Youngsters from Cwmgors RFC attended the Liberty Stadium recently to take receipt of their brand new BLK jerseys, purchased through the Ospreys Kit Initiative.
Launched earlier this year, the Kit Initiative is operated in conjunction with BT Sport who have made a £15,000 investment into the programme, ensuring cash savings on kit with a further £200 cash back paid on the first 50 playing kit orders.
Cwmgors purchased a full set of jerseys through the initiative, spending £697 but receiving £200 cash back once the order had been completed.
The handover took place at the Liberty Stadium on match day with Tom Grabham, Morgan Allen and Tyler Ardron joining Ozzie the Osprey to meet the youngsters and have a photo taken pitchside.
Darren Thomas, Chairman of Cwmgors Juniors RFC, said:
“The ordering process was easy along with the collection. The quality and price of the jerseys were second to none, and then we were given the £200 back by BT Sport.
“The children love the jerseys, loved the day we had in the Liberty and the fuss you made of them. Without initiatives like this, valley clubs such as Cwmgors would not be able to afford such quality kit and have their players looking so good.”
The Ospreys, BLK and BT Sport came together to offer community clubs and schools the chance to purchase brand new high quality playing and training kit, along with team wear and accessories, at heavily discounted prices with up to 40 per cent off.
All kit is supplied numbered up and featuring club and sponsor logos, either embroidered or sublimated into the jersey. In addition to this, playing shirts will also include the Ospreys ‘mask’ and the BT Sport logo, helping to strengthen the links between the region, its primary commercial partner and the community clubs.
Clubs participating in the initiative can select from hundreds of style, colour and fabric options, either designing their own custom made jersey at the BLK website or selecting from a range of off-the-peg designs. Club and sponsor logos can be sublimated or embroidered, with all embroidery done locally at Picton Sports, a leading Welsh sports equipment supplier.
Andrew Hore, Ospreys Chief Executive, said:
“As anyone involved with a community club is only too well aware, money is tighter than ever with difficult decisions having to be made week-in, week-out regarding what essential equipment can be renewed or replaced. That is why this initiative, with the support of BLK and BT Sport is so important, offering cash savings on kit with £200 cashback on the first 50 orders, money that can be reinvested where it matters.
“There are 77 clubs in the region, many running teams from minis right through to veterans, all of whom can benefit from an average cash saving of £200 per team, even if they aren’t one of the first 50 orders to qualify for the cash back. In addition, there are almost 300 schools in the region, all of whom also face financial challenges and are eligible for the Kit Initiative which could provide savings of thousands of pounds to local rugby teams thanks to BLK and BT Sport.”
At the time of the launch of this initiatiove, Ann Beynon, Director Wales, BT, said that she hoped the company’s £15,000 investment into the Kit Initiative would make a real difference in the communities of Ospreylia:
“Rugby is at the heart of BT Sport just as BT is at the heart of the local communities across Wales. Building on our recently announced sponsorship of the four Welsh regions, this initiative is a wonderful way for us to help the Ospreys to really make a difference to the many clubs and schools in their region.
“The Ospreys are committed to supporting and developing their local communities, sentiments that we share entirely, and this investment into the grassroots game is one that we hope will be warmly received by the clubs and schools.”
Full details of the 2014/15 Kit Initiative are available now at this link. Alternatively, you can contact Dan Richards at the Ospreys to discover more, via telephone on 01792 616458 or email daniel.richards@ospreysrugby.com.