Ospreys in the Community, the not for profit charitable arm of the Ospreys business, has confirmed a new signing for 2016/17 with Wales U20 Grand Slammer, Joe Gage, joining the team.
- Gage joins the growing Ospreys in the Community team and will deliver rugby and educational programmes in the NPT area
- Having represented the Ospreys and Wales at age-grade, he was part of the Wales U20s Grand Slam success earlier this year
The 20-year old Aberavon full-back has been appointed Schools and Clubs Community Officer for Neath Port Talbot, thanks to Jobs Growth Wales, delivering rugby and educational programmes in the county, helping to build and strengthen community links in the area.
As a youngster on the regional development pathway, Gage graduated from Abercrave RFC, representing the Ospreys and Wales at age-grade level before establishing himself as a key member of Aberavon’s Premiership squad.
At the same time, he displayed a clear interest in community coaching and rugby development, beginning to assist as a volunteer, taking his initial qualifications before working with Ospreys in the Community on a casual basis, assisting at the popular kids rugby camps.
Thanks to grant support from Jobs Growth Wales, the former Ysgol Gyfun Ystalyfera pupil now has a chance to work full-time with the region, initially on a six-month basis with an opportunity to continue employment beyond that.
Rebecca Hopes, Lead Jobs Growth Wales Advisor for Acorn, said:
“We are delighted to hear that Joe has been offered a role within Ospreys Rugby.
“Joe is a vibrant, hardworking and committed individual who from the offset has become a valuable asset to the Ospreys. He has a varied role, where no two days the same, yet always manages to make a significant contribution to setting up club sessions and planning ticket sales.
“As one of the UK’s leading specialist recruitment and training agencies, we pride ourselves on investing time in getting to know employers, meeting with potential candidates, running eligibility checks and helping with interview sifting.
“Our Jobs Growth Wales department actively supports employers like Ospreys Rugby in finding individuals who have the potential to be key team players and actively contribute to wider business goals.
“We wish Joe good luck in his new venture and look forward to seeing him grow.”
Paul Whapham, Ospreys in the Community, said:
“Joe is someone with a great skill set and a passion for the kind of work that we do with young children in the community. This is a fantastic opportunity for him to really establish himself in an exciting role where he can make a difference in the community and we are delighted to have him as part of our growing team.”
The Apprenticeship, Traineeship and Jobs Growth Wales Programmes, led by the Welsh Government, are supported by the European Social Fund.
