A TORFAEN rugby club welcomed a Six Nations Grand Slam winner to the club as part of the Welsh Rugby Union’s new kit recycling campaign.

Wales and Ospreys flanker and Dan Lydiate attended the event at Forgeside RFC in Blaenavon, held in in support of international charity SOS Kitaid.

SOS Kitaid recycles sports kit for the benefit of young people in the UK and overseas, so they are given a sporting chance.

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As part of the event, Wales flanker Dan Lydiate ran a session for Forgeside U13s side. Picture:ISG Live

The charity aims to make a positive and tangible impact on children’s lives by giving them the chance to participate in sporting activities, promoting social inclusion; and protecting the environment by making a significant impact on the amount of sports kit ending up in landfill sites.

On arriving at the club, the Wales international held a masterclass coaching session for the club’s under 13s team, helping with their tackling technique and positional play before loading eight bags of sports kit collected by the club in to the back of the ISUZU pick up.

He thanked Forgeside chairman Geraint Reynolds for all the club’s efforts and presented club chairmen Leighton Williams and Dale Clint with an exclusive signed Welsh rugby shirt.

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Wales and Ospreys flanker Dan Lydiate at the Big Pick Up event at Forgeside RFC. Picture:ISG Live

Mr Reynolds said: “We had some kits at the club that we were looking to donate.

"We had taken part in a similar scheme in the summer and donated some kits to Africa.

“We saw about the project online and wrote to them, they were keen for us to get involved.

"At first they didn't mention that Dan would be coming, so when he turned up it was a big surprise.

“The team were all pleased as it’s not often that you get a training session from an international rugby player.

“From speaking to their coach, some of them took it in to their game the next day.”

John Broadfoot, CEO of SOS Kitaid, said: “We are delighted to see such enthusiastic support from the whole of Forgeside RFC.

“The kit collected today will make a real difference to the sporting lives of disadvantaged young people.”

George Wallis, head of marketing at ISUZU, said: “At the heart of our support for the Welsh Rugby Union is a desire to make an impact across the whole rugby community.

“The ISUZU Big Pickup, in support of SOS Kitaid, enables ISUZU with the help of the wider welsh rugby community to make a meaningful difference to young people’s lives.”

If you want your club to participate in The ISUZU Big Pick Up in support of SOS Kitaid then visit @ISUZURugby on social channels to find out how you can play a part.