Cardiff club aims to set up mixed ability team

Llandaff RFC is hoping to start an adult mixed ability rugby team for the Cardiff area, similar to Llanelli Warriors and the Swansea Gladiators in West Wales, and they are hosting an exhibition match between Llanelli Warriors and a WRU Staff XV on Sunday (17 September) 12.30pm at Bishop’s Field, Llandaff.
 
Llanelli Warriors is a well-established mixed ability side based at Burry Port RFC and the benefits of the team are plain to see according to player/ coach Gwilym Lewis. The team even embarked on a 21st anniversary tour to New Zealand and Samoa during the recent Wales and Lions Test Series, spreading the word of mixed ability rugby by playing local teams.
 
Lewis said, “We try to give our players a chance to be part of the rugby community and be an active part of the national game and our recent tour went above and beyond that, enabling us to be one of the only Welsh teams to have played in Samoa. For the players themselves we have found that there have been social and psychological benefits to being part of the team, over and above the physical exercise. Players’ social circles and confidence have been transformed, and in the 20 years of working in social care it has been the most positive project I have been involved in.”
 
Now, Llandaff are appealing for prospective players, coaches and volunteers for a new, mixed ability side in the capital and are hosting an exhibition match on Sunday to help attract supporters of the concept. Llanelli Warriors are coming to Bishop’s Field on Sunday (17 September) to play a WRU Staff XV which has some current and former Principality Premiership and National League players in its ranks.
 
Llandaff club secretary Endaf Williams said: “Llandaff RFC is supporting the aims of  the WRU to set up a Mixed Ability Rugby team in the Cardiff area.  Mixed Ability teams are already running successfully in some areas of Wales as well as all over the UK, but there is no provision in Cardiff as yet.  Mixed ability rugby is about widening the appeal of rugby to a more diverse population and helping rugby to be more inclusive.  This can play a very important role of increasing the confidence and social network for under-served communities.  Feedback from spectators who watched a recent mixed ability exhibition match, also held at Llandaff RFC left many feeling humbled and more importantly very supportive of the concept.
 
“We want to encourage players, coaches, parents and young people to come along and support the exhibition games and we hope that the increased awareness and interest will prompt everyone to promote the virtues of mixed ability rugby. The longer term aim is to establish a team in the Cardiff area to play regular fixtures against both mixed ability and other social rugby sides.  
 
WRU Head of Rugby Participation Ryan Jones, a strong supporter of disability and mixed ability rugby said, “We firmly believe there is a place for everyone in rugby.  Mixed ability teams, as we’ve seen, can enrich the lives of not only the players and their families by providing a positive social and physical activity, but they certainly add to the social tissue of our community rugby clubs.”
 
WRU rugby coordinators Gavin Dacey (Merthyr) and Liam Scott (Barry) will line up for the WRU XV on Sunday along with school club hub officers Adam Powell (Cross Keys), Llywarch ap Myrddin (Cardiff), Marc Breeze (Aberavon), Owen Young and Gavin Williams (Aberdare) who are all pulling on their boots for the occasion along with Blues regional manager Ben Rose (Llanishen) and WRU national participation and retention manager Chris Ower (Maesteg). Cross Keys coach and WRU Entreprise manager Greg Woods will coach the side along with WRU rugby coordinators Jake Thomas (Pontypridd) and Christian Hitt.
 
All welcome for a 12.30 kick off and there will be an opportunity to take part in an introductory mixed ability rugby session after the game and to find out more about the plans for the side.