Clubs attending the Welsh Rugby Union Annual General Meeting this Sunday will each receive 40 energy saving light bulbs courtesy of WRU community partner SWALEC.
And with up to 241 member clubs and four Regions attending the AGM, nearly 10,000 light bulbs could be collected.
The move is part of an ongoing campaign by the WRU and its partners to tackle climate change.
The WRU, the Welsh Assembly Government and SWALEC recently published an energy saving guide for Welsh rugby clubs, ‘Tackling Climate Change’, which provides valuable hints and tips to help clubs make practical changes in their day-to-day running of club houses and rugby teams which will enable them to make significant financial savings, while helping to tackle climate change. These tips range from more energy efficient ways of washing sets of kit and heating clubhouses to recycling rain water for watering the pitch.
It is hoped the offer of energy saving light bulbs by SWALEC will kick-start clubs’ efforts in this area and increase awareness of the savings that can be made.
WRU Group Chief Executive Roger Lewis said: “Rugby clubs are very often the heartbeat of our communities around Wales and due to the popularity of rugby in Wales, we hope that promoting energy efficient behaviour in rugby clubs will have a significant knock-on effect on club members and supporters to help Wales to tackle climate change.
“In this current financial climate, we believe that clubs can make important financial savings by following the advice laid our in the energy saving guide, while at the same time benefitting the environment. The measures vary in cost (some are free) but they will all contribute to a long term financial saving by reducing energy bills.”
Alan Williams, Director of Energy Sales for SWALEC, added: “We are delighted to support the Welsh Rugby Union and its clubs through the production of ‘Tackling Climate Change’, the Energy Saving Guide and the provision of energy saving light bulbs. We have also launched the SWALEC Community Awards, a scheme that rewards clubs for rugby initiatives, community involvement and energy saving measures.”
Meanwhile, Wales, Blues and Lions centre Jamie Roberts will join WRU Head of Operations Tim Burton at a behaviour change conference at Parc y Scarlets on Friday evening. The conference is organised by Cynnal Cymru – Sustain Wales, a Network Partner of the WRU seeking to increase awareness and positive action for sustainable development and the guests will be invited to talk about their own lifestyles, motivation and health and how to motivate others to change.
