Battle of the Balls: A Fantastic Fundraising Success in Support of Kidney Wales

On Sunday 13th April, the inaugural Battle of the Balls took place at the park, bringing together five teams for a day of sport, laughter, and fundraising. The unique event saw rugby and football teams face off against one another—at each other’s sports—in a light-hearted walking format. The result? A brilliant day full of camaraderie, competition, and community spirit, all in support of Kidney Wales.

The event drew a fantastic crowd, with over 80 people turning out to enjoy the action and support a great cause. Among the teams was the unexpectedly star-studded “Man Chest Hair UTD,” made up of current and former Welsh rugby players. While their football skills may have left something to be desired, their good humour and sportsmanship added plenty of fun to the day!

Following the matches, everyone headed back to Wattstown Rugby Club where the celebrations continued. The Gourmet Butcher generously provided a pay-as-you-feel BBQ, and local DJ Ritchie kept the atmosphere lively with music throughout the afternoon. All proceeds from the event went directly to Kidney Wales.

Thanks to the amazing generosity of everyone involved, over £600 was raised on the day. These funds will give a fantastic boost to fundraiser Jacob’s GoFundMe campaign, as he prepares to take on the Cardiff Half Marathon later this year in support of the charity.

For organiser Gerwyn, the event had a deeply personal connection. His daughter Rachel has lived with chronic kidney disease (CKD) since the age of three and is currently waiting for a kidney transplant at the age of 25. The family remains hopeful as they continue their journey through both the register and the sharing pool.

Gerwyn extended a heartfelt thank you to Danielle from Kidney Wales for raising awareness and providing Kidney Wales materials to support the day. He also gave special thanks to Mark Hutton for doing a fantastic job in bringing the whole event together.

With plans already in the works for next year, Gerwyn promises that the 2026 Battle of the Balls will be even bigger and better. Watch this space!