Welsh Sports Stars Back Cardiff 7s Festival
The first multi-sport festival of its kind in Wales takes place in Cardiff this month. The inaugural Cardiff 7s, combining rugby sevens and netball against a backdrop of musical acts, will be held in the Rumney area of the city on Saturday June 8. The organisers are promising an action-packed day of sport, food and fun for all ages, with stars of Welsh sport voicing their support for the festival.
Cardiff Blues and Wales winger Alex Cuthbert, whose two second-half tries in the 2013 Six Nations demolished England, owes his career to rugby sevens, having represented Wales in the Commonwealth Games and on the IRB Sevens World Series circuit. The newly-named British Lion sees Cardiff 7s as the perfect blend of sport and location. “Through studying in Cardiff, I know how great this event can be,” says Cuthbert. “Sport and rugby in particular has a special place in people’s hearts in Wales and I believe a sporting festival of this magnitude is great for Cardiff and will be appreciated by all.”
Cuthbert’s Wales and Lions teammate George North has also thrown his considerable weight behind the festival. North, who will be playing with Northampton Saints next season, is an ambassador for Cardiff 7s. He says: “Festivals are very popular because it’s a chance for people to let their hair down. The combination of sport and music is a great idea and will go down a treat in Cardiff.”
Alex Bodin, the organiser of Cardiff 7s, says that his aim is to fuse the excitement of rugby sevens and netball with live music, food, drink and entertainment to form “an electric festival atmosphere and a day to remember”. “A lot of has been said about the Olympic Legacy, so I wanted to be proactive by having the festival appeal to children and young people,” says Bodin . “People who already love rugby sevens and netball will come because they are passionate about the game, but Cardiff 7s can act as an introduction to youngsters who aren’t hooked on sport yet.”
Rumney Rugby Club will play host to the rugby sevens competitions, with netball taking place a stone’s throw away in Llanrumney High School. Rugby sevens, a dynamic and fast-paced game, is slowly but surely emerging from the shadow of rugby union – as witnessed in its inclusion in the 2016 Rio Olympics and record attendance figures at the recent IRB Sevens World Series in Twickenham.
86
Netball in Wales is also undergoing a resurgence, with the Celtic Dragons making the semi-final of the Superleague championship for the first time since their inception. Nichola James, Celtic Dragons and Wales netball international, says: “This is a great event for Welsh Netball to be involved in. Netball is a fast and energetic sport, so there is a natural fit there with rugby sevens. The party vibe of Cardiff 7s will make this a highlight of the summer social scene.”
Whilst some of the sport on show will be top-class, Cardiff 7s will also highlight the fun that can be had at sporting events. Participants in social competitions are encouraged to wear fancy dress (as are spectators) and there will be official after parties at Walkabout and Tiger Tiger in the city centre.
If, as is anticipated, Cardiff 7s is a success, it will be expanded to a two-day event in 2014, with a camping area and headline music acts planned. This will firmly position Cardiff 7s on the Welsh sporting and music calendars, rivalling its Bournemouth equivalent (which has been dubbed ‘the largest rugby, netball and music festival in the world’).
Cardiff Blues and Sport Cardiff will be at the event providing entertainment and activities for both spectators and competitors.
If you’d like to attend, support or learn more about the event, go to
www.Cardiff7s.com, or follow the team on Twitter @cardiff7s.
The Cardiff 7’s festival will be held at Rumney Rugby club from 9.30am onwards.
Spectators are encouraged to attend with entry wristbands costing £7.50 for adults with the under 16’s costing just £1 which will be donated to Ty Hafan. Tickets are available on the gate. Festival wristbands will also grant complementary access to Walkabout (and Tiger Tiger) as the party continues in the city centre.
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100