ASDA and Welsh Rugby Union’s Community Partnership hits South Wales in Support of Tickled Pink Breast Cancer Charity.

The Welsh Rugby Union and its Community Rugby Partner ASDA, kicked off a new community initiative involving rugby clubs throughout Wales last night (4th October) with nine Welsh stars visit Asda stores across Wales.

Wales 2005 Grand Slam stars Robert Sidoli, Michael Owen and Brent Cockbain were joined by international colleagues Nicky Robinson, Alix Popham, Alun Wyn Jones, Ian Evans, Ian Gough and Dafydd Jones at various ASDA stores throughout South Wales.

The rugby heroes were joined by players from community clubs visiting their local stores. They signed signing autographs and helped shoppers with bag packing, They also took the time to sign shirts which will be raffled off in Asda stores over the coming weeks in aid of ASDA’s Breast Cancer Charity, Tickled Pick, which is celebrating its 10th anniversary. ASDA hope to raise £10 000 as a result of the players’ visits.

ASDA launched the Tickled Pink campaign in 1996 to help raise awareness of breast cancer and the much needed funds. In the past 9 years, ASDA’s Tickled Pink has raised £11.4 million, (£3.6 million from 2005 alone) and this year hopes to achieve £5 million.

ASDA, as community partners of the WRU, in the longer-term are committed to working with local clubs and have initiated projects that will benefit those clubs such as providing first team shirts and rugby balls as well as supplying store produce which will cater for their every hunger and thirst during their matches throughout the season.

“This new ASDA initiative fits in nicely with the WRU’s strategic aim being delivered by regional community managers and development officers throughout Wales,” said WRU chief executive Steve Lewis.

“We are recognising community rugby in many ways, for example in setting up a Welsh Clubs XV to represent the ASDA league clubs on a national level and in increasing funding in this area, and the regional stores throughout Wales are an ideal platform for our community programme.

“ASDA’s role in bringing local communities and local rugby clubs together will be a vital one to the future of our game at this level and beyond.”

An ASDA spokesperson said:

“ASDA is proud to be working closely with the Welsh Rugby Union through its community partnership, and it is fitting that the Welsh International Players and local clubs are supporting our charity Tickled Pink.

“In the longer term this exciting community partnership will allow rugby clubs across Wales to work closely with their local ASDA stores in a number of different ways and continue its community-driven programme.

“ASDA stores have the capacity to invest directly in clubs, whether it be in simply supplying produce for match days at preferable rates, sponsoring shirts and balls, or getting involved in charitable community events at the clubs. ”