More than 50 school, college, club, social and representative teams from all over Wales enjoyed one of the best experiences of their lives over the last fortnight, playing a final or community match on the Principality Stadium pitch.

While Judgement Day saw the four professional regions battle it out on Saturday for Guinness Pro 14 points and positions, five days over the last two weeks were dedicated to community rugby of all shapes and sizes, the pinnacle of which saw Porthcawl, Brynmawr and Merthyr win the National Bowl, Plate and Cup on Sunday in an unforgettable National Finals Day.
 
There were 10 schools finals, three youth finals, ten Touch Rugby matches, three mixed ability games, three senior cup finals and Emerging Wales Women v England U18 Development XV in what was the most comprehensive celebration of the grassroots game to date at the home of Welsh rugby.
 
WRU Head of Rugby Participation Ryan Jones said, “For community players it can be a once in a lifetime opportunity to run out at Principality Stadium and we wanted that experience to be as positive as possible.
 
“It’s very important to us that teams from all aspects of our game, from the traditional XV-a-side rugby played by schools and clubs to the alternative Touch Rugby format and inclusive mixed ability rugby had the chance to be inspired by playing at Principality Stadium and it was thrilling to see pleasing that so many players and everyone behind the teams gained so much from the experience.”
 
Pontypridd Schools lifted the Dewar Shield for the first time in 22 years in the final match of the series, beating Llanelli Schools 46-7 in Tuesday’s final. Justin Burnell’s side dominated the first half and went in 24-0 up at half-time.

Llanelli Schools proved to be tough opponents but Ponty’s expansive game paid dividends running in a total of eight tries in total including a brace for Iwan Jenkins, and a hat-trick for captain Ryan Wilkins and further touchdowns for Ben Burnell, Seb Thomas and Sam Davies, Ben Burnell adding two conversions and Iwan Jenkins one.

Iwan Jenkins said, “It was awesome, probably the best feeling in the world to score at Principality Stadium and hear the crowd cheer you where Wales have won the Six Nations. You look around and wonder how you’ve got here!
“We worked hard all season to get here but everything came together in the final, the occasion and the stadium really brings out the best in you.

“We’ve benefitted from great facilities this season thanks to USW, the coaches have been excellent and it’s brilliant to end it with a win.

“We’d love to go onto play for Blues U16s from here and who knows maybe Wales in the future!”

Rhymney Valley and Cynon Valley Schools also claimed boys’ silverware on the final day with wins over Ceredigion and Mynydd Mawr/ Dinefwr in the U15 Bowl and Plate, while Ysgol y Berwyn, Bala, claimed the first girls’ U15 schools title at Principality Stadium.

Ysgol y Berwyn and Ysgol Bro Teifi reached the final following a preliminary round robin at Cardiff Arms Park which also involved the other regional winners Blackwood Comprehensive, Afon Taf High School and Ysgol Ystalyfera.

In a competitive final, Berwyn raced to a 12-0 lead and were 19-7 up after two thirds of the game. Bro Teifi never gave up, captain Grace Jones leading from the front with a try and converting her own and Seren Webster’s scores but Berwyn, with a brace of tries each to Katie Davies and Mali Jones and three conversions for captain Sara Jones, made sure the trophy travelled north with a 26-14 win.

Ysgol y Berwyn coach Euros Jones said, “It’s been a good year all round really. The Yr10  girls that won the final started at Ysgol Y Berwyn on the same day as myself in September 2014. It’s pleasing to see what can be achieved even at a small secondary school like ours with only 320 pupils if the pupils are given support to develop in their chosen sport, in this case rugby.” 
 
Road to Principality
 
Wednesday 18 April – Boys’ Schools U18 Finals
Vase Final: Mountain Ash/ St Johns 19-12 Greenhill School Tenby
Plate Final: Dyffryn Aman 25-8 Bridgend College
Cup Final: Brynteg 19-10 Ysgol Preseli
Emerging Wales 26-20 England U19 Dev XV
 
Saturday 21 April – National Youth Cup Finals and Touch Rugby Finals (x10)
National Youth Finals
National Youth Bowl Final – Ystrad Rhondda 13-9 St Julians HSOB
National Youth Plate Final – Tondu 29-19 Pembroke
National Youth Cup Final – Treorchy 10-10 Rumney (shared trophy)
 
Sunday 29 April – WRU National Finals Day
National Bowl Porthcawl 33-31 Pembroke
National Plate Final Brynmawr 50-29 Nant Conwy
National Cup Final Merthyr 41-7 Newport
 
Monday 30 April – Schools finals and Mixed Ability rugby
DC Thomas Cup Final – Pontypool Schools U11s 15-10 Llwchwr Schools
Year 8 Boys final – Whitchurch High School 22-17 Corpus Christi
Year 9 Boys final – Ysgol Maes y Gwendraeth 43 – 27 Bryn Celynnog
Mixed ability rugby festival – Llanelli Warriors, Swansea Gladiators, Cardiff Chiefs
 
Tuesday 1 May – Schools U15 Finals
Lawrence Miller Bowl – Rhymney Valley 26-7 Ceredigion
Morgan Griffiths Plate – Cynon Valley 14-2 Mynydd Mawr/ Dinefwr
Girls’ U15 Final – Ysgol y Berwyn 26-14 Ysgo Bro Teifi
Dewar Shield Final – Pontypridd Schools 46-7 Llanelli Schools