Cardiff Arms Park was taken over by TAG rugby, the Black Horse Capital Rugby Year 5 TAG festival to be exact.
More than 700 children from over 70 schools across the Cardiff region descended on the famous Arms Park ground located in the heart of the city.
Both days went off with bang as children bearing their school colours made imbedded impressions on the Capital rugby development officers who had cordially invited them to this Tag rugby centrepiece.
Tries were being run in from all angles as sublime passing and clever footwork were the order of the day for all of the children. The skills that were being shown off by the children had been honed through the tutelage of the development officers during their weekly visits to the schools of the region.
Development Officer Gruff Rees commented Its great to see that the skills we are introducing during the Capital Rugby coaching sessions at the schools are not being forgotten. We can see at first hand today that the children are listening and taking on board what they are being taught.
Cardiff Blues mascot Bruiser didnt miss out on the festival as he became the designated water carrier for the youngsters. He kept the kids cool by handing out bottles of Wild Welsh Water courtesy of Cardiff Blues commercial partner Brecon Carreg.
Certificates for the festival were handed out to the children courtesy of Capital Rugbys principle sponsor Black Horse. On hand to present them were Louise Hurley from Corporate Communications, Mark Crocker, Head of CRM Operations and other members from the Black Horse Cardiff office.
The icing on the cake for the children who were taking part in the festival was the appearance Blues stars Rhys Williams, Tom Shanklin, Gareth Williams, Andy Moore, Donovan van Vuuren, Pieter Muller, Jamie Robinson, Dan McShane and Robin Sowden-Taylor who all dropped in on the festival to sign autographs and have their pictures taken with the teams.
Development Officer John Huw Williams was full of praise for the schools that had taken part festival when he said, We have had an excellent response from the schools in the region and we must thank the teachers who have taken time out of their schedule and the head teachers for allowing the schools to participate.
The children have also been brilliant, the standard of rugby has been superb and they are all enjoying themselves. It gives them so much enthusiasm to play TAG rugby on the Arms Park where their heros play week in week out!
Hopefully they will keep this memory with them for a long time, and who knows, from some of the rugby weve seen today we might see some of them playing at the Arms Park as a Blues player in few years!