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Walking Rugby Tournament with Upper Rhondda Colliers

Over the last couple of months People and Work charity has been involved with many projects, one of these was a walking rugby tournament where teams from across the UK turned up to play on a Friday evening.

The Upper Rhondda Colliers Walking Rugby team was created in partnership with People & Work,  Martyn Broughton of Active Nutrition and Welcome To Our Woods, a third sector organisation operating in the upper Rhondda Valley tackling issues such as health, wellbeing, mental health, skills and jobs, helping people within the community gain valuable life and employment skills.

The kit that we played in was sponsored by local companies, The Lion Hotel and Selsig Travel, for which we are extremely grateful.  Without these sponsors we would not be able to have had our brand new kit for this tournament and all future tournaments: it really helps to build a team identity and unite us.

The walking rugby tournament was hosted in Treorchy School by the Upper Rhondda Colliers and was supported by volunteers and the Welsh Rugby Union.  The night was a great success with teams attending from Cambrian, Kingswood, Taff’s Well and many others.

The aim of walking rugby is to engage people in a fun physical way which also positively impacts on mental health. As it is open to all ages and all abilities we believe this sport is for everyone.

After every walking rugby training session we all go for some food or a coffee, which we as a community feel is really important to unwind with friends around us. This is used to extend the bond from the rugby pitch into friendship

One of the players stated that “walking rugby has introduced me back into rugby which I hadn’t played since school, I also enjoy the banter and good exercise during the week”.

We meet every week at The Play Yard in Ynyswen between 11 am and 12 pm and would love to see new faces, male or female, and any age.

In the coming months we are looking to set up numerous clubs and activities such as a chess club, and Polish language club, which will be run by young people. If you have any ideas or would like to take part, please get in touch with us.

James Watts-Rees

Contact: James.Watts-Rees@peopleandwork.org.uk    07392 072115