As part of the build-up to next month’s Cardiff 2014 Heineken Cup and Amlin Challenge Cup finals weekend, ERC has joined forces with the WRU, Cardiff Blues and adidas to develop an annual grassroots community rugby programme targeting young players.

More than 100 players aged between 11 and 12 from seven schools from the Cardiff region gathered at Rumney RFC yesterday (Thursday, 10 April) to take part in a qualification festival as part of the programme targeting schools which are not traditionally associated with rugby.

The winning schools, Radyr and St Telios High School, have now earned the right to compete in the final of the inaugural Cardiff 2014 Rugby Cup which will be played at the Amlin Challenge Cup final venue, Cardiff Arms Park, just days before four teams of elite professionals compete for European glory in the Welsh capital.

The Cardiff 2014 European festival of rugby gets underway on Friday, 23 May with the Amlin Challenge Cup final which will be followed on Saturday, 24 May by the Heineken Cup showpiece at the Millennium Stadium with more than 90,000 fans expected to attend the games.