Gavin Henson and former Wales stars to play on same side against Welsh club team
Gavin Henson and former Wales stars to play on same side against Welsh club team
The event on June 21 aims to be a celebration of rugby
Former Wales and British Lions player Gavin Henson playing for his local team Pencoed RFC last year
(Image: Mark Lewis Photography )
A number of Welsh legends are set to pull on their boots once again - and it won't cost fans a penny to come and watch.
Usk RFC are inviting a number of stars from years gone by to compete in two touch rugby matches this Saturday, as they celebrate the end of their 150th season.
The club, who currently compete in League 2 East, are believed to have played their first match against Newport in 1874, and have played every season since with the exception of the period during the two World Wars.
They are now set to honour and celebrate a century-and-half of history this weekend, with a host of big names set to get involved.
Gavin Henson, Sam Parry, Lloyd Williams, Elliot Dee, Aaron Wainwright, Ryan Jones, Scott Baldwin and Bradley Davies are all among those set to take part in the club's 'Legends Day' celebrations.
The 'Legends' team will take on the club's under-14s side for a 2pm kick-off, before facing Usk's first team straight after.
Article continues below
Gates will open at midday, and entry is free.
Food stalls, including a hog roast, and various activities will be on offer, with any proceeds set to contribute to the club's support for two Tongan teenagers, whom they decided to sponsor last year.
As committee member Ro Kulkarni explains: "One was 17 and one was 18, and both came here last year from very poor families. They've both come over and they're studying here and they're now getting an education.
"They're Nico and David, who's known as Tongan Dai!
"Everyone's pooled together to help these boys. They're like our children. And the best thing is they're both wonderful rugby players.
"Their education costs around £9,000 a year. They have college fees and then you've got to pay for food, accommodation, travel. All the other things. So it's a serious amount of money to raise every year. But so many people have given their support.
"There's a butcher in Abergavenny that gives them a bucket of meat every two weeks, some have donated them food and clothes, the Celtic Manor have helped give them a flat for them to stay. Another family put them up for a few weeks.
"We've had great support from Toby Faletau's dad, Sione Tu'ipulotu, and Kepu Tuipulotu, who plays for Bath. So the Tongan community have been so supportive.
"So to celebrate our 150th year we thought we'd do something really nice. Partly to raise money, but it's not just to raise money. It's about giving back."
Kulkarni, who worked as team doctor for the Dragons for the best part of 10 years before leaving in 2017, says the event will also be a chance for youngsters to meet and greet some of the game's biggest names.
"It's open for all," he added. "It's for kids and there will be lots of food stalls, face painting etc. The fire service are bringing a fire engine for the kids. So there's a lot going on.
"The event has also been sponsored by Heineken, who have donated five barrels of beer for the event.
Article continues below
"It's a day for everyone to mingle. Kids can meet their heroes and have pictures taken, sign autographs.
"It's a celebration of rugby."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Telegraph
3 hours ago
- Telegraph
Live Lions v Argentina: Score and latest updates from tour match in Dublin
6:21PM Tonight's line-ups Maro Itoje, Lions captain, lines up in the second row alongside Tadhg Beirne, while there are four openside flankers in the squad - with the man of the moment, Henry Pollock, on the bench - and both Bundee Aki and Sione Tuipulotu named in the centres. There are nine Englishmen in the starting XV British & Irish Lions starting XV: M Smith; T Freeman, S Tuipulotu, B Aki, D van der Merwe; F Smith, A Mitchell; E Genge, L Cowan-Dickie, F Bealham, M Itoje (capt), T Beirne, T Curry, J Morgan, B Earl. Replacements: R Kelleher, P Schoeman, T Furlong, S Cummings, H Pollock, T Williams, E Daly, M Hansen. Julian Montoya will lead Argentina against the Lions just six days after starting Leicester's Premiership final defeat to Bath. Saracens flanker Juan Martin Gonzalez and Gloucester's Bath-bound full-back Santiago Carreras are among a strong Premiership contingent which includes Rodrigo Isgro, Lucio Cinti, Mayco Vivas, Franco Molina, Pedro Rubiolo as well as Montoya.
South Wales Argus
4 hours ago
- South Wales Argus
Tesco apologises for Lionesses display in Cardiff store
The UEFA Women's Euros kicks off on July 2 in Switzerland, with both Wales and England qualifying for the tournament. They have even been drawn in the same group (Group D) and will face off against each other on Sunday, July 13. So when a large Lucozade archway appeared in a Tesco store in Cardiff with the England Lionesses all over it, Welsh fans weren't happy. Hi @asda, do you care to explain why you are strongly pushing for support of the Lionesses in your Cardiff stores? Not only have @FAW_Womens qualified for the tournament, they are in England's group and direct rivals! This is deeply offensive, read the room.@FAWales — Rich 🏴🇪🇺 (@BluebirdRichie) June 19, 2025 Tesco's England display labelled "offensive" and "disgraceful" by Welsh fans Tesco has received considerable backlash from the Welsh public following the erection of the display, which gives people the chance to win a meet and greet with the Lionesses. The display has been labelled as "offensive" and "disgraceful" on social media. One Welsh fan, posting on X (formerly Twitter), said: "Do you care to explain why you are strongly pushing for support of the Lionesses in your Cardiff stores? "Not only have @FAW_Womens qualified for the tournament, they are in England's group and direct rivals! "This is deeply offensive, read the room." Wales and England have both been drawn in Group D for the upcoming UEFA Women's Euros. (Image: Nick Potts/PA Wire) Another added: "@Tesco Must be lovely for our Welsh women footballers, walking in Tesco and seeing the England women's team. Disgraceful." While a third person commented: "This is so, so bad. In the capital city of Wales, and they're promoting England at the Euros. "As mentioned in the tweet, they're in the same group as us and our direct rivals. Honking." Even FAW Chief Executive, Noel Mooney, had something to say about the display. Also posting on X, he said: "We are @Cymru .. why is this in our capital??" RECOMMENDED READING: Tesco apologises for Lionesses display Tesco has now come out and apologised for the Lionesses display in its Cardiff stores. A spokesperson said: "We're sorry this happened. "We wish both the Welsh and English teams good luck in the upcoming Euros and know many of our colleagues and customers will be supporting their home nations in the tournament.'
Scottish Sun
4 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Gareth Bale makes takeover approach to buy former Premier League club from unpopular owner following Plymouth links
The move comes weeks after a former Spurs and Real Madrid team-mate invested in another club Bale out Gareth Bale makes takeover approach to buy former Premier League club from unpopular owner following Plymouth links GARETH BALE wants to buy hometown club Cardiff. The Wales legend is leading a consortium to take over the League One side. Advertisement 3 Cardiff is the subject of takeover interest from local lad Gareth Bale Credit: Getty 3 It follows Bale having links with Plymouth Credit: Shutterstock Editorial Bale's group sent a letter of intent to Bluebirds owner Vincent Tan last month, which was rejected. But it is believed the desire to acquire the club, relegated from the Championship, remains strong. The 35-year-old was born in Cardiff and his uncle Chris Pike played for the Welsh club as a striker between 1989 and 1993. Bale, who had a glittering career for Southampton, Tottenham, Real Madrid and LAFC as well as for the Dragons, had been linked with a takeover at Plymouth. Advertisement READ MORE IN FOOTBALL LOOK REAL CLOSE Strange feature seen on Real Madrid kit as Adidas make unintended addition He led his country to their first World Cup since 1958 as well as appearing at two Euros finals, including the incredible run to the 2016 semi-finals. Bale is also Wales' most-capped player on 111 caps and record goalscorer after netting 41 times. He did not play for Cardiff but the ex-forward did have talks with the club in 2022 after he left Real. Instead, Bale went to LAFC before he officially retired in January 2023. Advertisement BEST ONLINE CASINOS - TOP SITES IN THE UK Bale's potential investment in Cardiff comes just weeks after ex-Spurs and Real team-mate Luka Modric became a co-owner of south Wales rivals Swansea. Cardiff appointed Brian Barry-Murphy this week ahead of their first campaign in the third tier since 2003. Watch hilarious moment Gareth Bale's golf ball stolen by a DOG as baffled Real Madrid legend watches on After Omer Riza was sacked in April, Wales star Aaron Ramsey was interim boss for three games. Advertisement But Bale's close pal is set for a move to continue his playing career in Mexico. 3 TRANSFER NEWS LIVE - KEEP UP WITH ALL THE LATEST FROM A BUSY SUMMER WINDOW
