An important boost in the amount of Welsh language content available on the official website of the WRU has been unveiled online.
More information has been uploaded entirely in Welsh so that visitors to wru.co.uk will be able to choose which language they want to read.
Many of the translated files are static or timeless information which is permanently available on the website and some news items are also appearing in both English and Welsh.
The Welsh Rugby Union is now committed to continuing to add to the volume of Welsh content available on the official website in the years ahead.
The translation project has been completed with the full backing of the Sports Council for Wales and the support of the Welsh Assembly Government.
It is part of a WRU initiative to adopt an active policy which ensures that Welsh speakers can find out more about the national sport of Wales through its native language.
Anyone who now accesses the WRU website will be able to continue reading pages in English or switch to a predominantly Welsh version with an option where Welsh content is available.
The buttons marked ENG or CYM appear at the top of the left hand menu on the home page of the site.
A translation programme focusing on the static content information on the site has been underway over the past year.
The pilot programme has been extended to include much of the up-to-date breaking news for rugby fans in Wales or Welsh speakers from around the world.
Headlines, picture captions and entire documents have all been translated to ensure Welsh speakers can operate the system in their own language.
The website translation scheme is the culmination of three projects initiated through the Sports Council for Wales.
The first initiative involved creating Welsh language publications and programmes for the Junior World Championship which took place in Wales during June 2008.
The second project saw the WRU revamp the Welsh language signage around the Millennium Stadium which attracts one million visitors each year.
Now the WRU is introducing more video content to its official website and will include Welsh language reports in future.
Welsh Rugby Union Group Chief Executive, Roger Lewis, said: “We are delighted to be able to prove our commitment to the Welsh language through this exciting website initiative.
“It is vitally important for the WRU to reflect the importance of the Welsh language in the culture of a vibrant, modern Wales.
“Rugby is our national sport and we are proud to represent the whole of Wales which means we acknowledge our duty to fully respect the Welsh language.
“I want to thank the Welsh Assembly Government and the Sports Council for Wales for supporting this activity with the help and advice which has led to the completion of this phase of our policy.
“Millions of people visit our website every year so it is vitally important they get an accurate reflection of the place Welsh language has in our culture and life.”
Sports Council for Wales Chair Philip Carling said, “Wales is a passionate nation. We are passionate about sport and rugby as well as our rich heritage and language. It makes sense that we make sport as welcoming as possible to everyone in Wales. We’ve been delighted to support WRU in this project and we hope the people of Wales enjoy it.”
The Welsh Assembly Government Heritage Minister, Alun Ffred Jones said: “I’m pleased that the Welsh Rugby Union has moved to enhance its service to Welsh speakers through increasing the amount of Welsh on its website. I also welcome the commitment by the WRU to continue to add to this content in the future.
“The Welsh Assembly Government is currently seeking the public’s views on how we move towards our aim of creating a truly bilingual Wales and the WRU is a further example of a private sector organisation making more provision of the Welsh language as part of its activities. I would encourage other organisations to follow the WRU’s example.”
