Spire Cardiff Hospital and Cardiff Blues have signed a two-year agreement for Spire Healthcare to be the official provider of medical and healthcare services to the Cardiff Blues playing squad, in return for hospitality and sponsorship rights on the Cardiff Blues shirts, website and programmes.

Two Cardiff Blues players who know the benefit of high quality healthcare and treatment are Welsh Internationals Robin Sowden Taylor and Chris Czekaj - who have both suffered recent high-profile injuries. Robin, who damaged his shoulder earlier in the year, was operated on by a Spire surgeon Mr Richard Evans and has since returned to full fitness and the field of play.

Both Robin and Chris - who fractured his femur while playing for Wales in Australia in 2007 - have been back to Spire Cardiff Hospital to meet the consultants and staff and also to view and tour the facilities available. These include a newly upgraded, state-of-the art MRI scanner, one of the most technologically superior scanners in the country. The players were shown the benefits of the scanner by Dr Kathleen Lyons, one of the hospital's Senior Consultant Musculoskeletal Radiologists.

Nicola Amery, Hospital Director for Spire Cardiff Hospital said: "We're delighted to be offering medical and healthcare services to the Cardiff Blues players, including our top-of-the-range sports treatments.

"The players have seen our upgraded MRI scanner which will offer a faster service and greatly enhanced images, enabling us to provide a more accurate and detailed diagnosis.

Robert Norster, Chief Executive of the Cardiff Blues, said: "This is a fantastic partnership which will bring opportunities and benefits to both parties.

"As an elite sporting team, it is vital for players and staff to know that high-quality healthcare and medical treatment is always on hand and available to us."