The Welsh Assembly’s rugby team will cap a historic year with a charity fundraising day at the Dragons’ annual Christmas fixture against the Blues, with all funds going to the team’s partner charity Bowel Cancer UK.
It’s Newport Gwent Dragons’ turn to host the local derby against the Blues on the 27th December and players will be taking to the field in specially made shirts to mark the occasion.
The shirts will then be auctioned to raise funds for charity.
It’s been a big year for the Assembly rugby team, with a fourth consecutive victory over the House of Commons at the BT Sport Cardiff Arms Park in February. Whilst 2015 also featured the Welsh Assembly’s first involvement in the Parliamentary World Cup – a competition that featured teams from all over the globe, including Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and France.
The Dragons have been active supporters of Assembly Rugby this year, with coaches Lyn and Kingsley Jones putting the players through their paces ahead of World Cup fixtures against the All Blacks, France and Argentina.
Assembly Rugby President – Welsh Conservative Leader, Andrew RT Davies – said: “To finish the year here at the home of the Newport Gwent Dragons is a huge honour and privilege. We’ve come a long way in the ten years that we’ve been established, and I know that our charity partners Bowel Cancer UK are equally grateful for this generous support.
“The team was set up in 2006 by my colleague and friend Glyn Davies MP, who was an AM at the time. Glyn overcame bowel cancer and wanted to raise awareness of the illness and personally demonstrate how survivors can go on to lead a full and active life after being so ill.
“As a club we are particularly keen to support Bowel Cancer UK’s ‘Never Too Young’ campaign. An initiative which is targeted at under 50s diagnosed with bowel cancer - a group who often find it hard to get information and support that’s relevant to them.”
Commenting on the club’s training sessions ahead of the World Cup, which were undertaken by Dragons’ coaches Lyn Jones and Kingsley Jones, Andrew said: “The Dragons have been absolutely fantastic throughout the year, and I’m extremely grateful to Lyn, Kingsley and Dragons Director and Team Doctor Ro Kulkarni for putting us through our paces on the training field during the summer.
“It’s fair to say we had a taste of the hard work the likes of Taulupe Faletau and Hallam Amos put in every day and it only made us stronger for games against New Zealand, France and Argentina.
“To face the haka at the birthplace of Rugby was an unforgettable experience, and the highlight of my modest rugby career so far!”
Newport Gwent Dragons Chief Executive, Stuart Davies added: “We are delighted to have been able to team up with Bowel Cancer UK in wearing a special shirt for one of our biggest fixtures of the year. We hope to not only raise money by allowing shirts to be auctioned and carrying out a match day bucket collection, but also to raise awareness for bowel cancer in general.
“We have very much enjoyed as a Region being involved with the Welsh Assembly team, this is a relationship we hope will continue to grow into 2016.”
Bowel Cancer UK have recently launched a new booklet called ‘Younger people with bowel cancer: A guide for the under-50s’ which gives an introduction to the unique challenges faced by younger people affected by bowel cancer; how cancer can affect the body, emotions, relationships and everyday life.
If you or anyone you know has been affected by bowel cancer then do order a copy online at the charity’s website: www.bowelcanceruk.org.uk
Notes to editors:
Anyone wishing to bid for a signed shirt from the match on the 29th should contact Vincent Bailey from the Assembly Rugby team on vincentjamesbailey@gmail.com
