Llandeilo Youth will get the chance to defend their WRU Clubs U18 title at Principality Stadium on Friday 4 April (kick-off 7.15pm) when they meet Pontypool United in the latest #RTP25 final.
They beat Builth Wells in the semi-final to earn their return ticket to the home of Welsh rugby, while Pontypool United overcame Glynneath. Last weekend Llandeilo also reached the final of the Carmarthenshire Youth Cup with a 28-20 triumph over St Clear’s.
Last year they extended their unbeaten run for the season to 18 games with their 22-19 Principality Stadium victory over Tonmawr in a gripping final. Five of the starting XV from the 2024 final, Sion Jones, Ioan Thomas, Llyr James, Gruff Jones and Rhodri Jenkins have played this season, along with Lloyd Thomas, Michael McDonagh, Ryan Sargeant and Iwan Blakeman, who were all on the bench.
Sion Jones will miss the final because he is due to make his Wales U19 debut against Ireland at Aberavon on Saturday. Toby Trickett has been succeeded as captain by Rhodri Jenkins.
For Llandeilo prop Llyr James it will be a chance to complete a ‘double-double’ having won the WSC U18 Rugby title with Llandovery College at Principality in 2023 and 2024 and the Boys U18 Clubs crown last season as well.
“Everyone in the squad is just buzzing that we’ve made it to a point where we are representing this town in something so big in youth rugby,” said Pontypool United skipper Harri Jacob.
“We’ve got four buses of supporters and around 400 fans coming to Cardiff to cheer us on. That is going to be an unreal feeling.
“We set out our goals at the start of the season to win it all and we are also in the Dragons Youth Cup final. It hasn’t really sunk in yet that we are in this final and playing for the No 1 spot in Wales.
“I back the boys, and I think we’ll win. I’d take a 3-0 win, but I don’t think to will come to that because we want to put on a show on Friday night.
“The club goes above and beyond for every team and is always there for us – from the people who cook the food every weekend for the minis, juniors and youth teams, through to the pool table. We all really appreciate the special feeling we get running out to play for the club.
ROAD TO THE FINAL
Semi Final – 01 March
Glynneath 8 – 23 Pontypool United; Llandeilo 17 – 13 Builth WellsQuarter-Final – 1 February
Llandeilo 20 – 18 Amman United; Pontypool United 18 – 3 MerthyrRound 2 – 14 December
Morriston 11 – 31 Llandeilo; Pencoed 20 – 37 Pontypool UnitedRound 1 – 09 November
Llandeilo 31 – 14 South Gower; Pontypool United 44 – 0 BargoedTEAMS
Llandeilo: Harri Davies; Cian Thomas, Iwan Blakeman, Ioan Thomas, Ewan Chater; Tomos Price, Tom Williams; Llyr James, Ashley Chappell, Noah Evans, Gruff Jones, Lloyd Thomas, Michael McDonagh, Rhodri Jenkins (captain), Hefin Hughes
Reps: Morgan Ridgway, Iwan Morgan, Steffan Jenkins, Ryan Sargeant, Will Edwards, Finn Jones, Oscar Isaac, Ifan ReesPontypool United: Jake Jenkins; Tayan Bevan-Jones, Troy Thomas, Charlie Gregory, Jack McDonagh; Morgan Cusack, Cameron Tovey; William Jones, Chester Creel, James Davies, Riley Mogford, Reuben Malson, Luke Daniel, Wayne Thomas, Harri Jacob (captain)
Reps: Cae Jones, Ralph Evans, Scott Crewe, Lewys Robinson-Blanche, Dewi Bainton, Tom Howard, Luca Growcott-Mason, Morgan Carter