A first of its kind "trailblazing" scheme is opening up the rugby pitch to everyone.

(WRU) to host a rugby engagement officer Hannah Hughes at campuses in Denbighshire, Gwynedd, Conwy and Anglesey as part of the WRU hub programme.

Ensuring that rugby is inclusive and engaging to male and female participants of all ages and abilities, the Active Ambassador Programme has encouraged 176 pupils to sign up in the first two weeks of term.

Chris Ower, participation and retention manager for the Welsh Rugby Union group, added: “The WRU is delighted to be working in partnership with Grŵp Llandrillo Menai via the revised Hub Engagement Officer Programme, and the impact achieved within the time period that Hannah Hughes has been in post is impressive.

"The Active Ambassador Programme, which has been developed in partnership by Grwp Llandrillo Menai and WRU, is the first of its kind and has already had a demonstrable impact.”

The programme is designed to build the leadership skills of young people, and as a result they will be empowered to take on roles including the youth voice for physical activity in their college and community, to promote the positive values of activity or to be a role model for Grŵp Llandrillo Menai’s well-being framework.

Learners enrolling on the programme do not need to be elite athletes, the programme is aimed at enthusiastic and motivated individuals seeking to make a difference in their college and community through volunteering.

The programme was officially launched by WRU North Wales regional manager Marc Roberts and director of learner services at Grŵp Llandrillo Menai Samantha McIlvogue at the National Eisteddfod in August.

Ms McIlvogue, said: “This trailblazing programme - which is the first of its kind in Wales - will have a positive effect on our learners' health and well-being, as well as having a tremendous impact on the wider community as a whole. Providing engagement opportunities in activity to support learner well-being is one of a series of approaches being taken by Grwp Llandrillo Menai.”