The Ospreys swapped the scrum for a ‘cwtch’ this week when they became the latest to back Swansea Bay’s ‘Cwtch The Bid’ campaign to become UK City of Culture 2017.
Players took time out of training to become the latest in a string of famous faces to support the campaign in the week the region submitted its final bid to the UK City of Culture judging panel alongside fellow finalists Hull, Leicester and Dundee.
Ospreys captain, Alun Wyn Jones said:“Winning the UK City of Culture 2017 title would be a tremendous boost for the region. Just as I have worked hard to succeed in sport I know there are people from all over the Swansea Bay area doing excellent work in all sorts of cultural activities. I am happy to support the campaign and would encourage everyone who cares about the region to back the bid.
“The whole region needs to create an enthusiastic atmosphere and get behind the bid. Beating the opposition would give us a lasting legacy.”
Richard Hibbard, said:
“Swansea Bay is a great place for sport and culture. Winning the UK City of Culture 2017 would be like reaching the Heineken Cup Final, I am sure that with the support of the whole region we can win the title.”
To show their support for the bid, Ospreys players wore special ‘Cwtch the Bid’ t-shirts for their warm-up ahead of last Friday night’s RaboDirect PRO12 game against Ulster at the Liberty Stadium, with the pictures beamed live to rugby fans around the world.
Swansea Bay’s bid had a very special send off last week from Michael Sheen who came back to the region to bid the document farewell as it was sent to the judging panel. Judges will make their decision in mid-November.
Swansea Council is bidding for City of Culture status with support from Neath Port Talbot Council and Carmarthenshire Council.
You can follow the bid on Twitter @SwanseaBay_2017, on Facebook and on the Swansea Bay City of Culture 2017 website www.swanseabay2017.co.uk