Ospreys fans will get a rare glimpse at life behind the scenes when the region throws open the doors to its Llandarcy training base next month.
A special open day will be held on Saturday 4th August between 9am and 1.30pm, allowing supporters to get a close up look at day-to-day life as a player, while a series of special workshops will see fans trying their hand at some of the key rugby skills needed to be an Osprey.
It will be access all areas with nowhere left out of bounds as players, coaches, business partners and supporters come together ahead of the new season, with activities taking place indoors and outdoors to ensure a fantastic family day out for all Ospreys fans.
There will be skills and training exhibitions featuring first team players, while fans will be able to register to receive expert tuition from their heroes in special kicking, throwing and passing clinics delivered by the players themselves. The Community Rugby team will also be hosting tag rugby and fun skills games, the Strength and Conditioning team will put on a gym exhibition showing how tough they work the players, while there will even be a chance to see the work that the Medical team undertakes in the Physio room.
The highlight of the open day will see the team take to the training pitch with visitors able to watch a full session as the players prepare for the new season.
The RaboDirect PRO12 trophy will be on display for the first time since Alun Wyn Jones lifted it in Dublin at the end of May, with supporters able to get their photo taken with the silverware. The coaches will take part in a Q&A session, while the Ospreys Supporters Club will be signing up new members ahead of the first home game of the season, the pre-season fixture against Bath at the Liberty Stadium on Saturday 18th August.
As well as all the rugby fun, there will also be entertainment provided by The Wave, official radio station of the Ospreys, with popular presenter Phil Hoyles broadcasting his regular Saturday morning show live from Llandarcy and giving away goodies and special prizes from 10am, while there will be refreshments available from the Sports Café on-site.
Ospreys favourite Ryan Jones says everybody at the region is looking forward to welcoming supporters to Llandarcy:
“It’s going to be fantastic. It’s something we’ve never done before but I’ve no doubt it’s going to be a huge success. It’s not every day that as a supporter you get invited into the Ospreys nest and are allowed to see everything that goes on behind the scenes.
“We’re all looking forward to kicking off the new season with what should be a brilliant day. It’s really important to us that we are a big part of the local community, there should be no barriers between us and the fans, and events like this are a great way of us getting to know them better and vice versa.”
His thoughts were echoed by team-mate Dan Biggar, who said:
“As a young kid the thought of being able to spend a day at an event like this, really getting to know my favourite rugby players would have been incredible, so I hope there’ll be plenty of children at Llandarcy with their families for the open day.
“We’ve got record season ticket numbers this season and events like this are a way of rewarding them for their support. We all take great pride in representing their cause when we pull the shirt on and I’ve got no doubt that any fans coming along to the open day will have a great time getting to know the team.”
Admission to the Open Day is free to all supporters and details of how to pre-book for some of the special clinics will be confirmed shortly, along with a full schedule.