Ospreys Community Development Coaches were out in force at the Sony Youth Games 2011 in Bridgend this month.
Children from 10 comprehensive schools across the borough attended the annual event at Bridgend Recreation Centre, which sees year 7, 8 and 9 pupils competing in a number of team sports. In addition, there were coaching sessions available for those present who wanted to try their hand at a sport for the first time.
Tom Cole, Ospreys Player Development Officer for the Bridgend District, led a team of coaches at the event, which allowed the Ospreys to interact with hundreds of children aged between 11 and 14, organising a sevens tournament for Year 9 boys and a tag competition for Year 9 girls as well as running the rugby section of the popular event that brings down the curtain on the sporting calendar in Bridgend schools.
Porthcawl Comprehensive took the honours in the sevens, while Bryntirion came out on top in the tag.
WRU/Ospreys Regional Community Manager, Ben Rose, part of the Bridgend RFC team that won the Swalec Division One West title last season, said that the Ospreys were delighted to have been part of a successful day. He said:
“The Sony Youth Games is a huge sporting event for schools in Bridgend. With around 1000 children present, it’s an event that really generates some excitement in the local community, with the schools keen to outperform their rivals, and we are pleased to be able to assist in the delivery of the rugby section of the day.
“From an Ospreys point of view, just as important for us is the opportunity for our coaches to actively engage with hundreds of schoolchildren and provide for many of them an introduction to rugby which we hope will ignite a lifelong passion for the game. Once again, this is an example of the Ospreys and Sony working together to benefit the local community.”