Hanno Dirksen and Tom Smith ventured up the Dulais Valley last week to visit Creunant Primary School as part of the ongoing Ospreys Schools Programme.
The pair spent time with pupils, accompanied by Liam Evans, WRU/Ospreys Participation Officer for the Neath Port Talbot area, who has been a regular visitor to the school in recent weeks taking the children for rugby coaching sessions.
The pupils have been working their way through the Schools Programme, completing the various education sessions that cover a wide range of issues including personal welfare and self esteem, the benefits of teamwork and cooperation, collective global environmental responsibility and online safety, as well as promoting a healthy active lifestyle and, of course, rugby.
Next up for them, upon completion of their workbook, will be a special visit to the Liberty Stadium and a guided tour of the home of the Ospreys, before they then have the chance to visit the SONY UK Technology Centre in Pencoed.
Speaking about the visit, Tom Smith said:
“It was a fantastic morning for everybody. We were made to feel very welcome by the pupils and staff of Creunant who have really enjoyed the Ospreys Schools Programme and can’t wait to visit the Liberty. As players, we always get a buzz out of meeting pupils at these schools visits, it’s fantastic to get involved and help to promote the Ospreys wherever we can.”
Liam Evans added:
“Creunant is a very important school to the Ospreys. They are very proactive in their involvement with us, always looking to promote rugby to the pupils, and they are committed to the Schools Programme, so we were delighted to be able to take Tom and Hanno along for what was an eagerly anticipated and successful visit.”