AMs to face WRU team with 148 caps in charity rugby match
Normally used to testing their mettle in the debating chamber of the Senedd, Assembly Members face a rather more physical challenge as they take on a team of former Welsh Rugby internationals on Thursday 22nd May at Glamorgan Wanders’ Memorial Ground. (Kick off 7.15pm)
AMs Andrew Davies, Alun Cairns and Alun Davies will face the combined experience of 148 caps in the charity match organised to raise money for the Welsh Rugby Charitable Fund and Bowel Cancer UK. Captained by Nigel Davies, the WRU President’s XV will feature David Pickering and see David Bishop and Mark Ring revive their winning half-back partnership. The Senedd based team will also have to counter the speed of Olympic sprint hurdler-turned-international wing Nigel Walker. The Presiding Officer’s XV however has its own secret weapon in the form of Arthur Emyr the 13 times capped winger who is now employed as ‘Director Wales for the 2012 Games’ by the Welsh Assembly Government
Though not expecting any easy treatment from the formidable side, club captain Alun Cairns AM says: “We’re definitely up to the challenge. We set up this team of Assembly Members and staff two years ago, and though we’re more used to facing slightly less experienced sides we’ve got an unbeaten record, so we’re not about to let that go without a fight. Our line-up has enough strength and depth, so we’re expecting to cause a bit of an upset.”
Bowel Cancer UK has been selected as the chosen charity for the National Assembly Rugby team as its founder, former AM Glyn Davies, has recovered from the disease. Match programmes, which also serve as match tickets and raffle tickets will be available at the gate for £5. All proceeds will be split equally between the two charities.
Presiding Officer’s XV:
15. Craig Gillespie,14. Owen Hathaway ,13. Simon Rees ,12. Alun Davies AM,11. Arthur Emyr ,10. Darren Price ,9. Huw Bowen ,1. Lloyd Bowen ,2. Tom Davies ,3. Alex Price ,4. Gavin Burns,5. Andrew RT Davies AM ,6. Alun Cairns AM,7. Toby Mason ,8 Joel Steed (capt),
Replacements: ,Mat Mathias, Ioan Bellin, Paul Pavia, Sean Lloyd, Arwel Hughes, Aaron Francis, Nathan Huish, Dan Collier, Simon Wall, Bleddyn Preece, Mike Jones, Tim Lloyd
WRU President’s XV:
15 John Williams,14.Nigel Walker,13. Roger Bidgood,12. Nigel Davies (capt),11. Glenn Webbe ,10 Mark Ring,9. David Bishop / Mark Douglas,1. Anthony Buchanan,2. Peter Rogers / James Chapron,3. Martyn Maddon ,4. Glyn Llewelyn ,5. Alex Luff,6. Mark Bennett,7. David Pickering ,8. Rob Appleyard
Replacements: TBC