Rugby often prides itself as a game that is accessible for everyone and that’s what the Cardiff Rugby Community Foundation celebrated last weekend as they welcomed players of all backgrounds to play on the famous Cardiff Arms Park pitch.
The club’s community team proudly showcased their efforts to ensure there is a ‘Jersey For All’, with 14 teams and 200 participants, from the region and beyond, taking part across two days at the iconic stadium.
Saturday saw Cardiff Rugby hold their inaugural Walking Rugby Festival, where players - ranging from 21 to 84 years old - enjoyed plenty of competitive spirit in the name of participation.
The following day saw the return of the annual Cardiff Rugby Inclusivity Festival, back due to popular demand after overwhelming success on its debut last August.
Cardiff Rugby’s Visually Impaired team were in attendance on the Sunday, donning their new and exclusive Macron kit as they went head-to-head with their Harlequins and Worcester Warriors counterparts.
Cardiff Rugby Community Foundation director, Nadine Griffiths, said: “Last weekend really encapsulates why we are passionate about ensuring a ‘Jersey For All’ as a Community Foundation.
“To see the smiles on faces as people of all backgrounds got to play on the famous Arms Park pitch was priceless, and something that will never get old.
“In total, we had more than 1,000 adults and children participating in various initiatives last week, and that’s a huge testament to the work of our team of community coaches, as well as the crucial fund-raising work that goes on behind the scenes.
“We’re really proud of how the Cardiff VI team has progressed over the last couple of years, and to be able to celebrate their achievements by welcoming other inspirational sides from the region and beyond was great.
“The same goes for the Walking Rugby Festival, which was great to see people of all ages being able to compete and most importantly enjoy alongside each other.
“There’s a lot of hard work going on behind the scenes to ensure these opportunities, and we’re proud to be able to go out to our community to make a difference through the power of the sport.
“From the youth club in Barry to a number of programmes across schools and from weekly girls rookie sessions to our wheelchair rugby team - it’s an extremely busy time for the Foundation but we wouldn’t have it any other way.”
Thursday also saw the annual Six Nations Lunch being held at Cardiff Arms Park, with more than £15,000 raised for the Cardiff Rugby Community Foundation and #StayStrongForOws charity. Emile Ntamack and Ken Owens were on the panel, looking ahead to Friday’s big clash.
Preparations are also underway for the bike ride from Cardiff to Paris, which will take place in June, all in the name of the Cardiff Rugby Community Foundation and #StayStrongForOws.