Swansea Varsity team row for charity

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The Swansea University Rugby squad have rowed the length of Wales in one day to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Research.

The squad are currently undergoing a rigorous training schedule in preparation for their Varsity match against their Cardiff rivals in the Millennium Stadium on the 2nd May.

Captain Richard Smart said: “We’re training at least once, normally twice a day in preparation for the big rugby match. We spend a lot of time together and wanted to do some work for charity during our training. We’re working hard as a squad under the leadership of our volunteer coaches.

“Our coaches give up a lot of time to help us with our preparation and one of our former coaches, Danny Cunningham has recently been diagnosed with a rare type of bone cancer. He and his fiancée have had to move home from Australia where they had emigrated in order to have treatment. He is a really young, super fit, inspirational guy and we as a squad wanted to raise money for cancer research in tribute to Dan.

"So we're doing the row for our former coach and want to raise money for Macmillan Cancer research and to raise awareness."

Sponsored row

Team manager Stuart Clarke said " We thought we'd show our support for our coach's chosen charity. Its been a great effort by everyone to support this cause". 

Flanker Jonathon Vaughan said " I'm really excited about next weeks Varsity match. We lost to Cardiff recently so we owe them a big one - and this is the one that counts".

 

The row started at 10am at the Tesco in the marina and finished at 8.30pm. The row across the length of Wales in one day covered well over 300km. Richard added" Although we've got blisters on our feet and hands it hasn't stopped us training!" 

The Welsh Varsity Match is an annual  rugby match between Swansea and Cardiff Universities and is being played on the Millennium Stadium on May 2nd (19.30 KO) live on S4C. Last year the game attracted over 15,000 spectators to what was a fantastic open and fast paced game.