season.
“Playing sevens in a school environment is a fantastic way to develop skills, fitness and game awareness, and this competition helps support our core aims of more boys and girls enjoying rugby - and developing better players for the game at all levels.”
Event scheduling Monday, April 4: Boys Yr 12-13 + Girls Yr 11-13 + Legacy Project Launch
Tuesday, April 5: Boys Yr 8 + Girls Yr 7-8
Wednesday, April 6: Boys Yr 7 + Primary Schools
Thursday, April 7: Boys Yr 9 + Boys Yr 11 + Wheelchair Rugby
Friday, April 8: Boys Yr 10 + Girls Yr 9-10 + SEN Festival