One of Wales’s largest community club rugby festivals for junior players took 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, saw 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 were presented with medals from senior players from Scarlets, Ospreys, Cardiff Rugby and Dragons RFC before participants and their families had the chance to head next door to watch the main event at the Principality Stadium.
The festival took place on the final weekend of the United Rugby Championship's (URC) regular season and ahead of the Judgement Day matches between Ospreys and Cardiff and Dragons Vs Scarlets.
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 was great to see so many young players, and their families, enjoying themselves at this iconic venue. 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 have been 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 event was all about. We’re grateful to all the clubs, organisers and families for helping to put on such a great event.”
A total of 78 junior teams – spread from across all four of the Welsh rugby regions – saw around 1,000 seven- and eight-year-olds 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 attracted 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 in attendance to support the festival.
