Cardiff Blues

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Summary
Team Info
Programme
Accommodation
Tourist Info

Live the life of a top flight rugby player at Cardiff Blues.

Train and play on the same state of the art facilities as the Cardiff Blues first team and benefit from the knowledge of the professional club coaches who will lead the physical training sessions.

Competitive fixture(s) will allow you to put your new found skills to good use.

A Q&A session with senior players and coaching staff, tickets to a live match and the opportunity to watch the First and Academy teams train (subject to schedules) will complete your rugby tour.

The Cardiff Blues are traditionally a powerhouse of Welsh Rugby. They were the first club to recognise themselves as a new regional entity. Covering the largest area in Wales in terms of population and history. Many of the world’s greatest players come from this Welsh region.

In the first years following the restructuring of Welsh rugby, under the leadership of coach Dai Young, Cardiff Blues performed disappointingly. In 2005, funds were finally made available to sign some new players. In October that year, it was announced that the Rugby legend, Jonah Lomu would join the club as part of his rehabilitation plan in time for the 2007 World Cup. Lomu's Cardiff Blues period was unsuccessful as was the team's performances for the next two seasons. Further signings such as the New Zealander Ben Blair and Chris Czejak in 2007 however bolstered the team and helped make an impact on Cardiff's results. By 2008 the Blues had improved their fortunes and have started to impose themselves home and abroad. In 2009 they finished their best season to date losing to Gloucester in the final of the Anglo-Welsh Cup, and losing to Leicester on penalties in the semi-finals of the Heineken Cup.

Full Name: Cardiff Blues
Founded: 2003
Coach: Dai Young
Stadium: Cardiff City Stadium
Stadium Capacity: 27,000
League: Magners League
Shirt Sponsor: EADS
Sports brand sponsor: Canterbury
Website: http://www.cardiffblues.com/

We work in partnership with our partner clubs, tournament organisers and multi-sport venues to offer a range of quality accommodation options sutable for groups of young sports people. Our accommodation is renowned for being in great locations, either in close proximity to the training grounds or at a resort style complex with many sport or leisure options for the group.

We believe our chosen accommodation options are of a significantly higher standard than the industry norm, and unless specifically requested your group will be placed in high quality 3 or 4* accommodation.

4* The Urdd Millennium Centre
The Urdd City Sleepover is a 4* hostel and conference facility run by Urdd Gobaith Cymru – Wales’ largest youth organisation. Located in the fantastic Wales Millennium Centre in Cardiff Bay, it has over 150 beds and hall, theatre and meeting room facilities as well. Located just outside the city centre in the newly developed Cardiff Bay, the hostel is only 5 minutes from the city centre and local cinema, bowling as well as plenty of restaurants.

Students will train at the Vale of Glamorgan/Cardiff University grounds in Llanrumney.

A typical rugby tour package includes:

Pre-departure information service
Ground transportation for scheduled activities
x nights in the Wales Millennium Centre (based on 3-5 sharing)
All meals typically including breakfast, lunch and a two course evening meal
Minimum of 4x 2hr coaching sessions with Cardiff Blues on all aspects of play from their full-time coaching staff
Training at the Cardiff Blues official training facilities
Watch Cardiff Blues first team and youth team training sessions (subject to match and training schedules)
Minimum of 1 pre-arranged match per team against similar standard local opposition (additional matches may be subject to a small supplement)
Q&A session with the players and coaches
Tickets to a live match (subject to schedules)
Theory session (strength & conditioning, recovery, nutrition etc)
Scheduled evening activities
Behind the scenes tour of the Millennium Stadium including visit to WRU shop
Supervisory FREE places for the Sports Trip Organisers
Coach education opportunities for Sports Trip Organisers
Services of a resident inspiresport tour coordinator throughout stay
Printed itineraries and information guide

Optional Extras

Extra friendly fixture
Attend professional fixture
Extra off-site evening activities
Travel insurance
Additional excursions
Extended stay
Single room supplements
Extra meals

What’s Not Included

Personal Expenditure
Refundable deposits requested on arrival by some accommodation providers
Cost of passport and visas
Additional paying adults

Cardiff is the capital and the largest city and county in Wales. As well as being the political capital, it is Wales’s capital of business, education, sport, tourism, culture, media and government.

Sporting venues in the city include the Millennium Stadium (the national stadium for the Wales national rugby union team and the Wales national football team), SWALEC Stadium (the home of Glamorgan County Cricket Club), Cardiff City Stadium (the home of Cardiff City football team and Cardiff Blues rugby union team), Cardiff International Sports Stadium (the home of Cardiff Amateur Athletic Club) and Cardiff Arms Park (the home of Cardiff Rugby Club). The city is also HQ of the Wales Rally GB and was awarded with the European City Of Sport in 2009 due to its role in hosting major international sporting events.

It has been announced that Cardiff will once again be the European City of Sport in 2014. The Millennium Stadium will also host eleven football matches as part of the 2012 Summer Olympics, including the games' opening event and the men's bronze medal match.

Useful information:

Distance from Hotel to Training Ground:
3.8m (max 10min by coach)
Closest Airport:
Cardiff Airport: 35min from city centre, 40min from hotel

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Or fill in a detailed request form and we'll get back to you with more information and a tailored quote.

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