Ospreys Wheelchair Rugby will be the beneficiary of funds raised at next week’s charity 20/20 clash with Mumbles Cricket Club.
First held in 2009, the annual challenge match has now raised thousands of pounds for good causes in the intervening years, with this season’s game benefiting the not for profit Ospreys Wheelchair Rugby, who formally came under the regional banner earlier this year.
Rev. Steve Jones, Chairman of Ospreys Wheelchair Rugby, said:
“We are honoured to be the beneficiary of this year’s 20/20 match at between the Ospreys and Mumbles. Funds raised will go towards meeting the substantial running and travel costs of the club, and helping us to grow as an organisation. With more and more focus on our sport we want to attract more people to get involved with wheelchair rugby, be that playing, supporting, or taking up coaching or support roles.
“The support of Ospreys Rugby is crucial to us moving forward, in terms of profile, logistics, and in the case of events like this, financially as well. We are extremely grateful to the Ospreys, and to Mumbles Cricket Club, for making us the charity for this year’s game.”
Andrew Hore, Ospreys Chief Executive, added:
“Our relationship with Ospreys Wheelchair Rugby continues to go from strength to strength and we are delighted to be able to announce, with the agreement of Mumbles Cricket Club, that they will be the deserved recipients of all funds raised on the night.
“The guys who represent the Ospreys as part of the Wheelchair Rugby team are an inspiration to everybody with their commitment and dedication, not to mention the skill they bring to their game, and it is fantastic that we can help out in this way.
“Our annual charity cricket match is now a well established fixture in the summer calendar, providing a wonderful evening of sporting entertainment for a good cause. We look forward to seeing our supporters getting behind this event in big numbers once again to raise some money for a good cause.”
This year’s game is on Friday 7th August Mumbles’ picturesque Marespool Ground on Plunch Lane, with the first ball scheduled for 4pm. Admission will be just £3 with free admission for U16's, and facilities for supporters on the night will include a barbecue and bar facility, with proceeds from entry and a raffle on the night going to Ospreys Wheelchair Rugby.
Following the announcement of the partnership earlier this year, South Wales Pirates, wales’ first wheelchair rugby club, were rebranded as Ospreys Wheelchair Rugby and now play and train in officially branded BLK kit featuring a newly updated version of the famous Ospreys mask.
The team is made up of largely from players and coaches who have previously represented the Pirates, originally established in 1989, and will compete initially in Division 2 of the GB Super Series, doing battle against teams from across the UK.
Wheelchair rugby is a full contact sport in that chair-to-chair contact is permitted; however person-to-person contact is not. Some chair-to-chair contact is considered dangerous and is not allowed.
Anyone interested in trying out with the Ospreys Wheelchair Rugby team should contact Head Coach, Paul Jenkins, on 07718 171672.
Potential volunteers looking to assist, or sponsors who would like to support the team, should contact Amanda Thomas, Regional Development Officer (Wales & South West), Great Britain Wheelchair Rugby, on 07950 545014 or via email at amanda.thomas@gbwr.org.uk.
Alternatively, you can contact Fran Jenkins, Secretary of OWCR, on 07970 400565 or email ospreys.wheelchair.rugby@gmail.com.
PICTURED ABOVE AT LLANDARCY ACADEMY OF SPORT ARE SQUAD MEMBERS AND MANAGEMENT OF OSPREYS WHEELCHAIR RUGBY ALONG WITH SIMON LLOYD, TREASURER, MUMBLES CC, AND 18-YEAR OLD ALL-ROUNDER MAX PHILLIPS