The Cardiff Tag Rugby team came away from Leeds at the weekend with their 100% record intact at the end of the Pool stage of the Heineken Cup.
The Cardiff Under 11 side finished off their All Roads Lead to Cardiff tour on Sunday with a victory as the city looks forward to hosting the 2006 Heineken Cup Final on Saturday 20 May.
On the Leeds trip the boys enjoyed a full programme of activities including coaching workshops on tackle technique, contact area and team building at the Leeds Tykes Academy under the charismatic guidance of former England and British Lion, John Bentley. The boys were well received by the Headingly crowd and stole victory with a try at the death in their half-time junior game to complete a Grand Slam of victories over Blues opponents Leeds Tykes and Calvisano.
Councillor Nigel Howells, Executive Member for Sport, Leisure and Culture said: Once again the Sport.Cardiff team have represented themselves well, and proved to be worthy ambassadors for the city in the year we host the European final. It has been a great experience for them in their rugby development and we congratulate them on their Grand Slam.
The 10 strong Cardiff Tag Team, chosen from the local Under 11s have been the citys ambassadors for the competition, in an initiative organised by Sport.Cardiff, the sports development arm of Cardiff Council, European Rugby Cup (ERC) and Cardiff Blues.
Sport.Cardiff and Blues Development Officer Chris Ower accompanied the boys on the trip and said: The whole team received autographs from the Tykes squad, but the icing on the cake was was All Black legend Justin Marshall inviting the Cardiff boys on stage with him while he hosted a question and answer session about the highs and lows of his All Black career. The boys were in complete awe of Justin, and the memories of the weekend in Leeds and the whole tour will live with our Sport.Cardiff Future Blues forever.
The Tag Rugby initiative was set up to promote Cardiff as the host city for this seasons Heineken Cup final and create further cultural links between each of the rugby playing regions, showing the young people of Europe coming together under the banner of rugby union.