A TOURING junior rugby team are enjoying a few extra days of Welsh hospitality – after their flight home to Dubai was cancelled because of the cloud of volcanic ash covering the UK.

The Dubai Hurricanes, an under-14s team from the United Arab Emirates, arrived on April 11 and planned to fly back from their Cardiff tour on Sunday.

But they are now left stranded and hoping to catch a flight home later this week.

Tour manager Simon Lewis said: “Fly Emirates, our flight operator, has been great in keeping us informed. It said it will get us home if and when it is possible to fly, which we hope will be Thursday.”

And Mr Lewis said his team, whose game against Rhiwbina Squirrels on Saturday was supposed to be the last of their tour, are learning all about Welsh hospitality in their time of crisis.

He said: “Everyone here has been fantastic. Our hotel said they can keep accommodating us and the parents at Rhiwbina Squirrels have offered to put up the lads if our tour money runs out.

“And A&B Travel has laid on free-of-charge coaches for us to get around. I guess we are experiencing the famous Welsh spirit in action.”

Kevin Wheadon, director of A&B Travel, said: “When we heard the team’s flight had been cancelled, we were happy to help them out with some complimentary journeys.

“They can’t just sit in the hotel all week, can they?” [Read More]