Pontypridd Schools will be seeking back-to-back wins in the prestigious Dewar Shield U16 final when they face Llanelli Schools in a repeat of the 2018 final at Principality Stadium on Thursday, 13 December (7.30pm).
Ponty beat Cardiff Schools 34-28 last season to win the title for the seventh time and after their big semi-final win over Ceredigion Schools, 54-18, they will return as red hot favourites have remained unbeaten in their six games to date.
But Llanelli have also enjoyed a great season and conjured up a late try to beat Rhondda Schools 22-19 in a dramatic ending to their semi-final after they topped Shield West with five wins out of six. Their only defeat came against Mynydd Mawr & Dinefwr, 22-19, to give themselves a chance of bridging a 30 gap since their last title.
“It’s a fantastic achievement to have reached the final. I’m so proud to have seen the development of our squad this season,” said Nick Murphy, Llanelli Schools chairman,
“The composure and skill we showed in scoring the last play try against a very physical and determined Rhondda Schools side in the semi final showed that the players have a lot of trust in each other and a commendable ‘never say die’ spirit.
“This is a reflection of the values and effort put in by our coaching team, who have invested so much time, effort and commitment this season.
“The final at one of the world’s greatest stadiums is surely going to be an experience to be treasured. My hope is our players will fill the red jerseys with massive pride, keep a clear and focused mind and, most of all, enjoy the experience.”
The teams last met in the final in 2018, when Ponty ran out comfortable winners 46-7. They scored eight tries, including a brace for Iwan Jenkins and a hat-trick for captain Ryan Wilkins.
Jenkins is currently at Exeter Chiefs and Wilkins is playing in Super Rygbi Cymru at Bridgend. One of his teammates then and now is Ben Burnell, who is one of seven coaches attached to the Pontypridd Schools squad.
Ben’s father, Justin Burnell, leads the programme and has had helped this season from current Cardiff Rugby and Wales U20 centre Steff Emanuel, Ponty captain Kris Parker, former Wales Sevens star Johnathan Edwards, ex-Wales World Cup lock Greg Prosser and Wales U20, Cardiff and Pontypridd centre Garyn Smith.
“The majority of us have come through the Pontypridd Schools system ourselves and so there is a great link between the past and the present. The boys have responded well to entering this season’s tournament as champions and are ready for another big occasion,” said Burnell senior.
“We are the only unbeaten team in the competition and as coaches we all benefit from the hard work put in by the mini and junior clubs, as well as the schools, in our catchment area. This is Welsh rugby heartland and Ponty Schools has been a production line of talent for many, many years.
“A number of our players from last year’s team made the Coleg y Cymoedd team that reached the WSC Rugby U18 final, while the Ysgol Glantaf captain in the final, Alfied Prygodzycz, was another of our alumni.
“Among those to watch in the 2025 line up are centre Sam Morgan-Richards, scrum half Ollie Matthews and flanker Josh Morgan, who is the son of former Wales international second row Scott Morgan.”
Pontypridd first made the final 99 years ago in 1927 and also made the 1929 final. Llanelli’s first win came in 1930 when they beat Penygraig, but they were then beaten by Abertillery in the final a year later.
They had winning sides in 1956, 1959, 1961, 1965 and 1995 and were beaten in the 1963, 1979, 2016 and 2018 finals. Pontypridd’s win last year came after they had lost to Swansea in the 2023 final and made it seven titles in total – 1983, 1985, 1991, 1992, 1996, 2018 and 2024.
THE ROAD TO THE DEWAR SHIELD CUP FINAL
Pontypridd Schools – Shield East
SF: Pontypridd 54 – 12 Ceredigion
Pontypridd 28 – 18 Cardiff Blue
Rhondda 17 – 24 Pontypridd
Pontypridd 36 – 8 Vale of Glamorgan
Rhymney Valley 7 – 26 Pontypridd
Pontypridd 43 – 15 Newport
Llanelli Schools – Shield West
SF: Llanelli 22 – 19 Rhondda
Bridgend 23 – 27 Llanelli
Llanelli 26 – 10 Ceredigion
Carmarthen 24 – 33 Llanelli
Llanelli 19 – Mynydd Mawr & Dinefwr
Llanelli 21 – 5 Swansea East
Swansea West 5 – 47 Llanelli
THE DEWAR SHIELD CUP FINAL TEAMS
Pontypridd Schools: Gethin Evans; Macsen Berridge, Jake Ayers, Sam Morgan-Richards, Lewis Kinsey; Jake Barclay (captain), Olly Matthews; Tomas Williams, Cori John, Zac Willianms, Alfie Harris, Cameron Phillips, Josh Morgan, Reegan Gibbons, Jack Evans
Reps: Oliver Cavanagh, Kaylan Bowen, Jacobn Broadley, Jakub Rhszard-Kolsut, Niall Horne, Oliver Mahoney, Rhys Vaughan, Riley Lock, Morgan Prothero, Carter Mountjoy
Llanelli Schools: Llyr Morris; Rori Daniel, Joe Lawrence, Charlie Eatly, Llion Williams; Cai Evans, Rowan Williams; Jude Wells, Cody Bates, Jayden Duxberry, Elliot Fouracre, Simon Dominiak, Ifan Gravell-Jones (co-captain), Max Evans, Ryan Lamfear (co-captain)
Reps: Oliver Sparkes, Tony Lee, Brodie Bowers, Steffan Jones, Josh Jones, Regan James, Rhydian McDowell, Harri Lewis