A pioneering partnership that aims to transform rugby from the grassroots to the professional game has reached another major milestone with the first meeting of the Swansea Rugby Community Board.
The board has been established to oversee the community programme at the heart of Swansea Council’s landmark partnership with the Ospreys, ensuring the redevelopment of St Helen’s delivers lasting benefits for clubs, schools and communities across the region.
It brings together representatives from Swansea Council, the Ospreys and community partners to help shape the future of rugby in Swansea.
Members include former Ospreys, Wales and British Lions captain Alun Wyn Jones, former Ospreys and Wales player and Community Director of Rugby Andy Moore, Swansea Bay Muslim Consortium representative Mahaboob Basha, Jamie Rewbridge of Activate West Wales, and former Wales international and entrepreneur Alecs Donovan.
Further members are being added to ensure the board reflects the breadth of Swansea’s communities and rugby network.
Its role is to provide leadership for initiatives that strengthen links between grassroots and professional rugby, increase participation, improve access to high-quality facilities and support the development of players, coaches and volunteers.
The board will also help maximise the community benefits of the council investment at St Helen’s, creating opportunities to access the new 3G pitch and upgraded facilities throughout the year, alongside an expanded programme of coaching, education and community engagement.
Cllr Rob Stewart, Leader of Swansea Council, said: “The first meeting of the Swansea Rugby Community Board is another important milestone in delivering our vision for rugby in Swansea.
“The investment in redeveloping St Helen’s is much more than building a new stadium – it’s about delivering on our ambition to create a true hub for the community.
“This will help create opportunities for more people to enjoy rugby, strengthen our local clubs and build a clear pathway from school and community rugby through to the professional game.
“There is a shared ambition to make this a genuine community partnership.
“By bringing together expertise from rugby and the wider community, we can ensure this investment delivers lasting benefits for future generations.
“We believe this collaborative approach is unlike anything else in UK rugby and can become a blueprint for strengthening the game at every level.”
Alun Wyn Jones, who attended the first board meeting, said: “It’s encouraging to see a board which brings together people who care deeply about the future of rugby in Swansea.
“I’ve experienced first-hand the opportunities that community rugby can create, and I know that strong clubs, dedicated volunteers and inspiring coaches are the foundations of our game.
“The role of the board is to make sure the investment in St Helen’s creates opportunities for everyone – whether that’s a child picking up a rugby ball for the first time, a coach looking to develop their skills, or a local club accessing first-class facilities.
“By working together, we can reconnect the grassroots and professional game, inspire more young people to get involved and ensure St Helen’s becomes a place that serves the whole community as well as elite rugby.”
The Swansea Rugby Community Board will meet quarterly and oversee an annual programme focused on increasing participation, strengthening coaching and volunteering, supporting schools and clubs, promoting inclusion, improving health and wellbeing, and creating a clear player pathway from grassroots rugby through to the Ospreys.
