FORMER Welsh internationals will take on a team of current players and staff from a housing association in a fundraising match for a Penarth man with cancer.

Wales and West Housing has put together a select 15 team of professional and regional club rugby players to compete against Welsh Charitables RFC Veterans in a charity event at Penarth RFC in Lavernock Road on Friday, September 1.

Among the stars lined up to play are former Welsh internationals Jamie Ringer and Nathan Brew, former British Lion Allan Bateman and Olympic champion Jamie Baulch.

The event is raising money for father-of-three Matt Burns, 40, from Penarth, whose wife Jo, works as a health and safety officer at Wales & West Housing’s (WWH) head office in Llanishen, Cardiff.

Mr Burns has undergone two rounds of chemotherapy treatment at Velindre Hospital since being diagnosed with bile duct cancer last year. But the cancer has now spread to his liver. Depending on the success of his current chemotherapy and advice of specialists, the family are considering funding further treatment estimated to cost £30,000 to prolong his life so will be able to spend more time with their children Noah, 10, Martha, six, and two-year-old Jude.

Money raised from the rugby event will be shared between the Burns family, the organisation’s current staff charity Age Cymru and the Welsh Charitables RFC Veterans’ chosen charity. So far friends at WWH have raised around £2,000 to help the Burns family.

Gates open at 5.30pm with the seven-a-side touch rugby fun tournament kicking off at 6pm. The main match between the Welsh Charitables RFC Veterans team and Wales and West Housing starts at 7pm. At half time the two leading teams from the sevens tournament will play a final match. Throughout the evening there will also be activities for children including a family barbecue, bouncy castle, inflatable slide and face painting.

Peter Jenkins, commercial manager at WWH, said: "Wales and West Housing is one big family, so when we heard what Jo’s husband was facing, we wanted to help."

Mr Jenkins is organising the event with Carwyn Thomas, who works for one of the organisation’s contractors Thermal Earth.

Mr Burns of West Terrace, Penarth, said: "We’re overwhelmed with all the support we’ve had over the last few months. We’re looking forward to watching the rugby as a family and seeing some famous faces playing against family and friends. We might even join in."

Martyn Lewis, founder of Welsh Charitables RFC Veterans said: "We are happy to help Wales and West Housing raise money for such good causes. As a registered charity we raise money by pitching former elite rugby players against social players for fun. We hope as many people as possible turn up to join in or just cheer on their friends and family.

Ian Thomas, chief executive of Age Cymru said: "We are delighted that WWH are able to stage such an important and fun event to raise money for charitable causes. As a charity we ourselves rely on donations and money raised from the tremendous efforts of organisations such as WWH. We are looking forward to the event and excited by the prospect of seeing so many great sports people."

Listings information:

Gates open at 5.30pm with the sevens fun tournament starting at 6pm before the Welsh Charitable Veterans match against the Wales and West Housing team begins at 7p,

6pm – start of sevens fun tournament

7pm –Welsh Charitables Veterans RFC v Wales & West Housing.

Entry is £5 for adults. Tickets will be on sale on the gate. Child entry is by donation.

To donate visit www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/mattburns.