With the celebration of Welsh language being a national topic of interest, many Welsh businesses and organisations are making efforts to learn, speak and promote bilingualism. This month, Cricket Wales adds themselves to the list of those investing in Welsh language, joining the Welsh Rugby Union, Ospreys in the Community and Football Association of Wales in including a Welsh module in their training programmes.

This new online sport module has been produced by the Welsh Language Commissioner and Sport Wales; gaining the backing of some of the most influential community sports leaders in Wales. These include Welsh rugby internationals, Rhys Patchell and Ken Owens and Wales forwards coach; Robin McBryde. Also adding weight to the initiative is Cardiff comedian Mike Bubbins. Flying the flag with the use of Welsh in sport, Bubbins uses as much of his mother tongue as possible when training the under 8s at Clwb Rygbi Cymry Caerdydd.

Mike Bubbins said:

“I think that the parents of the Welsh speaking kids really appreciate that you are making an effort with them. The biggest problem people have is being worried of making fools of themselves – I’d say, don’t worry about it!”

Meri Huws, Welsh Language Commissioner, said:

“The module will hopefully encourage sport leaders across Wales to use as much Welsh as they can in their clubs. It’s another way to normalise the Welsh language in everyday life, outside the school gates.”

One of the governing bodies which will include their module in their training programmes from April onwards is Cricket Wales.

Peter Hybart, Chief Executive of Cricket Wales, said:

“20% of cricket clubs in Wales already deliver coaching sessions in Welsh. We have developed the new coaching module in partnership with the Welsh Language Commissioner because we believe there is the potential for even greater use of the Welsh language if coaches are given tips and confidence in its use. On the eve of a new season we will be promoting the new module widely on social media and including it within our future Coach Development plans”.

Tom Overton, Head of Community Sport in Sport Wales, was equally as thrilled to see this module launched;

“This is a great module and we will be working with sport governing bodies across Wales encouraging them to include the module in their training programme, following the example of Cricket Wales, Wales Football Trust and WRU. This will encourage every club and every leader to consider how much Welsh they use and what they could be offering when coaching – from a few words to whole sessions.”

For more information on Cricket Wales' training programmes, visit their website today.