Pupils from Blaengwrach Primary School in the Neath Valley have enjoyed a behind the scenes tour of the stadium as a part of their ongoing commitment to the Ospreys Schools Programme.
The successful initiative, the first of its kind in Welsh rugby, has been running since September 2012, during which time thousands of Year 5 and 6 pupils from across the region have gone through the programme, which aims to produce better Ospreylian citizens through a combination of education and rugby.
The programme was developed by the Ospreys in conjunction with the education departments at Bridgend, Neath Port Talbot and Swansea Councils to ensure it sits within the guidelines of the National Curriculum.
It is delivered with the support of RWE npower renewables, Save Britain Money, Sony UK Technology Centre, Network Rail, partners who all share the region’s commitment to the local community, with the assistance of the WRU.
The children from Blaengwrach Primary were the latest to visit the home of the Ospreys for a behind the scenes peek which is always considered one of the highlights of the programme.
The students filled out specially created workbooks as they toured the different areas of the Liberty Stadium, learning facts about the history of the Ospreys. Memorable moments of the tour saw pupils imagining what it would be like to be a player in the changing room before a game, with the match day sounds, sights and smells replicated for the occasion, as well as taking part in a "post-match" press conference.
Pupils also enjoyed a fun and interactive lesson on renewable energy, designed in conjunction with our partners at RWE, where they learnt about different types of energy, recycling and how they can help the environment.
Keith Collins, Ospreys Schools Co-ordinator, is responsible for delivering the stadium tours, and after guiding Blaengwrach’s pupils around the Liberty, he said:
"The students today have been absolutely fantastic. They really got involved in all the activities that form the tour and I was really impressed with how much they knew about the Ospreys and about rugby.
“They also really enjoyed the RWE session, which allowed them to think about the different ways energy is used up, and put into perspective some of the environment issues facing the communities of Ospreylia.
“It's great to see so many children that are so enthusiastic about sport and about learning in general. It was a pleasure to have them at the Liberty Stadium, and I look forward to seeing them back down on match day soon.”