Trebanos RFC hosted a special club recruitment day recently, organised in conjunction with the Ospreys Community Department as they look to increase player numbers at the club.
As part of the day Liam Evans, Participation Officer for Neath Port Talbot, organised a special tag rugby festival at the club that saw 110 pupils from primary schools in the Swansea Valley area, Trebanos, Pontardawe, Alltwen and Gwaun Cae Gurwen taking part in and enjoying the activity.
Ospreys players Morgan Allen and Ross Jones then joined in the fun, attending the club’s training session and spending time with the various age-grade teams in the minis section, with interested players from the four schools invited to be a part of the evening.
The Ospreys pair spent time taking part in tag and mini training sessions before signing autographs and posing for photos with their young fans, who also had the RaboDirect PRO12 trophy on hand to have their picture with.
Speaking about the day, Participation Officer Liam Evans said:
“It was a great success, with over a hundred primary school pupils coming along to their local rugby club and getting a taste of the game. Trebanos RFC has close links to the Ospreys already with Justin Tipuric having risen through the ranks from his local club to play for his region and then for Wales, and he is a great role model for these youngsters who is still heavily involved with the club.
“The more young children in the area we can get coming through the club and aspiring to be the next Justin Tipuric, and feeling a part of the Ospreys family, the better it is for rugby in this region and in Wales. We need more children playing rugby of the region is going to be sustainable.”
Ross Jones said that it has been a great evening:
“It’s always enjoyable to spend time at one of our local rugby clubs at events like this. To be a part of something that can really help to increase the number of players attached to a local rugby club is brilliant. Hopefully the children had as much fun as we did.”