THE first-ever Cardiff Blues Beach Rugby Festival at Barry Island gathered overwhelming support as teams claimed trophies and children tried out at mascot auditions.

Sports fans gathered around Whitmore Bay to watch teams compete for trophies while youngsters, aged seven to 13, made a determined effort to visit Land Rover - a Worldwide Partner of Rugby World Cup 2015 - to win one of two Official Mascot places for this year's showpiece tournament.

Some of the stars from BT Sport Cardiff Arms Park, Jarrad Hoeata, Manoa Vosawai, Taufa'ao Filise, Miles Normandale and James Sheekey, were among the players to meet fans, sign autographs and pose for pictures.

Visitors also got the chance to glimpse the Webb Ellis Cup and the custom-built Rugby World Cup 2015 Trophy Tour Defender that will carry the Trophy for its 100-day Tour around the UK and Ireland.

Community manager at Cardiff Blues Nadine Griffiths said: "We were absolutely thrilled with the way the first-ever Cardiff Blues Beach Rugby Festival was received and all the positive feedback we have had from fans.

"It was a real festival of rugby for all the family with the players mingling with visitors. Our thanks also go to Land Rover for coming down and holding the auditions and bringing the Rugby World Cup to Barry.

"The day was all part of taking our work around the region and we now look forward to next year and making this an annual event in the summer calendar."

The Men's Cup was won by Misfits 1; the Men's Bowl by Misfits 2 (Bombers) and the women’s cup was won by Cardiff Hockey.