Gareth Thomas, well-known retired rugby union and league star (and Dancing on Ice contestant!), was at the Ramada Hotel in Wrexham today promoting the Rugby League World Cup 2013. Two of the games of the Rugby League World Cup will be played at Wrexham’s own Glyndwr University Racecourse Stadium.
I was there to find out what opportunities there are for local businesses to get involved with the event – and to add to my celebrity photo collection, of course!
The Rugby League World Cup 2013 opens at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff with England v Australia in Group A on Saturday 26 October 2013. Wales, in Group D, will play USA on Sunday 3 November at the Wrexham Glyndwr University Racecourse stadium. The winner of Group A and Group D will play again at the Racecourse on Saturday 16 November – so this game has the potential to be a Wales v England game!
Forty million TV viewers and half a million fans are expected to be watching over the course of the Rugby League World Cup tournament.
Gareth Thomas is an Ambassador for the Rugby League World Cup 2013 and represented Wales in both rugby union and rugby league. He is the third most capped Welsh rugby union player, with 100 test match appearances for Wales. He’s very passionate about his sport and country and at today’s event was referred to as being ‘an adopted son of Wrexham’!
When asked what Wrexham’s legacy of hosting this prestigious event should be, Gareth answered:
“A great sporting event transcends a sport. People all over the world are watching. If people can help to make the event enjoyable and get their bums on seats, Wrexham’s legacy to the world will be that it’s a sporting and supportive town.”
Local businesses can get involved through the ‘Day to Remember’ scheme.
Simply support the game/s hosted in Wrexham with £500 or more and the money you donate will be converted to tickets to allow local people to attend the game. These local people will be nominated by the Hosts as groups who would not normally be able to attend, such as a nominated charity, local school, community organisation or families from deprived areas.
Local businesses can also sell tickets from their business premises and are being asked to contribute by promoting the event or suggesting any way that they can get involved.
So, who’s for working together to make the time leading up to the event, and the tournament itself, a memorable, historic and enjoyable occasion for our town and show off Wrexham to the world?!
> Download 'A Day to Remember' PDF
> For more info please email info@rlwc2013.com
> Find out more about rugby in Wrexham with North Wales Crusaders
