Army Recruitment Drive Kicks Off At Ospreys Big Match

The soldiers from the 2^nd Battalion (The Royal Regiment of Wales) will be based in the stadium car park pre-match, where they will be mingling with supporters making their way to the game, as well as taking enquiries and offering advice to anyone interested in signing up for a career in the forces. Supporters will also be able to take a close look at one of the regiment's Warrior Infantry Fighting Vehicle's, which will be parked up at the South Stand end of the stadium.

The visit to the Liberty Stadium will kick-off a campaign that will see the Royal Welsh Regiment present at a number of sporting events across Wales over the coming weeks, as they look to increase recruitment numbers following their campaign in the Gulf.

Sergeant Major Craig Warlow, who was with the regiment in Iraq, will be spearheading operations on Friday evening. He said:

"â'¬Å"We are delighted to be at the Liberty Stadium on Friday evening, and are grateful to the Ospreys for their support. Obviously, such occasions will see a large number of fit, young people gathering and as such they offer an ideal opportunity for us to get out and meet potential new recruits, where we can explain to them all the benefits of a career in the modern day armed forces.

"â'¬Å"There are a number of Ospreys fans in the 2^nd Battalion so I'm sure that those present at the Liberty Stadium on Friday will be looking forward to not only helping recruit the next generation of soldiers, but also, to watching the Ospreys beat Ulster."â'¬Â

After recently returning from active service in Iraq, the 2^nd Battalion will be honoured in Cardiff next week, when they participate in their Welcome Home Parade, culminating in a medal ceremony at the Millennium Stadium.

Ospreys Managing Director Roger Blyth said:

"â'¬Å"It is an honour for the Ospreys to invite the soldiers of the Royal Regiment of Wales to the Liberty Stadium on Friday. The young men and women of the 2^nd Battalion have only returned to the UK in the last couple of weeks, and they deserve all the credit and support we can give them for their actions overseas. Hopefully, they will receive a warm welcome from everybody present on the night, and with a large crowd expected, the exercise should prove a beneficial one.

"â'¬Å"The Ospreys already enjoy a strong relationship with the regiment, having utilised their facilities for a range of player development activities, whilst both parties share the same commitment to working closely within the wider community to provide opportunities to those in society who need them most."â'¬Â

The Royal Welsh formed on 1 March 2006 from the three Welsh Infantry battalions of the Prince of Wales's Division; The Royal Welch Fusiliers, The Royal Regiment Wales and The Royal Welsh Regiment (TA). Wales's first large regimentdraws onmen from the whole of Wales for recruitmentproviding a unique opportunity for Welshmento serve in a variety of infantry roles with otherWelshmen.

The 1^st Battalion is a light battalion currently serving in Cyprus, with companies rotating betweenduties guarding keypoints between the Turkish and Greek Cypriot zones, training and providing security forthe Falkland Islands and as hot weather reserve forces for Iraq and Afghanistan. The 3^rd Battalion is the new regiment's Territorial Army battalion. Its Headquarters is at Maindy BarracksCardiff and hascompany locations at Swansea, Pontypridd, Aberystwyth, Wrexham and Colwyn Bay. Many soldiers from these companies have served in support of the two regular battalions on operations worldwide.