Year 10 School Tournament Winners – Newbridge School
Blackwood RFC hosted a Rugby 7s Tournament last weekend with school teams, community clubs, and women’s teams all coming together to raise money for people living in Lesotho, Africa.
The Lesotho 7s Tournament was organised with the aim to send 1000 rugby balls to Lesotho, embarking on a coaching exchange programme and collecting unwanted rugby kit to send to the country with the long term aim of improving people’s lives through Rugby.
Lesotho has the third highest HIV rate in the world so money has also been raised for the charity SKRUM, which uses Rugby to educate and empower children about HIV.
Iain Richards, Festival Director, commented, “Wales has a long history of working with the people of Lesotho and though much has been achieved in the fields of education, health and agriculture, sport and rugby in particular has remained largely untouched. I wanted to create a Rugby Festival for Africa in Blackwood and what may have appeared madness a few years ago, I’m proud to say has become a reality. Thanks to all of our partners, sponsors and the individuals who have made this a success.”
The School’s Tournament was won by Newbridge Year 10s and Newbridge Year 7s, while Blackwood Stars, Bedwas RFC, Ospreys and Scarlets won the floodlit, elite, women’s and Under 18s Girls Tournaments respectively.
The Lesotho 7s Tournament was the first of its kind and kicked of the international schedule which will see Rugby 7s teams playing all over the world from Europe, South America, North America, Asia and ending with the National 7s tournament in Lesotho in October.
