A major rugby festival for junior players will take place in Cardiff on Saturday ahead of Welsh rugby’s double-derby Judgement Day fixture at Cardiff City Stadium.
The ‘Mini Judgement Day’ rugby festival, sponsored by BT, and run by the community teams of Scarlets, Cardiff Rugby, Dragons RFC and Ospreys will see more than 800 under-7s and under-8s players from clubs across Wales come together for an inter-club, mini ‘tag’ rugby tournament at Cardiff’s Leckwith Stadium.
Junior players taking part will be presented with medals from senior players from Scarlets, Ospreys, Cardiff Rugby and Dragons RFC before participants and their families have the chance to head across the road to watch the Judgement Day matches between Scarlets and Dragons and Cardiff Rugby and Ospreys.
BT has sponsored all four pro rugby teams in Wales – Ospreys, Cardiff Rugby, Scarlets and Dragons RFC – since 2014, marking 10 consecutive years as sponsor.
Nick Speed, BT Group’s Head of Nations and Regions, said: “It’s great we have so many young players and their families heading to Cardiff again this year to take part in this big event.
“Supporting grassroots rugby and community events like this has been a major part of BT’s sponsorship of the Welsh clubs over the last decade. For these junior players, having the chance to play against teams from across Wales, and then receiving a medal from one of the pro players, will create lifelong memories.”
A total of 62 junior teams from across Wales will attend the event, resulting in around 800 under-7s and under-8s playing in the tag rugby tournament.
Dylan Davies, Chairman of Bethesda rugby club’s Minis and Juniors section, said the festival was the highlight of their season and the five-hour coach trip down from the north of Wales would create a great bond between the players.
“This is like a mini tour for our teams and a highlight of their season, creating a special bond within our community from parents, to coaches and players and the chance for our teams to play new teams in the south,” he said.
“To be handed medals after the games by Wales and British and Irish Lions players is something these players will never forget and the scale of the event is really amazing for everyone to be a part of.”
Volunteers from BT and EE sites across Wales (Swansea, Cardiff and Merthyr Tydfil) will also be in attendance to support the festival, working with the community rugby teams.