In what ended in a superb weekend for the Welsh national rugby team, Capital Rugby coaches spent another busy week laying the seeds of rugby development across Cardiff, in particular with two schools festivals at Ysgol Melin Gruffyd and Fairwater Junior School.

Over 120 children from 6 different schools attended the festival at Fairwater Junior School. The home school were joined by Windsor Clive, Hywel Dda, Cwrt-yr-Ala, Ninian Park and Trelai schools, with each fielding 2 teams in a fun, round-robin series of games against each other, refereed by students from Coleg Glan Hafren.

Across Cardiff, Development officer Mal Scott at Ysgol Melin Gruffyd, brought together young players from Hawthorne, Radyr, Marlborough, Gwaelod y Garth and Tongwynlais schools.

Sports teacher at Ysgol Melin Gruffyd, Alun Higham said,
“Its marvelous that the national team has done so well in the 6 Nations this year. Their success is clearly having an impact, as the boys and girls could not wait to get out on the field today, and who can blame them when it is such a sunny day.”

Development Officer Gruff Rees commented,
“The opportunities to play in such festivals as here at Fairwater today have been a clear focal point of Capital Rugby. The children enjoy playing the game, they are getting great exercise plus they are learning and improving all the time.

Children aged 12 and over can still register for the Blues coaching course next week, but the morning session for younger children is fully booked. A further opportunity for young players to grace the Arms Park turf, is being scheduled with Capital Rugby planning a Schools Tag festival at the Arms Park in May following the huge success of previous years.

Gruff added,
“Schools across Cardiff and the Vale will be contacted shortly regarding the schools festival at the Arms Park, but children can look forward to the annual extravaganza of tries and fun!”

Schools rugby development is clearly paying dividends in Cardiff, as Cardiff Schools A team booked their place in the U15 Dewar Shield Final with a 26-12 victory against Pontypool. They will face Rhondda who overcame a brave performance by Cardiff B in the other semi final. The final will take place on April 16th and highlights the depth of talent across the Blues Region at this age group.

Coaches Mark Wyzocki and Danny Milton were assisted in their semi-final preparations by former Cardiff Schools player and now Blues hero, Nicky Robinson.