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Coleg Gwent continue to dominate the girls’ Welsh Schools and Colleges Under 18 league with a fifth title being crowned at Principality Stadium with a convincing 51-5 victory over Coleg y Cymoedd.
The defending champions were in no mood to relinquish their grasp on the title, running in nine tries as their unbeaten record for the season remained firmly intact.
Cymoedd’s opening try in the second minute by flanker Seren Thomas stung the firm favorites into action. It took only two minutes for Grace Boyd to plough over to level the scores but once Tegan Bendall scored after an intricate move, there was only going to be one winner.
The underdogs tackled gamely and did well to prevent an avalanche of tries in the first half and did well to restrict Coleg Gwent to 15-5 at the break after Tai Jones rumbled over for a third try.
Marshalled superbly by halfback pairing Lily Hawkins and Kacey Morkot, Coleg Gwent were constantly on the front foot in the second half to completely dominated proceedings.
Hawkins may have been the smallest player on the pitch, but she gave Morkot a dream ride behind a dominant pack. When she wasn’t sniping from the base and keeping Cynmoedd’s back row honest, she was firing out bullet-like passes to her backline to keep momentum going.
Morkot opened the second half scoring with a well taken try before winger Addison Werner, flanker Amelia Bailey and No 8 Grace Boyd scoring with Tia Jones adding a second to her first half effort.
Player of the match Hawkins was quick to praise the efforts of her teammates in a ruthless performance.
“It’s great to get out on the pitch and have another win with the girls, not only with my teammates but my friends too, we’re a great bunch on and off the field.
“I’m sure there are going to be things with the girls aren’t happy with but that just shows what a good team we are. We’ll all have things we’ll want to work on after this game.
“It’s just unreal to play at the national stadium. Some of the girls have been here a few times now but it never gets old, it’s always great to play here.”
The ‘Road to Principality’ (RTP) rugby festival has returned for the 2024/25 season, with Go.Compare continuing as lead sponsor.
The event brings together youth rugby and inclusive teams from across Wales to celebrate the sport’s vibrant community spirit, while providing a platform for future stars to shine.
Go.Compare, a leading provider of comparison services, is continuing to support the Welsh Rugby’s community rugby festival for the second consecutive year.
The central concept for RTP is for community sides to be able to follow in the footsteps of their heroes and experience playing on the hallowed turf of Principality Stadium as it hosts a range of finals and climactic clashes in a given season.
In the 2024/25 season, RTP will expand into regional club grounds as hosts for some matches.
“We are delighted to continue our partnership with the RTP Community Rugby Festival,” said Lee Griffin, co-founder and CEO of Go.Compare. “As one of the biggest rugby festivals in Europe, it’s a great opportunity to support grassroots rugby and bring local clubs, young players, professional players and the fans together in one tournament.
“Rugby is deeply intertwined with the Welsh identity so, as a Welsh brand, we understand the importance of celebrating its heritage and making sure that we are directly supporting those links between grassroots clubs and professional rugby.”
The rugby extravaganza which engages over 2,000 players year-on-year will continue into December with four more matches. The Welsh Schools Senior Group ‘Champion of Champions’, Boys U18s Final and the covetable Dewar Shield U16’s, Boys Final all at Principality Stadium on the Tuesday 10th December, followed by the Girl’s Hubs U16s and U18s National Cup Finals on Saturday 14th December.
The festival features exciting matches between local clubs, schools, and youth teams, showcasing the talent that shapes Welsh rugby at the grassroots level.
More games will be played at alternative venues across Wales. These include regional rugby grounds and SRC clubs ensuring RTP’s reach extends beyond Cardiff to further support the growth of Welsh rugby.
“Rugby is a sport that brings people together” said, WRU Community Director Geraint John, “The success of our RTP rugby festival highlights the incredible talent at grassroots level.
“While Principality Stadium remains the focal point for the event, we are particularly excited to see games played at other venues this year as well, ensuring the festival truly reaches communities from across the country.
“We understand there maybe some disappointment that not everyone will get to play at our National Stadium but we aim to make it a fantastic experience for people and players.
“We’re thankful to our regional professional clubs and Super Rygbi Cymru venues for their support and we look forward to sharing the full schedule and venues for the 2025 season climax in New Year.”
Promotion of RTP is part of a longstanding partnership with S4C, which will cover the Schools and Colleges matches, Academy U18s and Finals Days via its Clwb Rygbi programme. The Women’s Finals Day will also be broadcast on S4C with English commentary available.
Carys Owens, Managing Director, Whisper Cymru, which produces Clwb Rygbi for S4C, said, “This collaboration is a vital part of Whisper Cymru’s commitment to sharing grassroots rugby stories and showcasing emerging talent to fans around the world.
“We are incredibly passionate about providing a platform to highlight the Welsh rugby pathway within Wales and the bright new talent that’s shaping the future of the sport.
“As the Clwb Rygbi brand continues to evolve, Whisper Cymru is thrilled to announce that this production will play a key role in the continuation of the Whisper Academy training pathway. The initiative will focus on developing the next generation of sports production talent, helping to secure the future of high-quality sports broadcasting.”
RTP Schedule 2025
Thursday December 5th (S4C Broadcast) Principality Stadium
Welsh Schools & Colleges (WSC) National Conference – Girls U18’s Final
Saturday December 14th Principality Stadium
Girls Hubs – U16s National Cup Final Cardiff Quins Pink v Môn Stars (KO 1.30)
Girls Hubs – U18s National Cup FinalCardiff Quins v Nelson Belles (u18 Girls Cup) (KO 5.15)
December – Venue TBC
Girls Hubs – U16’s Plate Final
Girls Hubs – U18s Plate Final
Sunday March 30th Principality Stadium
Adult Women’s – Bowl Final
Adult Women’s – Plate Final
Adult Women’s – Cup Final
March/April – Venue TBC
Girls Schools – U12 Cup Final
Girls Schools – U14 Cup Final
Girls Schools – U16 Cup Final
Girls Schools – U18 Cup Final
Ynysddu will host reigning WRU National Women’s Cup holders Llandaff North in the quarter-finals of this season tournament on Sunday 19 January.
Llandaff North will be seeking back-to-back titles having run in a record 13 tries in their 85-14 cup final victory over Seven Sisters at Principality Stadium in April.
But they will have to be at their best against an Ynysddu side flying high at present and are seeking to mark the 10thanniversary of their women’s section with a landmark victory. They have won all six games in the Championship to date lead the table by two points from CRCC.
Llantwit Fardre and Haverfordwest are two more Championship clubs still in the tournament. Haverfordwest were beaten finalists in the WRU Plate final last season, and they will host Bonymaen.
Burry Port currently lead the way in the WRU Women’s Premiership with Llandaff North and Whitland just behind them with unbeaten records to date from their three matches. Burry Port host Caernarfon, who beat them 55-39 at home in the league.
Llantwit Fardre welcome Whitland to determine which team will be the last to make up the quarter-final line-up. Whoever loses will drop down into the Plate competition, where they have received a bye to the semi-finals.
There are only two games in the Plate quarters, with Porthcawl hosting last season’s Bowl runners-up, Old Penarthians, and Lampeter Town entertaining last season’s Cup runners-up Seven Sisters.
In the Bowl, Ynysybwl are six from six in the Central League, Wrexham are to dogs in the North and Pembroke and West Swansea Hawks are the top two in West.
WRU National Women’s Cup Quarter-Finals – Sunday, 19 January
Burry Port v Caernarfon
Haverfordwest v Bonymaen
Pontyclun v Llantwit Fardre or Whitland
Ynysddu v Llandaff NorthWRU National Women’s Plate Quarter-Finals – Sunday, 19 January
Porthcawl v Old Penarthians
Lampeter Town v Seven SistersByes: Clwb Rygbi Cymry Caerdydd, Llantwit Fardre or Whitland
WRU National Women’s Bowl Quarter-Finals – Sunday, 19 January
Pembroke v Tondu
Treorchy v Senghenydd
West Swansea Hawks v Ynysybwl
Wrexham v Taffs Well