Hundreds of community club jerseys will be on display at the Principality Stadium for the Triple Crown showdown when Wales play England today, Saturday 27 February.
Welsh fans won’t be there in person but they will be there in spirit, with their club colours on show, including the Bangor University Men’s Rugby Union Shirt.
The WRU appealed to all the community clubs to send in jerseys to put on show at the empty stadium and they have been blown away by the response.
There are set to be some 250 clubs represented in the colourful show of support, along with mixed ability teams, the female hubs programme and universities, including Bangor.
WRU community director Geraint John has been explaining the thinking behind the idea.
“It’s something we have been talking about for a while – how do we get the community clubs involved in the match,” he said.
“The England game is one that everyone wants to see.
“We sent a message to the clubs saying we know you can’t be there on Saturday and that you’d desperately would want to be there to support the players.
“So we asked them if they would be willing to send us a jersey to put on show.
“The clubs have just been fantastic.
“At the moment, we’ve got 230 jerseys there and we’ve got some more coming in again.
“We reckon we will be up to at least 250 by the time the match kicks off.
“It’s a case of trying to promote the community game and to say we haven’t forgotten you.
“We feel we need to recognise them a bit more and keep the enthusiasm out there because we don’t know how many people are going to come back and play after the pandemic.
“It’s also about having the 16th player and bringing the support into the ground.
“I have told Wayne what we are doing and he was going to let the players know that’s it’s a big message of best wishes to the whole team from the community clubs and that they are all here with you in support.
“Hopefully it helps. Wayne was really grateful and said he would use it as a message to the players before they go out on the field.”
There will also be a jersey to represent each of the starting XV, based on the community clubs they identify with from their junior rugby days.
“It looks really good,” said John.
The jerseys will be displayed on seats in the middle tier behind the posts at one end of the ground.
George North
George North has made a touching tribute to his first club Llangefni as he prepares to win his 100th Wales cap against England. North took time at today’s captain’s run for a photograph with a Llangefni shirt which will be displayed at Principality Stadium along with more than 250 other shirts representing the community game in Wales.
It has been a difficult week for the club an the wider community after 34-year-old player Huw Gethin Jones tragically died after COVID-19 complications.
North, who was brought up on Anglesey said, “It is fantastic to see all the club jerseys taking pride of place in the Principality Stadium. We all have a special bond with our clubs and I’m proud to see Llangefni up in the stand. It is even more poignant this week with the tragic news of Huw’s loss. It is a great shock to everyone and our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends.”
Wales starting XV in community jerseys:
- Liam Williams – Waunarlwydd
- Louis Rees-Zammit – Rumney
- George North – Llangefni
- Jonathan Davies – Whitland
- Josh Adams – Hendy
- Dan Biggar – Gorseinon
- Kieran Hardy – Pontyberem
- Wyn Jones – Llandovery
- Ken Owens – Carmarthen Athletic
- Tomas Francis – Ospreys
- Adam Beard – Birchgrove
- Alun Wyn Jones – Bonymaen
- Josh Navidi – Bridgend Athletic
- Justin Tipuric – Trebanos
- Taulupe Faletau – Cross Keys
