Sam Warburton and his fellow Welsh rugby stars are poised to fly the flag for Wales at the 2011 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand and while they are representing their nation on the world stage the home of the national sport will host a series of special community sports days.

No fewer than six sporting events will be played out on the Millennium Stadium’s hallowed turf over three weeks in association with the organisation’s Community Events initiative which offers the multi-event venue free of hire charge to 15 community organisations each year.

Local charities including The Prince’s Trust and Barnardos will benefit from a trio of football matches and a hat-trick of rugby games at the well-known venue which has supported a wide range of local projects since it opened for the 1999 Rugby World Cup.

“There’s an exciting range of community sport and fundraising fun at the Millennium Stadium ahead,” said Millennium Stadium General Manager Gerry Toms, “as the coming weeks present the perfect opportunity for local community groups to enjoy their national stadium facilities without the hire fee incurred by commercial organisations.

“While Wales’ rugby squad are out in New Zealand, the Millennium Stadium event staff are busy preparing for a variety of pitch sports under our Community Events remit, to round up what has been an exciting summer of sport at the stadium ahead of Wales’ World Cup campaign.”

Earlier this summer over 200 people joined a sponsored walk around the pitch in aid of The Stroke Association and local children met their sporting heroes at an awards event in conjunction with the anti-racism charity ‘Show Racism the Red Card.’

Former WBO & WBU world champion boxer Enzo Maccarinelli added his weight to the charity awards ceremony and Millennium Stadium’s Community Events, held in one of the five lounges used by VIP guests during major events.

“It’s fantastic that the Millennium Stadium Community Events project brings kids to Wales’ national Stadium, where they see all of their idols from boxing to rugby and football and many other events – it’s unbelievable for them to be here,” said Maccarinelli, who won and defended his title under the retractable roof at the multi-event venue.

“Having boxed here three times, winning my World title and then defending it twice, I know all about the marvellous atmosphere here. Nothing beats the noise of the crowd that you get behind you at the Millennium Stadium.”

The multi-event venue has welcomed over a decade of positive community activity under its world-famous roof and each year the Stadium Manager invites applications for a range of not-for-profit events including amateur or charity sports days.

“We are always keen to encourage innovative ideas from new groups of people throughout Wales,” added Mr Toms. “And, if your application is successful, our team of experienced event managers will be on hand to help with the planning stages right through to event delivery. While the diary is now full for 2011, I urge all those interested to get their applications in early for next year.”