5 days, 322 teams, over 3800 young players – welcome to the Urdd WRU Rugby Sevens Tournament 2018!

5 days, 322 teams, over 3800 young players – welcome to the Urdd WRU Rugby Sevens Tournament 2018!

Between 12-16 March, Pontcanna and Llandaf Fields in Cardiff will be packed full of activity as girls and boys from primary and secondary schools and colleges across Wales come together for the largest youth 7s Rugby competition ever held in Wales.

Amongst those competing this year will be Coleg Meirion Dwyfor, Ysgol y Berwyn, Ysgol Dyffryn Conwy, Ysgol y Preseli, Pembrokeshire College and Ysgol Glantaf. (see below for full list of competing schools and colleges)

Rhys Patchell, a former tournament competitor who now plays professional rugby with Wales and the Scarlets said, “I have so many great memories of competing in the Urdd WRU 7s Rugby tournament throughout my time at Ysgol Glantaf, including the experience of playing in the final on Stradey Park. The standard of playing is fantastic, and it was always a pleasure to see so many pupils taking part. I am lucky enough to have benefited from wide-ranging experiences through the Urdd, which has taught me especially how to compete on a large, national stage. It’s great to see how much the competition has grown, and to see the Wales Sevens selectors going along to see new talent coming through.”

Broadcasting live via Facebook S4C

In an exciting development, for the first time this year S4C will be broadcasting the final rounds of the tournament live on Facebook S4C between 4-6pm on Thursday 15^th and Friday 16^th of March. Presenting will be Lauren Jenkins, with Rhys ap William commentating.

Speaking about this latest development, Owen Evans, Chief Executive of S4C said, “This competition is one of the highlights of the school year for pupils across Wales, and we are pleased to be able to be part of the day. We are proud that we are able to offer a national platform for some of the sport’s future stars.”

Lord Elis-Thomas, Minister for Culture, Tourism and Sport said, “It’s great to see two of our most iconic organisations once again teaming up to deliver a mass participation event of this nature, enabling girls and boys from across all areas of Wales to keep fit, showcase their talents and build confidence by playing rugby in a fun and engaging environment.  

“It’s an excellent example of partnership working and particularly pleasing to see skills being developed both on and off the field through the medium of Welsh. I’d like to wish everyone involved a successful competition – pob lwc i chi ‘gyd.”

The playing facilities provided by Cardiff Council mean that for the first time, seven-a-side competitions will be held for every secondary school age group for both boys and girls at the same venue simultaneously.

Some of last year’s male and female participants have gone on to play for Wales Sevens U18, Regional Age Grade sides and in some cases Principality Premiership clubs.

In addition to increasing participation opportunities, sevens rugby also offers a pathway to play the game at an elite level, right through to the Olympics.

Examples include: Ben Thomas who represented Cardiff & Vale College at the Urdd 7s, and now plays for Cardiff and is in the Wales U20 squad. Rhys Patchell, represented Ysgol Gyfun Glantaf at the Urdd 7s, played for Wales Sevens and now plays for the Scarlets. Manon Johnes also represented Ysgol Gyfun Glantaf at the Urdd 7s, and was part of the Wales Women U18 squad who won bronze at the Youth Commonwealth Games held in Bahamas in July last year, and was also a member of the squad who won silver at last year’s UK School Games.

Manon Johnes will be representing Ysgol Glantaf at the Tournament once again this year on the Friday.

5 diwrnod, 322 o dimau, dros 3800 o chwaraewyr ifanc – croeso i Dwrnamaint Rygbi 7 Bob Ochr Urdd WRU 2018!

Rhwng y 12-16 o Fawrth eleni, bydd caeau Pontcanna a Llandaf yng Nghaerdydd yn fwrlwm o weithgaredd wrth i ferched a bechgyn ysgolion cynradd, uwchradd a cholegau ledled Cymru ddod at ei gilydd ar gyfer y gystadleuaeth rygbi 7 bob ochr ieuenctid mwyaf erioed yng Nghymru.

Ymysg yr ysgolion a cholegau sy’n cystadlu eleni fydd Coleg Meirion Dwyfor, Ysgol y Berwyn, Ysgol Dyffryn Conwy, Ysgol y Preseli, Coleg Sir Benfro ac Ysgol Glan Tâf. (Gweler rhestr lawn o ysgolion a cholegau islaw)

Dywedodd Rhys Patchell, cyn-gystadleuydd yn y twrnamaint sydd bellach yn chwarae rygbi’n broffesiynol gyda Chymru a’r Sgarlets, “Mae gen i lawer o atgofion da o gystadlu yn nhwrnamaint 7 bob ochr yr Urdd WRU drwy gydol fy amser yn Ysgol Glan Taf, gan gynnwys y profiad o chwarae yn y rownd derfynol ar Barc y Strade. Mae safon y chwarae yn arbennig, ac roedd hi wastad mor braf gweld cymaint o ddisgbylion yn cymryd rhan. Dwi’n ffodus o fod wedi cael profiadau eang drwy’r Urdd, sydd wedi dysgu i mi yn arbennig sut i gystadlu ar lwyfan mawr, cenedlaethol. Mae hi’n braf gweld cymaint mae’r gystadleuaeth wedi tyfu, a gweld dewiswyr 7 bob ochr Cymru yn mynd draw i weld y talent newydd sy’n dod trwyddo.”

Darlledu’n fyw drwy Facebook S4C

Mewn datblygiad cyffrous, am y tro cyntaf erioed eleni bydd S4C yn darlledu rowndiau terfynol y twrnamaint yn fyw ar Facebook S4C rhwng 4-6yp ar ddydd Iau 15 a Gwener 16 o Fawrth. Yn cyflwyno bydd Lauren Jenkins, gyda Rhys ap William yn sylwebu.

Gan siarad am y datblygiad diweddaraf yma dywedodd Owen Evans, Prif Weithredwr S4C, “Mae’r gystadleuaeth yma yn un o uchafbwyntiau’r flwyddyn ysgol i ddisgyblion ledled Cymru, ac mae’n bleser ein bod ni’n gallu bod yn rhan o’r diwrnod. Rydym yn falch iawn o allu cynnig llwyfan cenedlaethol i rai o sêr dyfodol y gamp.”

Dywedodd yr Arglwydd Elis-Thomas, y Gweinidog dros Ddiwylliant, Twristiaeth a Chwaraeon: “Mae’n wych gweld dau o sefydliadau mwyaf eiconig Cymru yn  dod at ei gilydd unwaith eto i gynnal digwyddiad mor fawr gan roi cyfleoedd i blant a phobl ifanc o bob rhan o Gymru i gadw’n ffit, dangos eu talentau a datblygu hyder i chwarae rygbi mewn awyrgylch deniadol a hwyliog.

“Dyma enghraifft wych o weithio mewn partneriaeth, ac mae’n hynod galonogol i weld sgiliau yn cael eu datblygu yn benodol yn yr iaith Gymraeg ar y maes chwarae.  Hoffwn ddymuno’r gorau i bawb sy’n rhan o’r gystadleuaeth – pob lwc i chi gyd.”

Bydd yr adnoddau chwarae a ddarparir gan Gyngor Caerdydd yn golygu y bydd posib cynnal cystadlaethau saith-bob-ochr ar gyfer pob grŵp oedran ysgol uwchradd, yn fechgyn a merched yn yr un lleoliad yr un pryd am y tro cyntaf.

Aeth rhai o’r merched a bechgyn fu’n rhan o gystadleuaeth y llynedd ymlaen i chwarae dros dîm Saith-bob-ochr Cymru o dan 18, timau Dosbarth Oedran Rhanbarthol a chlybiau Uwchgyngrhair y Principality mewn rhai achosion.

Yn ogystal â chynyddu cyfleoedd cyfranogaeth, mae rygbi saith-bob-ochr hefyd yn cynnig llwybr i chwarae’r gêm ar lefel elît, a hyd at y Gemau Olympaidd.

Er enghraifft: Ben Thomas fu’n cynrychioli Coleg Caerdydd a’r Fro yn saith-bob-ochr yr Urdd, ac sydd bellach yn chwarae i Gaerdydd ac yng ngharfan Cymru o dan 20. Rhys Patchell, fu’n cynrychioli Ysgol Gyfun Glantaf yn saith-bob-ochr yr Urdd, a chwaraeodd yn y gamp i Gymru, ac sydd bellach yn chwarae i’r Sgarlets. Cynrychiolodd Manon Johnes Ysgol Gyfun Glantaf yn saith-bob-ochr yr Urdd, cyn mynd ymlaen i fod yn rhan o garfan Merched Cymru o dan 18, ac ennill medal efydd yng Ngemau Ifanc y Gymanwlad a gynhaliwyd yn y Bahamas fis Gorffennaf y llynedd. Bu hefyd yn aelod o’r garfan enillodd fedal arian yng Ngemau Ysgolion y DU’r llynedd.

Bydd Manon Johnesyn chwarae dros Ysgol Glantaf unwaith eto eleni ar ddydd Gwener y Twrnameint.