A SUMMIT for community coaches, referees and rugby administrators has been arranged for Rodney Parade in Newport at the end of the month.
The Welsh Rugby Union event will be held in the city on Sunday, July 29 while other events are being held in Swansea, Cardiff, Colwyn Bay and Llanelli over the coming weeks.
The summits are designed to support everyone involved in the community game, from junior and senior club coaches, girls cluster leaders, team managers and referees to administrators and other volunteers.
There will be practical sessions from regional skills coaches with innovative tips and techniques on delivering core skills and advice to support efforts to retain players through critical transition periods in youth and senior rugby.
Top WRU referees, including Nigel Owens, Ben Whitehouse and Craig Evans, will deliver workshops to help all levels of community match officials in their management of key areas such as the breakdown.
There will be a session on engaging more women and girls in the game and WRU disability rugby leader Darren Carew will give an update on plans to make the game more inclusive to all.
WRU head of rugby participation Ryan Jones said: “The army of volunteers involved in community rugby at all levels is absolutely critical to the health of the game in Wales.
"From the impact of junior coaches influencing our children and young people and the referees, without whom there would be no matches, to the team managers and administrators, who are the unsung heroes of grassroots rugby, we value the undeniable contribution of each.
"It is vital we support and inspire these individuals to be the best they can be, so that they, in turn, can pass on their love of the game and provide a positive rugby experience to the next generation.”
WRU Regional Community Summits
Saturday 28 July Llandarcy Academy of Sport
Sunday 29 July Rodney Parade
Saturday 4 August Cardiff Met
Saturday 11 August Stadiwm Zipworld
Sunday 12 August Parc y Scarlets
Limited places for the Newport event are available from wrurugbysummit2018dragons.eventbrite.co.uk
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