Community director Geraint John is pleased with the numbers, which have been more reliable and accurate over the last three seasons due to the introduction of digital registration, but he says the Welsh Rugby Union is always striving for more.
“We have hugely positive participation figures for the current season,” said John.
“We are buoyed by these figures, but this is not a case of job done. We work extremely hard in this area and have a wide range of initiatives and structures in place to address and improve participation at all levels, but also invest in the people and places that nurture players as they come through the system.”
The total number of registered players in the community game has gone through the 50,000 mark for the first time since digital records began (Playing Total: 51,299), this number shows a significant increase on 2020/21 levels but also sees a rise from the pre-pandemic 2019/20 season which posted a total playing number of 48,681.
Female players total 5,686 with the male community game providing 45,613 players. The WRU has also recorded registrations for coaches, referees, first aiders and team managers in their thousands with numbers, again, on the increase in all categories over the last three season.
Numbers are also up in a range of different categories:
Male Game Players
• More males U7–Senior registered than any other year, 45,613
• More U17-U18 Youth male players registered than any other year, 3,350
• More U7-U11 male mini players registered this year, 15,386
• More U12- U16 male junior players registered this year, 13,639
Female Game Players
• More females U7 – Senior registered than any other year, 5,686
• More U7 – U11 female mini players registered this year, 2,456
• More U12 – U16 female junior players registered this year, 1,499
• More senior female players registered this year, 1,514
First Aiders and Team Managers did not start registering until last season but these numbers are also up:
Volunteers
• More coaches registered this year, 6,457
• More referees registered this year, 1,543 (mainly in junior game)
• More first aiders registered this year, 2,188
• More team managers registered this year, 2,237
14.04.22 – WRU community director Geraint John (left), CEO Steve Phillips and head of performance Nigel Walker discuss measures to maintain and improve participation in Welsh rugby at a recent media conference
The Road To Principality, supported by official partners Papa John’s, continues at Principality Stadium next weekend – after kicking off on 2nd April with a WRU Female Hub Festival which saw more than 1,300 girls from across Wales participate on the day of Wales Women’s first Tik Tok Six Nations home game against Scotland at the adjacent Cardiff Arms Park.
Over 2,500 players will have the experience of their lives, as they get to compete under the bright lights of the home of Welsh rugby.
More than 60 schools, colleges, clubs and diverse teams from across Wales will participate in the 10-day long festival, which celebrates all that rugby has to offer.
Saturday 23rd and Sunday 24th April will be jam packed with action on the pitch.
Saturday is the National Youth U18s Finals where teams play for the Bowl, Plate and Cup Finals.
Sunday is National Club Finals Day, which will see teams compete for the Admiral Championship Plate, the WRU Cup Finals and the coveted Indigo Premiership Cup Final, which will be broadcast live on S4C.
Next up in the festival schedule is the male and female Schools Finals. Over 30 schools from across Wales will come together and go head-to-head in 11 finals over three days, competing at Junior (U11s), Intermediate (U14s-U16s) and Senior (U18s) levels.
02.04.22 – Wales Women v Scotland Women – TikTok Women’s Six Nations –
Girls Festival at Principality Stadium.
The Schools competition has previously seen the likes of future international stars such as Louis Rees-Zammit and Callum Sheedy take part as they represented their Schools District at U15s, competing for the Dewar Shield. Girls National Finals U14s will also take place on Monday 25th April and U16s on Wednesday 27th April.
One of the highlights of this year’s competition falls on Friday 29th April as the day is dedicated to a Mixed Ability Rugby match with an Inclusion Festival running from 10:30am to 5pm and Mixed Ability Festival from 5:45pm.
Road To Principality – full programme of male & female schools, club, representative and inclusion events covering all strands of our Community Strategy via 10 days showcasing & celebrating Community Rugby in Wales from young people to adults.
We will also for this year’s event be introducing live streaming to support the scope for wider viewership opportunities.
The festival culminates with two fantastic days of competition as teams battle it out for the WRU National Bowl, Shield and Plate Finals on Saturday 30th, April and Sunday 1st May sees senior women’s sides come together in the Women’s National Finals Day competition.
Principality Stadium will be open to the general public, three days out of the 10-day event will be ticketed, the remaining days the WRU encourages supporters and young rugby fans to come and soak up the fantastic atmosphere during the Road To Principality, free of charge.
Ticketed events:
Sunday 24th April – National Club Finals Day
Saturday 30th April – WRU National Bowl, Shield, Plate Finals
Sunday 1st May – Senior Women’s National Finals Day
Priced at £10 per Adult ticket and £5 for Under 17’s. Tickets are expected to go on sale early April and will be available online at wru.wales/tickets or available to purchase on the day from the WRU Ticket Office on Westgate Street.
02.04.22 – Wales Women v Scotland Women – TikTok Women’s Six Nations –
Girls Festival at Principality Stadium.
ROAD TO PRINCIPALITY FULL SCHEDULE
Saturday 2nd of April
WRU Female Hub festival -Pre Wales vs Scotland activation – 12pm-3pm
Sat 23rd April – National Youth Finals
National Youth Bowl Final – 11:00 k/o
National Youth Plate Final – 13:15 k/o
National Youth Cup Final – 15:30 k/o
Sunday 24th April – National Club Finals Day
WRU Championship Plate Final – 13:00 k/o
WRU Championship Cup Final – 15:15 k/o
WRU Premiership Cup Final – 17:35 k/o
Monday 25th April – Junior & Intermediate Group Schools Finals
WSRU Junior Group 10’a side Final – 11:30 k/o
WSRU Intermediate Group Year 8 Final -13:00 k/o
WSRU Intermediate Group Year 9 Final – 14:15 k/o
Girls National Final – U14s (12 a side) 16:00 k/o
Tues 26th April – Senior Schools U18s
WSRU Senior Group – U18s Plate Final – 11-30 k/o
WSRU Senior Group – U18s Vase Final – 13:35 k/o
WSRU Senior Group – U18s Female Cup Final (12 a side) – 15:30 k/o
WSRU Senior Group – U18’s Male Cup Final -17:10 k/o
Weds 27th April – Junior Schools Group & Intermediate Group
WSRU Junior Group – U11s Plate Final – 10-00 k/o
WSRU Junior Group – U11s Bowl Final – 11:10 k/o
WSRU Junior Group – U11’s DC Thomas Final – 12-50 k/o
WSRU Intermediate Group – Lawrence Miller Bowl – 14:15 k/o
WSRU Intermediate Group – Morgan Griffiths Plate – 15:30 k/o
Girls National – U16 Final (12 a side) – 17:35 k/o
WSRU Intermediate Group – Dewar Shield Final – 18:40 k/o
Thurs 28th April
Rest Day
Fri 29th April – Inclusion
Inclusion Festival – 10.30 – 16:30
Mixed Abilities Match – 18:30 k/o
Sat 30th April – WRU National Bowl. Shield, Plate Finals
WRU National Bowl Final – 13:00 k/o
WRU National Shield Final – 15:15 k/o
WRU National Plate Final – 17:30 k/o
Sun 1st May – Senior Women’s National Finals Day
North Wales Cup 13:00 k/o
South Wales Plate Final 15:15 k/o
South Wales Cup – 17:35 k/o
Mon 2nd May – Girls National Finals Day
Girls U18’s Plate Final – 11:00 k/o
Girls U18’s National Cup Final – 13:10 k/o
Girls U15s National Plate Final –14:45 k/o
Girls U15s National Cup Final – 16:40 k/o
