This year’s competition will see 16 games broadcast in an exclusive new partnership between the WRU and S4C in an unprecedented move to improve coverage of the tournament.
Current Welsh stars including Leigh Halfpenny, George North and Alun Wyn Jones have all played rugby at this level in the past before progressing to the regional and international game and those participating in this year’s competition will be hoping for similar success.
All the teams involved are further education colleges except for the independent school Llandovery College.
Last year saw Coleg Gwent crowned as College champions and they can be seen live in the first game to be screened by S4C when they take on Coleg Morgannwg at Taffs Well on Wednesday. (KO 2.30pm)
Under the broadcast agreement with S4C, cameras will cover one live game each week throughout the league.
The selected match can be watched live during the afternoon on the S4C website before it is screened on television in its entirety on the same night from 10.35pm along with highlights of other matches from the competition.
Alongside the defending champions’ opening game, Coleg Sir Gar welcome Bridgend College and Llandovery College travel to Coleg Sir Benfro. In the remaining match, Neath Port Talbot College take on Gower College.
Despite being defending champions, Coleg Gwent head coach Paul Young knows his side face a difficult task in their opening game.
“Morgannwg are going to be strong opposition so we’ll see what happens. We have got this group for two years now so we’ll possibly be stronger next year,” he said.
“We had a good win at Ivy Bridge last week and we’ve got a lot of first years in the squad this year but I think the experience of getting our hands on the trophy last year will be good motivation.
“We’ve got a good side and we are capable of getting a win on Wednesday but a lot depends on the conditions. They’re going to try and play an open game but we need to be prepared and not let them do that.”
And Young is supportive of increased TV coverage of the college game, believing it can only benefit his team and the development of college players into the future.
“It’s an excellent opportunity for the boys to be seen on TV and to get some exposure. It will hopefully make everybody aware of the college league and the talent that is out there,” he added.
“It’s going to be an important year to get that out there and hopefully it will continue to grow into the future.”
With this year’s tournament partnered by increased television coverage, the competition only promises to get bigger and better.
“Age grade rugby is a valuable element of our pathway structure and this initiative proves that we are working hard to develop depth in our performance pathway as well as encouraging the development of rugby for all young players who are willing to work hard to fulfil their potential,” said WRU Performance Manager Gethin Watts.
“It is a great boost for the players to know their matches are being broadcast and it is bound to give an added edge to the competition for success in the league.
“This in turn will help us improve the quality of the league and ultimately produce more players capable of competing for regional and ultimately national recognition.”
To watch live coverage of Coleg Gwent against Coleg Morgannwg go to http://www.s4c.co.uk or watch a re-run of the game plus highlights of the other matches on Wednesday night at 10.35pm.
WRU Colleges League 2012/13:
3 October 2012
Coleg Morgannwg v Coleg Gwent (live match – Taffs Well RFC, 2.30pm)
Coleg Sir Gar v Bridgend College
Neath/Port Talbot College v Gower College
Coleg Sir Benfro v Llandovery College
10 October 2012
Coleg Sir Gar v Coleg Morgannwg
GowerCollege v Bridgend College
Coleg Gwent v Coleg Sir Benfro
LlandoveryCollegev Neath Port Talbot College (live match 2.30pm)
17 October 2012
BridgendCollegev Coleg Gwent
Coleg Sir Benfro v Coleg Sir Gar
Coleg Morgannwg v Neath Port Talbot College
GowerCollege v Llandovery College (live match – Swansea RFC, 2.30pm)
24 October 2012
Neath Port Talbot College v Coleg Sir Benfro
Coleg Morgannwg v Gower College
Coleg Gwent v Coleg Sir Gar (live match – Cross Keys RFC, 2.30pm)
LlandoveryCollege v Bridgend College
7 November 2012
GowerCollegev Coleg Gwent
Neath Port Talbot College v Bridgend College
Coleg Sir Benfro v Coleg Morgannwg
Coleg Sir Gar v Llandovery College
14 November 2012
Neath Port Talbot College v Coleg Sir Gar
BridgendCollegev Coleg Morgannwg
GowerCollegev Coleg Sir Benfro
LlandoveryCollegev Coleg Gwent
23 January 2013
Coleg Gwent v Neath Port Talbot College
Coleg Sir Benfro v Bridgend College
Coleg Sir Gar v Gower College
Coleg Morgannwg v Llandovery College
30 January 2013
Coleg Gwent v Coleg Morgannwg
BridgendCollegev Coleg Sir Gar
GowerCollegev Neath Port Talbot College
LlandoveryCollegev Coleg Sir Benfro
6 February 2013
Coleg Morgannwg v Coleg Sir Gar
BridgendCollege v Gower College
Coleg Sir Benfro v Coleg Gwent
Neath Port Talbot v Llandovery College
20 February 2013
Coleg Gwent v Bridgend College
Coleg Sir Gar v Coleg Sir Benfro
Neath Port Talbot College v Coleg Morgannwg
LlandoveryCollege v Gower College
27 February 2013
Coleg Sir Benfro v Neath Port Talbot College
GowerCollegev Coleg Morgannwg
Coleg Sir Gar v Coleg Gwent
BridgendCollege v Llandovery College
6 March 2013
Coleg Gwent v Gower College
BridgendCollegev Neath Port Talbot College
Coleg Morgannwg v Coleg Sir Benfro
LlandoveryCollegev Coleg Sir Gar
13 March 2013
Coleg Sir Gar v Neath Port Talbot College
Coleg Morgannwg v Bridgend College
Coleg Sir Benfro v Gower College
Coleg Gwent v Llandovery College
20 March 2013
Neath Port Talbot College v Coleg Gwent
Bridgend College v Coleg Sir Benfro
Gower Collegev Coleg Sir Gar
Llandovery College v Coleg Morgannwg
Play-off and Final dates TBC
