This year’s tournament sees Cowbridge Comprehensive School, Newport High School and Llandrillo College joining the tournament for the first time, with the inclusion of the schools meaning a name change from the WRU Colleges League to the WRU Wednesday Under 18 League.
With WRU broadcast partner S4C again on board, the tournament continues to grow year on year. The Welsh language broadcaster has committed to showing one live match per round on s4c.co.uk and is launching a new television programme, Rygbi Pawb which will show extended highlights of the live games plus highlights of other league games and Principality Premiership highlights and features.
The new Under 18 league kicks off this Wednesday with newcomers Newport High School taking on Bridgend College at the Brewery Field. The match can be watched live via s4c.co.uk/rygbi.
WRU national performance manager Gethin Watts said: “The WRU Wednesday Under 18 league is an exciting competition which is growing year on year.
“We’re delighted to welcome Newport High School, Cowbridge Comprehensive and Llandrillo College into the tournament this year. All three have demonstrated a desire to join the league and improve their standards with Llandrillo also ensuring representation from north Wales.
“An 11-team tournament not only increases competition but drives up the standards of the other teams. That’s what this league is all about, creating an environment and opportunity for the best young players in Wales to be able to play at the highest possible level.”
S4C’s Director of Content, Dafydd Rhys said: “On S4C we pride ourselves on the depth of sporting coverage we offer, and this new programme will supplement the higher profile competitions which we associate with today’s professional era.
“There is a great amount of support and interest out there in the players who are coming through the ranks and who could be the next big name to appear at regional or even national level. Our Principality Premiership and Under 18 competition are where that emerging talent often appears first. We’re really looking forward to seeing all that action in one place on S4C.”
WRU Group Chief Executive, Roger Lewis, added: “We congratulate S4C for deciding to open this broadcast window to such an exciting and vibrant level of Welsh rugby which shows viewers the true extent of young talent we have moving along our pathway structures.
“Schools and colleges are so important to the future of our game and by webcasting live games and broadcasting a wide range of weekly highlights, S4C is helping us build interest and increase all important participation.
“I know how hard the teams and coaches are working to ensure that what the viewers get to see is a highly skilled and competitive brand of rugby which all our fans will enjoy.”
Ahead of their first season in the competition, Dai Flanagan, Director of Rugby at Newport High School, is looking forward to seeing how his side fare.
“It’s an exciting league. We watched it last year and wanted to get into it,” he said.
“The school have worked really hard and now it’s a chance to prove we can compete in the league. There aren’t going to be any easy games. Every school in this league prioritises rugby so it’s a big opportunity for our players to develop.”
Gareth Nicholas, Director of Rugby at Bridgend College, said: “It’s a great event. The backing this league is receiving is fantastic – it’s very exciting.
“The diversity of the new teams coming in means we’re bringing the standard up which is always good for Welsh rugby. If you look at the groups, I think they’re all tough groups. None of the teams are going to be pushovers and there was very little between the sides last year.
“That’s good for the competition and the development of the teams.”
The Wednesday Under 18 league sees 11 teams compete in two groups of four and one of three. The top two teams from each group then progress to stage two with play-off matches to follow.
The rest of the teams also compete in stage two but in a different pool.
Josh Leach, Director of Rugby at Llandrillo College, is hoping his side can compete at the top of group two. They face Coleg Gwent, Llandovery College and Cowbridge Comprehensive in the first round of fixtures.
“We’re looking to step things up as a college and our aim to start with has to be to top the group stage,” said Leach.
“We want to be playing at the best standard possible throughout the year and the great thing about this competition is that the players and teams will test each other.”
Matt Silva, Director of Rugby at Cowbridge Comprehensive, added: “A lot of work has gone in over the past three or four months, the boys have been training four times a week through the summer and we’ve played two friendly games.
“Things are going really well and the boys are coming to school with smiles on their faces, they’re really enjoying it.”
Cowbridge captain Dan Holder said: “The boys are really excited. Playing against the best rugby boys in the country brings you on as a player.”
WRU Wednesday Under 18 League Stage One Fixtures (all kick-offs 2.30pm unless otherwise stated, check wru.co.uk/facebook and @welshrugbyunion for regular updates)
Group 1 – Sir Gar, Bridgend, Pembroke, Newport HS
Group 2 – Llandovery, Gwent, Cowbridge, Llandrillo
Group 3 – Cymoedd, Neath Port Talbot, Gower
Round 1 – Sep 25:
Sir Gar v Pembroke
Bridgend v Newport HS (live on s4c.co.uk)
Llandovery v Cowbridge
Gwent v Llandrillo (2pm)
Cymoedd v Gower
Round 2 – Oct 2:
Bridgend v Pembroke
Newport HS v Sir Gar
Gwent v Cowbridge
Llandrillo v LLandovery
Neath PT v Gower (live on s4c.co.uk)
Round 3 (Oct 9):
Sir Gar v Bridgend
Pembroke v Newport HS
Llandovery v Gwent
Cowbridge v Llandrillo (live on s4c.co.uk)
Cymoedd v Neath PT
