CARDIFF 7s, the ultimate sporting festival, returns to Cardiff this year, supported by a host of Welsh Rugby legends and Vale of Glamorgan youngsters, The Old Pens, are returning to the festival once again to defend their title after winning the coveted bowl trophy at Cardiff 7s last year.

Joining festival ambassador Gareth Thomas, rugby stars Shane Williams, Jonathan ‘Jiffy Davies’ and Martyn ‘Nugget’ Williams have all signed up as festival ambassadors.

With more than 320 caps for Wales between them, Cardiff 7s is delighted to have been offered support from some of rugby’s most well-known and well respected characters.

Cardiff 7s director Alex Bodin said: “We’re lucky to have the support of some of Welsh Rugby’s biggest names and we are looking forward to 2014 being even bigger and better than last year.”

Cardiff 7s is due to take placeon Saturday, May 31 and Sunday, June 1, and promises to be an action- packed weekend of sport, music and entertainment.

Following a successful pilot event last year, the festival will return to Cardiff, fusing the fast-paced games of rugby sevens, netball, 5 a side football, dodgeball and rounder’s with live music, food, drink and exceptional entertainment.

Over the Festival weekend, 3,000 sport enthusiasts and festival goers will descend on Rumney Rugby Club to enjoy a thrilling weekend of gripping athleticism and the best food and drink that Wales’s capital has to offer.

The festival organisers are expecting to welcome more than 30 teams and 300 players to compete in a host of tournaments from social to spectacle.

Gareth ‘Alfie’ Thomas expressed his delight to be involved with the festival: “Wales has been waiting for an event like this for years and there is no better place than Cardiff to host a 7s festival.

"I’m excited to be involved with the Cardiff 7s to help the team to bring great rugby to this great city and look forward to watching the event grow and grow”.

In addition to the premier line-up of Welsh sporting heroes, Cardiff 7s has also announced Velindre Cancer Centre as the official charity partner.

Andrew Morris, head of fundraising at Velindre said: “We are absolutely delighted that Velindre has been chosen as the official Charity of the Cardiff 7’s. This is a really exciting tournament and we are fortunate at Velindre to already receive great support from the rugby fraternity with Jonathan Davies, Martyn Williams, Sam Warburton and Brynmor Williams already involved, and we are looking forward to working with Cardiff 7s to ensure a successful tournament whilst raising funds to support cancer patients and their families in Wales.”

Jonathan Davies says that he is incredibly happy to be a Cardiff 7s ambassador; "To me, it is so important that events like these that help to encourage grassroots sport, which is the lifeblood of sport, get the support that they deserve.

"I am delighted that Velindre Cancer Centre has been named as the official charity partner, the partnership sees Velindre Cancer Centre continue its established affiliation with Welsh rugby which as a Patron of the charity, I am very pleased to see”.