The Player Pathway

Emerging Player Programme

WRU Talent Discovery 14-16 yrs (U16’s) Emerging Player Programme (EPP)

In line with the WRU ‘One Wales /Cymru’n un’ strategy, with the key priority of accelerating the women and girl’s ecosystem and women and girl’s player registrations to 10,000, the WRU are launching its first Emerging Player Programme for U16’s girls.

To achieve 10,000 registered women and girls, the focus is to provide every girl 6-18yrs the opportunity to engage, enjoy, and excel in Welsh rugby via educational settings and/or clubs/hubs in Wales.

One key area of focus is player retention for U16’s and U18’s, meaning players are staying engaged and returning to play year on year. To support and enhance the offering for U16’s players, we are implementing a localised WRU Emerging Player Programme for girls across Wales.

The purpose of the EPP programme is to identify and explore potential by providing local, accessible high-quality training environments. The Girls’ WRU Emerging Player Programme across Wales will provide greater accessibility, enhance development and provide playing opportunities for female players, all within 1.5 hours driving distance from the players home or Girls Hub.

The Emerging Player Programme for girls will be a pilot in 2025, delivered by WRU community teams, closely supported via WRU performance team and reviewed on completion of programme. Delivered across 9 sites between January 2025 to April 2025, the pilot will run between 6 – 8 weeks of training and two combine playing opportunities in each area (East, West, North). The programme is free for any player and is developed to become the first step for representative rugby and talent discovery.

The EPP is designed to engage 60 % of the U16’s registered players in each area (East, West, North Wales) aged 14 – 16. It is a development-led programme whose purpose is to develop player readiness for their next stage whether that be within the local Girls Hub, School, College or Player Development Centre (PDC) and provide opportunities for early identification within the pathway.

Eligibility

Age 14yrs – 16yrs (Year 10 & 11 in education)

School within area (e.g. school is based in West Wales, Scarlets and Ospreys region). *If player lives or attends education across two borders of West/East/North Wales, the player’s school will become the basis for decision of location.

Sign Up

If you are an U16’s player aged 14 – 16 and interested in further information and signing up for the programme, please get your parent/guardian to sign up on the following link: –

Locations

West Wales (Week 1 w/c 27th January)