Rugby Chaplains

Throughout June Wales played host to the IRB Junior Rugby World Cup. Sixteen teams from around the world arrived to play a gruelling schedule of matches across Wales. Four teams stayed in Newport and played the first matches in Rodney Parade. The Revd Mark Lawson-Jones was approached by the charity Score Chaplaincy and the Welsh Rugby Union to provide chaplains for the teams. It didn’t take long to find a few rugby fans who were ready for a challenge. Mark is the priest-in-charge of the Benefice of Magor and a regular chaplain to regional rugby team, the Newport Gwent Dragons.

I was excited at being invited to become chaplain to Fiji. I met with the squad for their morning prayers, I was asked to preach to them on a few occasions, and shared breakfasts with this wonderful group of Christians - and I got to watch a lot of Rugby! I felt blessed that God had given me this wonderful opportunity to share my ministry.

Revd Lyndon Harrison

Chaplains to the teams

standing on left: Revd Mark Lawson-Jones; centre back: Revd Dennis Richards; centre kneeling: Revd Lyndon Harris