Dragons Rugby have been helping to drive home Welsh Government’s major anti hate campaign - Hate Hurts Wales.
The winner of a schools competition to design anti-racism posters - sponsored by the region - was announced during the recent United Rugby Championship game against the Stormers.
And members of the West Gwent cohesion team were on hand to give out free merchandise promoting support for victims of hate crime on the night.
Kieron Porter, Equality Officer at Dragons Rugby, said: “It’s good to be working alongside the local authority and Victim Support to tackle all forms of hate in rugby and the wider community. We want to promote that rugby is for everyone and that there is no place for hate in our game.”
Mike Morgan, Community Cohesion officer, added: “Rugby is a big part of our culture in Gwent, you don’t have to drive far to see the next set of rugby posts across this region.
“Gwent local authorities and the Dragons Rugby will continue our partnership to end discrimination and ensure that everyone feels safe and has a sense of belonging in their community.”
Competition winner Spencer Knight, from St Albans RC School, received complimentary tickets to the match and was presented with a signed Dragons jersey at half-time.
National Hate Crime Awareness Week was a week of action that encouraged local authorities, key partners and communities affected by hate crime to work together to tackle local hate crime issues. Hate crimes are any crimes that are targeted at a person because of hostility or prejudice towards that person’s disability, race or ethnicity, religion of belief, sexual orientation, or gender identity. This can be committed against a person or property. A victim does not have to be a member of the group at which the hostility is targeted; in fact, anyone could be a victim of a hate crime.
If you are a victim of hate crime, you can get support from Victim Support by calling the national hate crime and report centre on 03003031982.
We want to promote that rugby is for everyone and that there is no place for hate in our game...
