A new community partnership between the Provincial Grand Lodge of South Wales and St Peter’s RFC has been formally marked with the presentation of a club jersey carrying the Province’s 300 Years branding.
The presentation followed the start of a three-year sponsorship which places South Wales Freemasonry on playing jerseys across the club and provides a full-page presence in the St Peter’s match programme.
The partnership is intended to be about much more than visibility, however. From the outset, St Peter’s has encouraged Provincial representatives to meet players, supporters, committee members and fellow sponsors, while supporting the relationship through its digital channels.
A natural community partnership
Known as “The Rocks”, St Peter’s has been playing rugby in Cardiff East since 1886. The club has more than 400 players across its age groups, with Mini & Junior, Youth and senior rugby, alongside strong links with businesses and the wider local community.
Those community connections were central to the decision to support the club.
When the opportunity was assessed by the Province, it was identified as a strong fit for our community-engagement objectives, offering opportunities for local visibility and, crucially, relationship-building beyond Freemasonry.
RW Bro Robert Payne, Provincial Grand Master, said:
“Our role as Freemasons extends well beyond our Lodges. We want to be an active and positive presence in the communities of South Wales, building relationships and supporting organisations that bring people together.
“St Peter’s RFC has a proud history and a strong sense of community, and I am delighted that we are beginning this partnership. We share an understanding of the value of friendship, respect, service and supporting one another, and I hope this will be a relationship that grows over the coming years.”
The new partnership is marked with the presentation of a St Peter’s RFC jersey carrying South Wales Freemasonry’s 300 Years branding. Pictured from left: Merrick Jones, Chris Gough, Terry Thompson (Secretary, St Peters RFC), Pete Grzonka.
More than a name on the shirt
The principle behind the sponsorship is simple: visibility creates the opportunity, but relationships create the value.
The Province therefore intends to be an active partner, spending time at St Peter’s and developing connections with the people around the club.
W Bro Merrick Jones JGD, Assistant Provincial Grand Master responsible for Publications and External Relations, said:
“I am particularly pleased to see this partnership become a reality because it represents exactly what we want our external relationships to achieve.
“Our name on the jersey gives us visibility, but visibility alone is not the objective. What matters is what we do with it. This gives us opportunities to meet people, support an important community organisation and allow people who may know very little about Freemasonry to get to know us naturally.”
Recognising the work behind the partnership
The opportunity was originally identified and developed by Community Engagement Liaison Officer and former Rock prop W Bro Chris Gough, PPSGD.
Chris established the relationship with St Peter’s, met club representatives and worked through the sponsorship arrangements, including the opportunities for club visits, engagement with players and supporters, social media support and the positioning of Provincial branding.
Merrick Jones added:
“Chris deserves considerable credit for making this happen. He identified the opportunity, opened the relationship with St Peter’s and did a tremendous amount of work behind the scenes to turn an initial conversation into a partnership we could confidently support.
“This is exactly the kind of purposeful sponsorship we want to develop, and Chris’s work has provided a very strong foundation on which we can now build.”
Taking our message beyond the jersey
The sponsorship also gives the Province a full page in the club’s match programme.
Our new advert focuses not simply on who we are, but on the common ground between Freemasonry and community sport: shared values, strong communities and proud heritage. The published advert encourages readers who are curious about Freemasonry to find out more through the South Wales Mason website.
The Provincial advert in the St Peter’s match programme introduces supporters to Freemasonry and the shared values behind the partnership.
Building relationships across South Wales
The presentation of the jersey is therefore a beginning rather than an end.
Over the next three years, the aim is to develop the relationship through visits, conversations and engagement with the St Peter’s community. That approach was built into the sponsorship from its earliest discussions.
For members across the Province, the partnership also illustrates an important part of our wider approach to external relations.
Building a positive understanding of modern Freemasonry does not always begin with explaining who we are. Sometimes it begins by being present, supporting something worthwhile and giving people the chance to get to know us.
The Provincial Grand Lodge of South Wales is proud to support The Rocks and looks forward to seeing the partnership develop over the seasons ahead.
Shared values. Strong communities. A partnership with purpose.