A WRU National League Division 3 East B clash between Brynithel and Markham (kick-off 11am), is the first of three matches on Saturday at the region’s home venue – with all games also free to supporters to attend.
Next up is the Reg Buttress Shield semi-final where Usk take on Abersychan at 3pm, where a place in the final next week at Pontypool Utd RFC against West Mon awaits the winner. This is followed by a Principality Youth Leagues Play-off match between Bridgend Athletic and Pontypridd, which kicks-off at 7pm.
For the first time Dragons offered every club in the region the chance to play any outstanding fixtures they had at Rodney Parade, free of charge, to ease fixture congestion and potential backlogs after the season was extended by a week following bad weather earlier in the year.
Sunday’s schedule is even more varied with the famous ground playing host to a girls’ cluster rugby festival across the main pitch and training pitch in the morning, as well as a X7 Rugby tournament starting at 12 noon along with a community touch rugby 7s competition, including a WRU Select, the Dragons Homeless Team and SOHK Puffins Homeless Team.
X Rugby 7s or Cross-field Sevens is an innovative new form of the game. With Sevens played on the same size pitch as the full fifteen-a-side game, X7 Rugby gives more players regardless of fitness the chance to play the game on a smaller pitch. This new format is designed to bring players from youth rugby through to the club's senior ranks, as well as re-integrating players who have dropped out of playing rugby to give as many players as possible the chance to be involved in the game.
“This will be the first X7s club competition in Wales, after piloting the concept in universities and World Rugby are encouraging nations to trial the format,” said Adrian Evans, WRU Regional Rugby Manager for the Dragons region.
“The Dragons are actively engaging with their region at all levels, and this weekend’s festival of rugby with representatives from a whole host of clubs from across the region enjoying the chance to play at the home of the Dragons reflects that, it’s hugely exciting.”
Rugby followers are welcome to come down to Rodney Parade to support the fixtures with free admission across the weekend
Schedule
Saturday 19th May
Brynithel v Markham WRU National League 11am
Usk v Abersychan Reg Buttress Shield Semi-final 3pm
Bridgend Athletic v Pontypridd Principality Youth Leagues Play-off Final 7pm
Sunday 20th May
Girls rugby cluster festival 9am
X7 Rugby tournament from 12 noon
Touch Rugby 7s competition from 12 noon
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