Sixteen primary schools took part in a special one day rugby festival organised by South Wales Police in conjunction with the Ospreys last week
The schools, all from the Gower area, competed in the third annual Interschools Rugby Cup Challenge at Dunvant RFC, a competition that is the brainchild of Gower Police Community Support Officers Andrew Brown and Neil Rees.
Open to pupils in years 5 and 6, the competition is seen an important date in the force's community calendar, providing an excellent opportunity for local officers to engage with local youngsters in a sporting environment, and is supported by the Ospreys Community Rugby team along with the City and County of Swansea.
Participating schools were as follows:
Group one:
Sketty, Mayals, Grange, Hendrefoilan
Group two:
Bishopston, St David’s, Pen-y-Fro, Pennard
Group three:
Penclawdd, Dunvant, Llwynderw, Parklands,
Group four:
Crwys, Llanrhidian, Newton, Oystermouth
At the end of an exciting day’s rugby action involving more than 250 children, the Cup was won by Newton, with Oystermouth winning the Shield and Llanrhidian successful in the Plate.
Trophies were presented by Ospreys skipper Alun Wyn Jones, along with Chief Superintendent Mark Matthews.
PCSO Brown said:
“The day went really well, it was fantastic. An event like this is an ideal opportunity to use sport to bring schools, parents, pupils and the police together. It helps us to develop a good relationship with the youngsters.”
PCSO Rees added:
“It is a great way to integrate the police and the community. Through this kind of event the children relate to the police in a different way rather than seeing us out patrolling on the streets. It makes us far more approachable.”
Ospreys Community Rugby Manager, Ben Rose, concluded:
“Events like this are a perfect example of how we can use rugby as a positive force in the community. By encouraging youngsters to enjoy the game in a safe environment, we are offering them the opportunity to be part of something special, and the disciplines and codes of conduct associated with rugby will serve them, and their communities, well for the whole of their lives.”