COME Boxing Day they will be knocking lumps out of each other on the rugby field. But the Ospreys and Scarlets have shown they have a far gentler side.
Players from the two rival regions, who meet at the Liberty Stadium on Wednesday evening, took time out of their training to visit poorly children in their hospital beds.
In the west the Scarlets squad made the trip to Glangwili Hospital in Carmarthen. Players such as Jonathan Davies, Ken Owens, George North and Tavis Knoyle went along to Cligerran Children's Ward laden with Scarlets goody bags and signed posters.
The visits, which have become an annual event in the region's calendar, are an opportunity for the players to give something back to the region.
Jonathan Davies said: "It's great to be able to spend a little time here, meet some of the region's young children and be thankful for what we have.
"A distraction in the middle of their long day on the ward can only be a good thing and we really enjoy coming here as players to see how the little ones are doing."
Scarlets hooker Ken Owens, from Carmarthen, reminisced about his time as a patient on the ward nearly a decade ago. He said: "I'd suffered a broken leg and was a patient on Cligerran ward for a couple of weeks. They did a great job and it's nice to be able to give something back so many years later."
Senior ward sister Janet Millward thanked the players for coming at her invitation. "I know some of our patients are Scarlets supporters and I thought it would make it special for the children. It's really nice of them to come.
"It's hard enough having to be in hospital at all at such a young age and always seems that much worse over the Christmas period. A simple visit like this really does make their day and brings a smile to their faces."
The Ospreys squad, meanwhile, made a break for the children's wards in Morriston hospital and Princess of Wales Hospital, Bridgend where they spent time signing autographs and posing for photos – proving as big a hit with the nursing staff and parents as they did with the young children.
Wales star Ryan Jones said: "These hospital visits are always very emotional, but very rewarding for everyone involved. As a parent of two young children myself it can be tough, but the feeling you get when you see their faces light up as you walk into the room means so much.
"We're in a very privileged position as professional sportsmen and if we can do something to ease their pain a little bit, to put a smile on their faces, it's important that we do just that. Hopefully we've helped make their stay in hospital a little bit more bearable."
While Ospreys fullback, Richard Fussell, said: "It's the very least we can do, to give up a morning in order to cheer up some of the sick or ill young children in hospital. No one wants to be in hospital at any time, least of all at Christmas, so anything we can do to help we will.
"The courage, attitude and sense of humour shown by the children despite their problems was humbling and it certainly makes you put things in perspective. Hopefully the children we visited enjoyed themselves. I know that the visit had a huge impact on all the boys in the squad."
Chief Operations Officer, Andrew Hore, added that the visit were all part of his team's role in the community.
He said: "It is the players themselves who come to us at this time of the year asking when are they are going to be visiting the children's wards, these trips always prove popular with the players as well as the youngsters.
"Our commitment to the region isn't limited to what happens on a rugby field, at the Liberty or at one of our 77 clubs. Our commitment is to the wider community and it's important that we reach out to as many people across Ospreylia as possible, and have a positive influence on the lives of youngsters across the region.
"I know that there are a number of children whose unfortunate stay in hospital will have been made just a little more bearable by the visits, which is the most important thing."
