Hundreds enjoy Ospreys Schools Festivals

Throughout September the Community Department within the Ospreys region have been organising festivals of rugby for comprehensive schools.

The festivals have provided the opportunity for over a thousand pupils to experience playing rugby. 


The festivals which were organised at Sandfields Comprehensive School’s playing fields (Western Avenue) gave teachers the opportunity to kick off their season early and offer opportunities for all of their players to get game time. 


Each festival has been well attended with year 7 and 8 (under 12’s and 13’s) proving most popular as 19 schools attended on each occasion. For the first time at an Ospreys schools festival two girls in year 7 at Dyffryn Comprehensive actually mixed and played alongside the boys. 


The first two festivals were for years 11 and 9 and they provided ideal preparation for Welsh Cup fixtures which are now in full swing.


“We were only back in school for a couple of days before the year 11 festival took part, so it made sure that we got up to speed immediately. It provided us with the ideal preparation we needed before our opening Welsh Cup fixtures,” was the feeling of Jason Larkman who teaches PE at Dyffryn Comprehensive School. 


Dean Mason at Gowerton Comprehensive School saw the festivals as perfect opportunity to run the eye over all of their players in a competitive environment. For him it was “an ideal occasion to see the new faces in year 7 having competitive fixtures. We really appreciate the work the Ospreys Community Department have put into these festivals”.    


Nicky Lloyd of Bryntirion Comprehensive School commented “we’ve attended each of these festivals and well over hundred of our pupils have experienced competitive rugby in the first two weeks back in school. The weather’s been great and hopefully those who are not involved with club rugby will have enjoyed it enough to want to join one; we are fully supportive of the Ospreys Community Department as they look to increase participation in clubs.”    


Ben Rose the Community Manager for the Ospreys Region said “These festivals have demonstrated the enthusiasm that there is for the game in our local comprehensive schools. We’re particularly grateful for the commitment of the teachers and rugby officers at these schools and we look forward to working with them again when we organise their local cup and 7 aside tournaments later in the season.”