AN OPTICIANS in Penarth has renewed its £15,000 sponsorship of deaf rugby union's world champions.

Specsavers on Windsor Road has signed a new three-year deal with the Welsh Deaf Rugby Union squad.

The announcement follows a summer of fundraising activities, which saw the store and 34 other Specsavers branches across mid and south Wales, raise more than £5,000 for WDRU during the ‘Specsavers Choir’ tour.

The rugby-themed choirs performed a one-off, four-hour performance at Specsavers stores on weekends throughout August and September ahead of the start of the Rugby World Cup and to raise money for the development of deaf rugby in Wales.

The Welsh deaf team recently returned from its first visit to South Africa where it played and won both international test matches against the Deaf Springboks.

The successful tour and four consecutive victories against close rivals England reinforced Wales’ position as the leading nation in world deaf rugby.

Specsavers has supported the team since 2012 when it became the official provider of audiology testing and the team's kit sponsor.

They will also support the WDRU's community programme which puts on rugby skills sessions for children from schools and deaf units

Frank Moloney, director of Specsavers in Penarth, said: "Over the last three years we have worked closely with WDRU to raise awareness of hearing loss and the importance of regular hearing tests, so we’re delighted to continue this important partnership.

‘We’re proud to be associated with WDRU. Unfortunately, hearing loss can have a social stigma attached to it, but that should not stop individuals from achieving great things, as the community programme aims to address.

'And with the sophisticated, state-of-the-art hearing aid technology available today, we’ll be working closely with WDRU to promote the importance of looking after your ear health and to encourage people with hearing loss that they can still enjoy many of the same things that people with perfect hearing can."

Gwynne Griffiths, chairman of WDRU, added: "Without sponsorship, we would not be able to carry out the vital outreach work we do in communities through our engagement programme, and make sure that players have access to the best training and support staff available.

'Every donation allows us to invest and further improve our community programme, bringing together young people and children from across the country to participate in group sports and skills training."