More than a thousand young rugby players from across Wales will play on the iconic Cardiff Arms Park pitch ahead of the Principality Stadium’s double Welsh derby showdown
One of Wales’s largest community club rugby festivals for junior players will take place over the weekend at Cardiff Arms Park, ahead of Welsh rugby’s double-derby ‘Judgement Day’ fixture at the Principality Stadium.
The ‘Mini Judgement Day’ rugby festival, sponsored by BT, will see more than 1,000 young players (aged 7+8) from community clubs in all four regions come together for an inter-club, mini ‘tag’ rugby tournament at the iconic rugby venue Cardiff Arms Park.
Junior players taking part will be presented with medals from senior players from Scarlets, Ospreys, Cardiff Rugby and Dragons RFC before participants and their families have the chance to head next door to watch the main event at the Principality Stadium.
BT has been one of the lead sponsors of Welsh regional rugby since 2014. It currently sponsors all four of Wales’s professional rugby teams and, as part of the agreement, has committed to supporting grassroots rugby and community initiatives.
Nick Speed, BT Group’s Head of Nations and Regions, said: “It's always great to see so many young players, and their families, enjoying themselves. I'm sure having a chance to play in a tournament in Cardiff, and having a medal presented to them by some of the pro players, is something many of these young players will never forget. Getting to then watch some of their heroes in action next door at the Principality Stadium will also be the icing on the cake for many of them.
“Supporting community initiatives and grassroots rugby has been a central part of BT's sponsorship of the Welsh clubs, and that's what this kind of event is all about. We’re grateful to all the clubs, organisers and families for helping arrange such a great event.”
A total of 78 junior teams – spread from across all four of the Welsh rugby regions – will mean around 1,000 seven and eight-year-olds will play five round-robin matches across eight pitches at the Cardiff Arms Park stadium. With team coaches and players’ family and friends supporting from the side-lines, the event is expected to attract around 3,000 people in total.
BT Group’s official charity partner Home-Start – which provides expert, volunteer-based family support to some of the country’s most vulnerable families and disadvantaged children – was also be in attendance to support the festival.
