Unlike in previous seasons, the teams will only play against each other once, with the Ospreys completing Round 1 when they host Dragons on Wednesday, 10 January.
“We’re excited to start the Under18 campaign with a group of players who have come off a three-month program with the junior academy and a good block of rugby with their schools and colleges block,” said Cardiff Rugby Academy manager, Gruff Rees.
“Glantaf got a lot of headlines after reaching the final of the WSC Rugby U18 tournament for the first time. Eight of their players ae already in our junior academy and four or five more are in the process of being contracted to the senior academy.
“Cardiff & Vale College are resetting themselves after winning back-to-back WSC Rugby titles and have recently been at the World Schools Festival in Thailand. Whitchurch HS have also done well and it was also brilliant to see Coleg y Cymoedd do what was required to stay in Conference A.
“To have four teams in that top league is brilliant for us. There are only five fixtures for the U18 team now but they will provide all the players with a great opportunity to step up to a representative level.”
Many players who have recently featured in the RAG U18 tournament have been playing for the Cardiff Rugby URC and European side this season – Mackenzie Martin, Lucas de la Rua, Cam Winnett and Evan Lloyd.
A greater reliance on young talent across the four regions means progression from schoolboy to full time professional can come quicker than ever before. The 18-year-old Morgan Morse is a classic example of that at the Ospreys.
Only last season De la Rua was playing for Cardiff in the RAG U18 tournament, yet earlier this season he made his full debut for Cardiff Rugby in an Investec Champions Cup tie against Toulouse at Stade Ernest Wallon.
“Circumstances have helped Lucas to get his chances, but he has worked hard and taken his opportunities. If you have the right attributes, you apply yourself, and knuckle down, then there are opportunities for young players,” added Rees.
“If you look at the first-team group of players at Cardiff Rugby, there are nine or 10 who have played for the U18 team in the last few years. An amazing 71% of our senior squad have come through our academy – the second highest in the three main leagues in Europe after Leinster higher – and that’s something we’re very proud of.”
Academy coaches Dan Fish and Craig Everett head up the coaching team for Cardiff U18, while Saul Nelson is in charge of RGC.
RGC U18: Gwern Doherty; Jack Wyn Roberts, Gruff Llwyd, Osian Llewellyn, Reuben Gordon-Astbury; Cynon Griffiths, Tudur Jones (co-capt); Sean Fitzgerald, Jack Austin, Greg Thomas, Twm Jones, Tom Cottle (co-capt), Charlie Jones, Morgan Dryhurst-Jones, Aron Brown
Reps: Cian Owen, Rob Jones, Oliver Roe, Noah Murray-Jones, Gruff Rhys-Jones, Osian Moore, Tyler Wiliams, Dylan Menzies
CARDIFF RUGBY U18 MEN’S SQUAD
Forwards: Dylan Barratt, Lewis Jones, Jayden Meade, Tom Howe, Ellis Richards, Iestyn Thomas, Issac Godfrey, Callum DP, Kamren Harris, Gabe Williams, Alfred Bateman, Ollie Rose, Sonny McCabe, Luke Caple, Ben Bora, Luke Jones, Harry Fernandez-Ford, Elliot Giles, Ethan Evans, Nick House, Matt Halsall
Backs: Sion Davies, Rhys Rutley, Joey Williams, Lloyd Lucas, Logan Jones, Ben Coomer, Seb McMamara, Joseff Jones, Fin Hart, Ollie Das, Tom Hughes, Ioan Penry, Osian Darwin Lewis, Bailey Curtis, Dewi Thomas, Dylan Scott, Ben Roberts, Kodie Stone
RAG U18 MEN FIXTURES
Round 1
Sunday, 7 January: RGC v Cardiff
Wednesday, 10 January: Ospreys v DragonsRound 2
Sunday, 14 January: Dragons v RGC
Wednesday, 17 January: Cardiff v ScarletsRound 3
Sunday, 21 January: RGC v Ospreys
Wednesday, 24 January: Scarlets v DragonsRound 4
Sunday, 28 January: Scarlets v RGC
Wednesday, 31 January: Cardiff v OspreysRound 5
Sunday, 4 February: Dragons v Cardiff
Wednesday, 7 February: Ospreys v Scarlets
The Women’s RAG U18 programme also gets underway on Sunday, 7 January, with reigning champions Cardiff hosting RGC Black at 1.00pm.
Cardiff have just announced their squad, which will be coached by Anela Majozi, Garin Vivian, Jonathan Hooper, Megan Tate and Gavin Gallagher, and it contains 14 players who enjoyed success in 2023.
Returning for a second tilt at the title are backs Seren Lockwood, Brooke Bevan, Rhianna Bryant, Freya Inkpen, Nia Fajeyisan, Sophie Southgate, Raylee Caviell, Sophia Foscolo, and Madison Isgrove, as well as forwards Crystal James, Niamh Padmore, Shanelle Williams, Tilly Vucaj, Ella Fry, and Riley Stanger.
The Dragons host Ospreys at Ystrad Mynach in Round 1 and that game will be followed by RGC Purple against Scarlets on Sunday, 7 January. N08 Molly Owen is set to captain the Dragons, who have picked a squad of 44 players.
Scarlets have named a squad of 34 players a welcome back a number of last season’s side, including full-back Rhiannon Griffin, who will captain the side.
The coaching team is once again headed up Daryl Morgan who will have Rhodri Jones and Tal Rees (attack), Lowri Williams (backs), Roy Davies (forwards) and Chris Thomas (S&C) alongside him. Calan Davies is the team manager.
SCARLETS WOMEN’S U18 SQUAD
Backs: Anwen Raybould, Celyn Morgan, Chloe Wilkins, Ela Harries, Ella Wainwright, Ffion Davies, Jasmin Jones, Katherine Winder, Leyah Davies, Lona Harding-Jones, Mabli Evans, Martha Hallam, Megan Cole, Priya Liley, Rhiannon Griffin (captain), Sian Cleaton, Sophie Delaney, Yasmin Burgess-Williams,
Forwards: Celyn Raggett, Catrin Lewis, Ceris Phillips, Cerys Jones, Ciara Taylor, Emily Guilford, Grace Rees, Jess James, Lois Jones, Martha Ford, Mia-Haf Bowen, Milly Geering, Olivia Phillips, Shannon Brown, Sophie Jones, Stella Orrin
Jan 7 – Rd 1 (Ystrad Mynach) – RGC Piws v Scarlets (17:30)
DRAGONS WOMEN’S U18 SQUAD
Backs: Lucy Grenfell, Lily Hawkins, Kasey Molkot, Lexi Jones, Isla McMullen, Taufa Tuipulotu, Georgia Stephens, Lexie Howells, Megan Thomas, Scarlett Jenkins, Pierra Bollard, Addison Werner, Bella Parkes, Cassidy Evans, Marnie George, Kali Permian, Abi Thomas, Katie Johnson, Meg Thomas.
Forwards:Chloe Thomas, Tegan Hopper, Nia Phillips, Darcie Locke, Evie Hill, Eleri Davies, Darcie GeorgeErin Davies, Seren Thomas, Lowri Freeman, Angel Band, Ffion Lewis-Jones, Mackenzie Perry, Lily-May Sparey, Robyn Hall, Sadie Jones, Amelia Bailey, Bonnie Miles, Seren-Wren Howell, Niamh Corcoran-Lockley, Chiara Pearce, Molly Owen (captain), Tia Jones, Isla Vaughn, Georgia Morgan
CARDIFF RUGBY U18 WOMEN’S SQUAD
Forwards: Crystal James, Rhoswen James, Keira Leigh Jones, Niamh Padmore, Freya Tanhai, Madeleine Jones, Fern Southwick, Shanelle Williams, Lili Griffiths, Tilly Vucaj, Maisey Wiggins, Lara Young, Becca Coggins, Lili Corrihons, Ella Fry, Charlotte Palmer, Grace Sexton, Lacy Harris, Riley Stanger
Backs: Seren Lockwood, Mali Davies, Neave Rudkin, Brooke Bevan, Megan Jones, Rhianna Bryant, Megan Hunt, Freya Inkpen, Tegan Bendall, Nia Fajeyisan, Lily Foscolo, Eden Skuse, Sophie Southgate, Raylee Caviell, Elodie O’Carrol, Sophia Foscolo, Madison Isgrove, Seren Thomas Maxine Yepoah
