Ospreys players bring Christmas cheer

Ospreys players and South Wales construction company Morganstone teamed up to spread some Christmas cheer to youngsters when they visited local children’s wards,along with Santa, to hand out gifts.

The Morganstone team downed tools and the Ospreys took a break from their preparations for Saturday’s home game against Grenoble to drop into Swansea’s Morriston Hospital this week to share some festive spirit.
 
Players including skipper Alun Wyn Jones, Keelan Giles, Sam Davies, Nicky Smith and Paul James took time to talk with the children, pose for photographs and give away signed posters, with Morganstone’s Santa sharing goody bags with the children.
 
Morganstone Project Manager, Chris Weaver said: “It was lovely to be able to bring Father Christmas along to visit the children’s wards and meet some of the youngsters throughout the region who unfortunately have to spend time in hospital over the Christmas period.
 
“I know they were very excited to meet the Ospreys and it was a pleasure to see their faces light up on the day. I’m pleased Morganstone was able to be part of this lovely event again this year.”
 
Paul James said: “It is never easy to see little ones ill, especially at this time of year. But hopefully we managed to cheer them up and, with any luck, the children will make a speedy recovery and be home in time for Christmas Day. 

“I’d like to say a big thank you to the hospital staff who gave us a warm welcome. The hospital visits have become an annual tradition for us and the team looks forward to it every year.
 
We’re all hugely proud to be at the heart of the community and initiatives like this show how seriously the players take this responsibility.”

 
Eirlys Thomas, Head of Nursing for Women and Child Health at Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University Health Board (ABMU) said: “We’re grateful to Morganstone and the Ospreys for taking time out to visit children in our wards. The youngsters – and some of the staff -  were so excited by the visit and it really brightened their time in hospital.”