AN NSPCC campaign to raise awareness of safeguarding in sports is being supported by clubs, organisations and politicians in Wales, including the Football Association of Wales, Dragons RFC and Welsh Athletics.

Sports clubs, teams, parents and carers across the UK are being encouraged to take part in Keeping Your Child Safe in Sport Week, which is led by the NSPCC’s Child Protection in Sport Unit (CPSU) and takes place between October 7 and 11.

Part of a year-round safeguarding campaign, the week is designed to raise awareness of safeguarding in sports and activity clubs and create safer sporting environments for children across the UK. It was launched with a star-studded event held in Manchester.

Celebrities and clubs backing this year’s campaign include Alan Shearer, Olympic basketballer and star of BBC’s The Traitors Fay Greaves and Olympic weightlifter Chloe Whylie.

In Wales, it is being supported by the players and staff from Dragons RFC, Welsh Athletics, Football Association of Wales, Welsh Rugby Union, Weightlifting Wales, Deputy Senedd Leader of Plaid Cymru, Delyth Jewell MS and Newport East MS John Griffiths.

Ben Carter, Captain at Dragons RFC, said: “We are proud to show our support for Keeping Your Child Safe in Sport week and are calling on clubs across Gwent to get behind this important campaign.

“Raising awareness of safeguarding in sports and clubs is vital as we strive to create the safest environments for children across Gwent to enjoy sport.

“The “Team Huddle” idea is also an easy and great way for clubs to bring everyone together to raise awareness and create meaningful discussions around safeguarding.”

Rhian Wilkinson, Senior Cymru WNT Manager, said: “Football has given me so much, and my childhood club and my first experience there, is where it all begun.

“As such, I’m proud to support the NSPCC’s Keeping your Child Safe in Sport campaign. Every child deserves a fun, and positive experience in sport and together, we can create an environment where everyone feels safe, empowered, and supported.”

The aim of this year’s campaign is to focus on the importance of building stronger, more inclusive communities around sporting and activity clubs, encouraging parents and carers to look out for not just the young people taking part, but their families too, helping anyone who needs support to get it sooner.

The top concerns reported to the NSPCC’s Helpline in 2023/24 by adults relating to a sports setting were sexual abuse and exploitation and emotional abuse.

Delyth Jewell MS, Deputy Senedd Leader of Plaid Cymru, said: “I am pleased to back the work of NSPCC Cymru’s Child Protection in Sport Units.

“I have tabled a statement of opinion in the Senedd in support of their work that recognises the importance of keeping children safe and building safe communities for children within sports clubs.

“I hope as many people as possible across Wales will engage with Keeping Your Child Safe in Sport Week. Culture and sport are all vital expressions of our history and social traditions, as well as of our future aspirations so our children and young people must feel safe when taking part in these activities.”

Newport East Senedd Member John Griffiths said: “Ensuring that children are safe from abuse and harm in all settings which they encounter is a huge priority, and it is pleasing to see clubs in Newport are committed to creating a safe and welcoming environment for children to participate in sport.

“By participating in the Keeping Your Child Safe in Sport campaign, sports clubs everywhere can help foster an atmosphere which is open to discussion about how children can be kept safe in sport, and how everyone can work together as a team to keep every child safe.

“I know several people raised the issue of how best to keep children safe in sport at my recent Active Newport Conference, so I am pleased there are organisations such as the NSPCC who are working so hard to raise the profile and increase understanding of how we can tackle this vital issue.”

Simon Roach, Safeguarding Lead at Weightlifting Wales, said: “Weightlifting Wales is delighted to be once again fully participating in the NSPCC’s Keeping Your Child Safe in Sport campaign.

“The national governing body promotes and wholly supports licensed clubs in creating safe, inclusive and enjoyable sporting environments for young people. This shared campaign provides a fantastic opportunity to continue working closely with our clubs, working together as a strength community and ensuring that the safety and wellbeing of young people are at the heart of everything we do.”

The NSPCC’s CEO, Sir Peter Wanless, said: “By participating in this year’s campaign, clubs are showing that they are serious about creating a safe, inclusive, and enjoyable sporting environment for young people.

“Each year, Keeping Your Child Safe in Sport Week gets stronger, and it provides an opportunity to reflect on how we can all work together to ensure that every child can participate in sport free from harm.”

Through the Keeping Your Child Safe in Sport campaign, the CPSU aims to empower parents and carers to feel confident in their role in keeping children safe while helping clubs and teams understand how they can foster a protective and inclusive environment.

As part of this initiative, clubs, coaches, and parents are being urged to host a “Team Huddle” event — a fun and informal gathering that brings together everyone involved in the sporting community to raise awareness and create meaningful discussions around safeguarding.

A Team Huddle can be part of an existing event, such as a club meeting, or it can be its own standalone event designed to bring everyone together. Free Team Huddle Event Packs are available from the CPSU website which include a variety of resources to help spark conversations about safeguarding.

The pack features a fun quiz and other activities, but clubs are encouraged to get creative and whether the huddle invites parents to participate in a quiz, a sports day, a scavenger hunt or even a barbecue, the focus is on connection, conversation, and community.

Michelle North, Head of the CPSU, added: “Team Huddles are a brilliant way to bring people together, providing an opportunity for parents, coaches, and club leaders to connect in a relaxed environment.

“But they also serve an important purpose. These events open the door to vital conversations about safeguarding, giving everyone involved a chance to reflect on their role in keeping children safe in sport.”

Any clubs taking part in Team Huddles can share their experiences on social media using the hashtag #SafeinSport and help spread the word about the importance of safeguarding practices and celebrate the efforts being made at the grassroots level to protect young athletes.

IN a bid to unlock new European opportunities, Wales’ English Football League (EFL) clubs are exploring the possibility of joining the Welsh League Cup, offering them a path to European football. Cardiff City, Swansea City, Wrexham, and Newport County are all part of discussions that could see them compete in the Nathaniel MG Cup, with a chance to represent Wales in the Europa Conference League.

Currently, these clubs play in the English football pyramid and can only qualify for European competitions via the Premier League, FA Cup, or EFL Cup. However, this new proposal—dubbed Prosiect Cymru (Project Wales)—would provide an alternative route, albeit at the cost of losing eligibility for Europe through English competitions.

The concept is said to have been pitched to UEFA, the Football Association (FA), the Premier League, and Cymru Premier, Wales’ domestic top flight. Central to these discussions is an independent report by Deloitte, commissioned by Swansea City on behalf of the four EFL clubs and the Football Association of Wales (FAW). The report outlines that the initiative could “drive improvement for the whole Welsh football ecosystem,” with financial benefits being shared across grassroots football, domestic clubs, and the women’s game.

Elevating Wales’ European Standing

A key aim of the proposal is to improve Wales’ low UEFA association club coefficient ranking, which currently stands at 50th out of 55 European nations. This low ranking is largely due to poor performances by Welsh clubs in continental competitions. Only a few nations, including San Marino and Gibraltar, rank lower.

The recent success of Cymru Premier champions The New Saints, who qualified for the group stage of the Europa Conference League, has offered a boost to Wales’ standing. The FAW hopes that the inclusion of Cardiff, Swansea, Wrexham, and Newport in European competition would further elevate Wales’ ranking and bring in greater prize money from UEFA. Crucially, a portion of this increased revenue would be distributed to support football across Wales, including the Cymru Premier and grassroots initiatives.

A Welcome Development for Welsh Clubs

The introduction of Welsh EFL clubs into the Nathaniel MG Cup is seen as a potential game-changer for both the clubs themselves and the wider Welsh football community. Cymru Premier clubs have backed the plan, recognising that playing against larger EFL sides could raise the profile of Welsh football. Moreover, the chance for Cardiff, Swansea, Wrexham, and Newport to return to European action holds significant appeal.

These clubs have a storied history in European football, qualifying for competitions via the now-defunct Welsh Cup before moving to the English system. Cardiff City famously defeated Real Madrid in the European Cup Winners’ Cup in 1971, while Wrexham beat Porto in 1984. Newport reached the Cup Winners’ Cup quarter-finals in 1981, and Swansea triumphed 3-0 over Valencia in the 2013 Europa League.

Although Welsh EFL clubs have not competed in an FAW competition since the FAW Premier Cup was abolished in 2008, some have entered under-21 sides in recent editions of the Nathaniel MG Cup. The inclusion of their senior teams, however, with the prize of European football on the line, would be a landmark shift.

Transforming Welsh Football

According to the Prosiect Cymru report, the participation of Wales’ biggest clubs in the Welsh League Cup could “unlock transformational potential” across all levels of Welsh football, from grassroots to the professional game. The project recognises Wales’ unique position in European football, where its largest clubs play in another nation’s league system, hindering the competitiveness of its domestic teams in UEFA competitions.

If the plan proceeds, it could mark a significant turning point in Welsh football history, with the potential to elevate the domestic game while reigniting the European ambitions of Cardiff, Swansea, Wrexham, and Newport.

For Welsh football fans, the prospect of watching their teams compete in Europe once again may soon become a reality.

SAUNDERSFOOT hockey player Kat Watkins will be bullying-off with a vengeance next week after being selected to represent Wales in the Masters World Cup

Kat, who is a professional shepherd who lambs 500 ewes annually and has a small herd of pedigree Angus cows, has been selected for the Over 35’s Wales Women’s Masters Hockey squad to take on the world’s best in Cape Town.  This will include 100 teams, over 2,100 participants, four venues and seven turfs.

The 18-player Wales squad has been training for the past nine months and has already competed in the Indoor World Cup in Nottingham in March followed by the Home Nations competitions in Cork in May.

The Masters World Cup begins on October 12 and Wales’ pool fixtures include games with Zimbabwe on the 12th, Scotland on the 13th and New Zealand on the 15th.  Their results in the pool matches will determine where they will be placed in the placement matches, and they will play a total of six games.