We are pleased to collaborate with Aberavon Schoolboys and Wizards Netball Club to enhance the opportunities for children in the Port Talbot community.
Aberavon Rugby Football Club provides a sports initiative for primary school children in the Port Talbot area. The initiative is fully endorsed and supported by steel giants, Tata Steel. The league is branded ‘The Tata Steel Wizards League’.
There are fifteen primary schools involved and over 500 children directly benefit from the initiative.
Chris Davies, Head of Communications at Aberavon Rugby Club said.
“The benefits of the Tata Steel Wizards League to our community is truly great. We are able to promote and facilitate more opportunities to become physically active while also adding the element of competition”.
Additionally, the Tata Steel Wizards League promotes the opportunity to play more sport during curriculum time and likewise during extra-curricular time.
We have partnered with Aberavon Schoolboys Rugby and also Wizards Netball Club in help provide the opportunities to play rugby and netball outside of school.
Mike Dyer, Aberavon Schoolboys, said.
“It was great be in a position as an organisation to be able to help out because at the end of the day some of the children taking part in the league are involved with Aberavon Schools 11s this season and are also supporting future generations.
COVID19 put a stop on school sport so having the league back provides the schools in the area an opportunity to play against other schools and not having to worry about to financial costs of buses or kits.”
We asked Sharon Walters of Wizards Netball Club about why she wanted to be involved with the Tata Steel Wizards League.
“To get children active, to see all schools involved in league, these children will have memories and make friends for life, from sport.
Playing sport helps children build resilience and feel better about themselves.
Building a positive attitude to sport and physical exercise, can help them feel more motivated, confident and able to get active throughout life.”
Each school have been provided with rugby and netball kit to wear for the Tata Steel Wizards League. While the steel giants are the principle partner, Sharon’s Wizards Netball Club and Mikes Aberavon Schoolboys logo sit on the sleeve of the netball and rugby kit respectively.
Mike commented on the opportunities.
“Hopefully after children having a taste of the tata steel wizards league it will help see children join their local club outside school which will give them even more exposure to either rugby or netball.”
Sharon added what she has noticed already within the community.
“I have seen an increase in participation with a large intake of year 6’s starting to train and play games.
Hopefully overall you will see an increase in children playing sport, and encourage children to join clubs in the area, and give them a chance to play sport which some may not be able to do outside of a school environment.
The initiative involved three blocks of fixtures. The schools combine their overall results to determine what stage they participate in next. This promotes teamwork across the two sports and promotion around the school as a team as opposed to rugby and netball as a separate identity.
Mike spoke of the opportunities the initiative has created.
“… gives the children the opportunity and experience of representing their school.
The league has also been an opportunity for the Neath Port Talbot College students and some comprehensive schools in the area to be match officials who have previously been involved in past seasons, so, it’s great to see them have to opportunity to give back to the sport.”
Sharon added to this.
“Children are learning and understanding rules and gamesmanship, they are learning new skills, working within a team, supporting one another.
The schools should also see an increase in children wanting to play rugby or netball, which should increase numbers in after school club and make the children healthy by keeping active.”
The next stages of the Tata Steel Wizards League will be on January 25th 2024.
