SPRINGBOKS MEET SOUTH WALES SCHOOL CHILDREN AHEAD OF MATCH

• Students from Newport join players on eve of Wales v S.Africa match
• ‘We are delighted to welcome the kids, all the players are impressed by the work Laureus does’ – says Springboks captain Jean de Villiers
• Pictures from Millenium Stadium at www.laureusarchive.com

CARDIFF, November 28, 2014 – Students from a South Wales secondary school have enjoyed an unforgettable visit to the Millenium Stadium in Cardiff, courtesy of the Springboks rugby team and the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation.

Just 24 hours before the final match of South Africa’s Northern Hemisphere tour against Wales, the youngsters from Duffryn High School in Newport were shown around the stadium and had the chance to meet and talk with some of the Springboks players.

Springboks captain Jean de Villiers said: “I am sure I speak on behalf of all the players when I say how impressed we are by the work of Laureus, which is why we are delighted to welcome the kids from Newport here today. We all know what a great sport rugby is. It’s all about working together as a team and helping to increase young people’s self-esteem and their chance to improve their lives. That’s what Laureus does and why we are supporting their work across the world.”

Over the last year the Springboks have been taking part in visits to sports-based community projects, supported by the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation, in different locations around the world which coincide with matches they are playing.

The young people from Duffryn High School who met the Springboks were having an early taste of the Urban Academy, a concept founded by Laureus partner Active Communities Network, based on the successful UK-wide Urban Stars programme, which offers sports such as football, boxing, weightlifting, basketball and dance, as well as mentoring and group work opportunities to enhance personal development and leadership training. Urban Academy has trained many young leaders over the past three years and will be expanding into Wales in 2015.

The mission of the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation is to use sport as the means to combat some of the world’s toughest social challenges facing young people today such as juvenile crime, gangs, HIV/AIDS, discrimination, social exclusion, lack of education, landmines awareness and health problems such as obesity. Since its inception Laureus has raised over €60 million to improve the lives of millions of young people and currently supports more than 150 community sports projects in 34 countries.

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