Press Releases

Do you have a great rugby story you’d like to share?

Libraries, archives and museums have joined forces with the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) to hold a competition for young people to celebrate rugby in Wales as part of the forthcoming Rugby World Cup celebrations.

 

Launching the competition at the Millennium Stadium, alongside WRU chief executive Roger Lewis and chairman Gareth Davies, Deputy Minister for Culture, Sport and Tourism, Ken Skates commented:

“I’m excited to be launching this fantastic competition which brings together all the elements of my portfolio – culture, sport and tourism!  By encouraging young people to record their experiences of rugby in Wales, whether they are playing, watching or hearing their friends and families talk about it – we are aiming to create a collection of stories that showcase rugby in Wales from the grass roots level right up to national team performances.

“This competition gives young people an opportunity to develop their literacy and digital skills in an engaging and fun way. Story telling is a great way for children to let their imagination grow and learn more about themselves and the world around them and I look forward to seeing the entries.”

WRU Chairman Gareth Davies said:

“I’m very much looking forward to reading the entries for this exciting competition. We know that rugby plays a special role in the national psyche in Wales and this competition will hopefully both tap into its popularity amongst the school children and help us reach out to those who are yet to get the bug.”

The competition comprises three categories and the overall theme is rugby in Wales:

  • ·        Poetry for 7-9 year olds

The poems must be no longer than 250 words

  • ·        Short Story for 10-12 year olds

Short stories must be no longer than 500 words

  • ·        Digital Storytelling for 13-16 year olds

Films must be no longer than 3 minutes and may include photographs, video, animation, sound, music, text, and narrative voice.

 

The entries will be judged by a specially selected panel of judges comprising rugby personalities, authors, librarians and media experts and finalists will be announced early in September.

 

The competition finalists will have their stories displayed at a new Kick-offs and Keep-sakes exhibition in the National Museum Cardiff from 8th September and they will also be invited to attend the launch of the exhibition on 16th September 2015 to pick up their prizes.

Janice Lane, Director of Learning, Exhibitions and Digital Media at Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales said:

“This is a great way for young people to share their passion for the game. Rugby and literature are both important parts of Welsh tradition and culture.

“We are delighted to be hosting this exhibition which will combine the two ahead of such a prestigious competition.”

The exhibition will feature a range of fascinating artefacts, memorabilia and historically significant items which relate to the Rugby World Cup from the WRU’s archives including a hand-carved whale’s tooth from Tonga and a unique totem pole from Canada.

The WRU will host eight Rugby World Cup matches - including two Wales games - at the Millennium Stadium and the exhibition opens just four days before the first match in Cardiff (Wales versus Uruguay on 20th September).

WRU Chief Executive Roger Lewis adds:

“This exhibition promises to be a fascinating insight into not just Welsh involvement in World Cups over the years, but also the unique history of the tournament in general.”

Libraries, museums and archives across Wales will be putting on activities to help young people generate ideas for their stories or poems, develop skills to help with creating digital stories and showcasing their rugby and sporting heritage collections. Year 3 children from Adamsdown Primary School attended the launch today ahead of their visit to Cardiff Story Museum where they will be exploring the history of rugby in the city and the Rugby World Cup. 

The competition is open until 20th July 2015 and for more information including full terms and conditions please visit: www.rugbystories.wales and join in the conversation on #rugbystories

Editors Notes

For further information, please contact:

Nicola Williams / nicola.williams@wrexham.gov.uk / 01978 722988

Jane Purdie / jane.purdie@wrexham.gov.uk / 01978 722987

 

  • ·      A Heritage Programme for the Rugby World Cup 2015 and beyond is being planned and organised by CyMAL, Welsh Rugby Union, Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales, People’s Collection Wales and the All-Wales Audience Development Team.
  • ·      A temporary bilingual exhibition is to be held in the main hall of National Museum Cardiff starting September 2015 to coincide with the Rugby World Cup. It will feature collections from the Welsh Rugby Union and private collectors, and will focus on previous World Cups and Welsh participation. There will be a focus on engaging young people and families through engaging, interesting collections, memorabilia, stories and images.
  • ·      A bilingual digital exhibition to accompany the physical exhibition will also be created led by The People’s Collection Wales (PCW). They will be working with Newport Rugby Club to create a microsite on the PCW, and digitising items and providing training where required.
  • ·      The all-Wales Audience Development Team are organising a national bilingual competition for young people, based on the theme of rugby and linked to a piece of creative writing or digital storytelling.

Wrexham County Borough Council has been selected by CyMAL: Museums Archives and Libraries Wales, Welsh Government to receive a grant to deliver the Audience Development strand for 2015-2016.

 

CyMAL: Museums Archives and Libraries Wales is a policy division of the Welsh Government, based in Aberystwyth and is responsible for developing policy for local museums, archives and libraries in Wales and advising the Deputy Minister for Culture, Sport and Tourism.

Entry to the Museum is free, thanks to the support of the Welsh Government.  Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales operates seven museums across Wales National Museum Cardiff, St Fagans National History Museum, National Roman Legion Museum, Caerleon, Big Pit National Coal Museum, Blaenafon, National Wool Museum, Drefach Felindre, National Slate Museum, Llanberis and the National Waterfront Museum, Swansea.