Photo Credit: Swansea Bay University Health Board.
Swansea Bay Health Charity is delighted to announce Tonna RFC as the new host venue for Touched by Cancer 2027, continuing the tournament’s journey across South West Wales for its third year.
The annual tournament brings together teams, supporters and communities from across South Wales to raise money for cancer services within Swansea Bay University Health Board, celebrating the power of sport and community to make a difference to patients, families and NHS staff.
The previous two tournaments have raised funds for Swansea Bay Health Charity’s Going the Extra Mile for Cancer appeal, which successfully reached its £200,000 fundraising target at the 2026 event.
With this milestone achieved, Touched by Cancer is entering an exciting new chapter. All proceeds from the 2027 tournament will go towards new enhancements to support cancer services in South West Wales, with further details to be announced.
Cathy Stevens, Community Support Charity Officer at Swansea Bay Health Charity, said:
“The event continues to grow every year, so we needed a venue that could grow with us. Tonna has fantastic facilities, a strong community spirit and a real enthusiasm for supporting the event, making it the perfect fit for 2027.”
The move to Tonna RFC will help the tournament continue to grow, with 24 teams participating in 2027. Each team has committed to raising at least £500, with the fundraising efforts of previous participants raising a combined total of £84,000 – demonstrating just how much can be achieved when communities come together.
Tonna RFC Chairman, Gary Knight, said:
“We feel very privileged to have this tournament. We are family-orientated and we support many charities. I think this is a worthy cause and I think we’ll try our utmost to make it a successful day for you all.”
The tournament has also received strong support from the Mayor of Neath Port Talbot, Cllr Alan Lockyer, who has attended both previous events. He highlighted the wider impact that hosting the tournament can have on its surrounding community.
Cllr Alan Lockyer said:
“The community just comes together and when you take your touch rugby event to a community, it generates so much foot fall and so much interest. It’s not just the event itself, it expands into the local community.”
He also highlighted the importance of the fundraising staying within the region:
“Your local hospitals in the Swansea Bay region are getting immediate funds from the locality raised by the locality going back into the locality as opposed to a national charity event.”
With a new venue, a new fundraising focus and 24 teams set to take to the pitch, Touched by Cancer 2027 promises to build on the success of the previous two years, bringing even more people together to support local cancer services.
