The tournament has gone from strength to strength in its first two seasons, in terms of performance levels and also in gaining television coverage on S4C.
The tournament format sees the eleven sides split into three Pools initially, playing each other once, with the top two sides from each Pool going into the Cup competition and the rest going into the Trophy.
Double cup champions Coleg Sir Gar face Neath Port Talbot College at the Graig Campus in Group 1, while last season’s finalists Coleg y Cymoedd host Trophy winners Llandovery College at Taffs Well in Group 3. Coleg Gwent, who missed out on a place in the final after losing to Coleg y Cymoedd in the play-off, take on Bridgend College at the new Caerphilly Centre for Sporting Excellence at Ystrad Mynach under the spotlight of the television cameras.
S4C will again broadcast one match per round live on s4c.co.uk on Wednesday afternoons, with extended highlights of those live games shown on the Rygbi Pawb programme on the Welsh language television channel later that evening, along with highlights of other games in the league and with some footage of regional schools league action.
Gethin Watts, WRU National Performance Manager said, “We’re delighted with the standards produced by the participating teams in the WRU Wednesday Under 18 League, not only on the pitch but off it too.
There have been some out and out performers in the first two years of the tournament, with Coleg Sir Gar and Coleg y Cymoedd contesting both finals. They have set the bar high. However, all the other participating teams are constantly working hard to raise their game and compete at the highest level. All the teams have been fitness tested at the WRU National Centre of Excellence and have prepared well for this campaign.
“Many players are putting their hands up for Wales Under 18 selection through this competition and that can only raise standards across the board.”
Llion Iwan, Content Commissioner of Sport at S4C said:
“We are looking forward greatly to covering another season of college and school rugby on S4C. Both the style and quality of play at this level has proved popular with our rugby-hungry viewers. The Under 18 international tournament in South Africa this summer was particularly well received. The Under 18 coverage complements our wide choice of rugby coverage from Wales and the world which can be enjoyed on Rygbi Pawb, our rugby flagship series Clwb Rygbi and our new S4C Sunday sports show Clwb.”
Along with showing the Round One match between Coleg Gwent and Bridgend College from the new Centre of Excellence in Ystrad Mynach, tonight’s Rygbi Pawb also looks ahead to an exciting season of schools and college rugby, as well as taking a look at the Wales Under 18 players who starred in South Africa, as they return to play in the Under 18s league.
WRU Wednesday Under 18 League Round One fixtures (all 2.30 unless stated):
Pool 1
Coleg Sir Gar v Neath Port Talbot College (Graig Campus CSG)
Cowbridge v Gower College (Cowbridge Comprehensive)
Pool 2
Coleg Gwent v Bridgend College (Caerphilly Centre of Sporting Excellence, Ystrad Mynach)
Coleg Llandrillo v Pemboke SRA (Parc Eirias, 1pm)
Pool 3
Coleg y Cymoedd v Llandovery College (Taffs Well)
Newport High – free
