Josh Turnbull’s Cardiff Rugby side ended the first phase of their WRU Academies U18 Championship campaign on a high as they beat Scarlets 38-21 at Church Bank, Llandovery.
That made it four from four in the opening block of five rounds and means they will go into phase two in the New Year with a healthy lead at the top of the table as they chase a first title since 2020. They have a bye this weekend.
Having beaten Sale Sharks and drawn with Gloucester in a pre-season festival in Malvern, Turnbull’s young charges have now beaten the Dragons (45-35), reigning champions the Ospreys (63-22), RGC (49-19) and now Scarlets.
Turnbull had identified the Round 4 fixture as the biggest one of the block and picked his strongest side. Wales U18 cap Alfie Prygodzicz returned from injury and Sonny McCabe and Harry Turner stepped into the starting XV after training with the senior academy and playing for Cardiff RFC.
Wales U18 hooker Tom Howe powered over for two of Cardiff’s six tries as they took their tally over the three games up to 29. Prygodzicz and Turner joined him among the try scorers, while Ioan Leyshon and Harvey Bryant rounded off the half-dozen, while Ben Coomer added for conversions.
Prop Ollie Tucker picked up his second brace of tries for the Scarlets, who trailed 19-7 at the break, and Alfie Luger added a third. Toby Slater converted all three.
The Dragons made it back-to-back wins as they followed up their 32-17 victory over the Ospreys with a six try, 41-17 win over RGC in Colwyn Bay. Ciaran Beavis, Elliot Beavan, Gethin Tudball, George Bradbury, Brogan Leary and Jake Leighton got the tries for the visitors and Kai Kinsey improved three of them and kicked a penalty, while Liam Lawlor added another conversion.
RGC are still awaiting their first win after drawing with Scarlets (33-33) and then losing to Cardiff (49-19). Harri Hallum Dunn and Ryan Williams scored the home tries and Gwern ap Rhys converted them both and also kicked a penalty.
WRU ACADEMIES U18 CHAMPIONSHIP
Round 1
Cardiff 45 – 35 Dragons; Scarlets 16 – 17 Ospreys
Round 2
RGC 33 – 33 Scarlets; Ospreys 22 – 63 Cardiff
Round 3
Cardiff 49 – 19 RGC; Dragons 33 – 17 Ospreys
Round 4 – Sunday 7 September
RGC 17 – 41 Dragons; Scarlets 21 – 38 Cardiff
Round 5 – Sunday 14 September
Ospreys v RGC; Dragons v Scarlets
2026
Round 6 – Sunday 11 January
Scarlets v RGC; Cardiff v Ospreys
Round 7 – Sunday 18 January
RGC v Cardiff; Ospreys v Dragons
Round 8 – Sunday 25 January
Dragons v RGC; Cardiff v Scarlets
Round 9 – Sunday 25 January
RGC v Ospreys; Scarlets v Dragons
Round 10 – Sunday 8 February
Dragons v Cardiff; Ospreys v Scarlets
Academy U18 Finals – Thursday 12 February