Shane Williams always got butterflies the night before a big game at Principality Stadium when he was playing for Wales and last night was no exception.
Not that Wales’ leading try scorer will be playing for his country again today (Friday 17 April – 7.15pm). Instead, he will be coaching his local village club, Amman United Youth, in their first WRU U18 Cup in the latest cup final at the ‘Go Compare Road to Principality 2026’ series.
Their first appearance in the final will coincide with Pontypool United’s return to the biggest stage in the game in Wales. They were beaten by a monster 45 metre penalty from Ioan Thomas which made it back-to-back titles for Llandeilo Youth with the last kick of the game as they triumphed 20-19.
There are eight United players returning to the scene of the last gaps nightmare in 2025 and they will be hoping to set the record straight.
“This will be their fifth or sixth final, whereas it will be our first in only the second season we re-launched our youth team,” explained Williams.
“We know how consistently good a club Pontypool United have been for many, many years at this level and are aware of the heartbreak they suffered in last year’s final. They will be highly motivated and very tough to beat.
“But we’ve come through some tough games ourselves this season and this Amman team has grown up together. I first met most of these lads when they were eight and I’ve come through with them, and my son Carter, since then.
“We’ve got a couple of key players ruled out through injury, but there is a lot of talent in this team and in the area.”
Jac Cloke captained Wales U18 in Vichy last week in one of the Six Nations U18 Festival matches and Cole Lacey was also in the squad. They both feature in the back row, with Carter Williams featuring on the wing.
As well a coaching the Amman United Youth team, Williams is also director of rugby at Ysgol Dyffryn Aman, who play in the WRU Schools & Colleges league. After hanging up his boots at international and regional level he returned to play for Amman United in 2017 and famously helped them to win the WRU Bowl, scoring a try at Principality Stadium in the 43-31 win over Caerphilly.
Now he wants the next generation to make their mark at the home of Welsh rugby and prove there is still plenty of talent coming through the ranks in the national game.
“The club hasn’t had a great time since we won the Bowl back in 2017. The hope is that by re-starting the Youth team we will have a conveyor belt of younger players to feed into the senior ranks,” said Williams.
“We’ve had a great ride in the cup to get to this point, although we only went through against Bargoed on try count in the semi-final, and I just want the boys to go out there and enjoy what they’ve earned.
“I have to admit that I’ve had more than the usual amount of butterflies in the last few days and it is far easier playing than coaching. I’ve just told them to treat it as every other game and that they will be playing on a pitch that is slightly larger than they are used to in a stadium than is certainly a lot bigger than they’ve experienced before.”
There are also links to Welsh rugby royalty in the Pontypool United ranks with full back Jack McDonagh the grandson of the great Graham Price. Co-captain Cae Jones is the grandson of former Pontypool hooker Steve Jones.
The hero of their 26-25 semi-final win over Morriston was centre Lewis Appleby, who scored a hat-trick of tries, while Max Jacobs is the younger brother of last year’s captain. Rudi Creel is also hoping to go one better than his brother, Chester, in last year’s final.
TEAMS
Pontypool United: Jack McDonagh; Luca Grocott-Mason, Lewis Appleby, Charlie Gregory, Alfie Prosser; Thomas Howard, Daniel Parker; Logan Leonard, Cae Jones (co-captain), Scott Crewe, Ralph Evans, Reuben Malson (co-captain), Rudi Creel, Bailey Stride, Jake Sheppard
Reps: Ieuan Hockaday, George Jones, Max Jacob, Dewi Bainton, Coel Adams, Lewis Jenkins, Charlie Burrows, Danny HutchinsonAmman United: Cian Evans; Carter Williams, James Bentley, Kennedy Richards (co-captain), Aled Davies; Toby Slater, Iwan Bull; Ceian Lewis (co-captain), Griff Rees, David Thomas, Tom James, Dyfan Llewelyn, Cole Lacey, Jac Cloke, Hefin Davies
Reps: Reagan Griffiths, Flynn Ahearne, Harvey Duncan, Josh Doorbar, Evan Whiles, Iwan Griffiths, Tomos Bull, Ioan Booth
ROAD TO THE FINAL
21 March 2026 – Semi Final
Bargoed 20 – 20 Amman United (won on try count)
Pontypool United 36 – 25 Morriston
7 March 2026 – Quarter Final
Caldicot 21 – 43 Pontypool United
28 February 2026 – Quarter Final
Amman United 13 – 0 St Albans
13 December 2025 – Round 2
Glynneath 21 – 32 Amman United
Pontypool United 56 – 6 Cwmafan
25 October 2025 – Round 1
Amman United w/o v Carmarthen Quins
Pontypool United 45 – 19 Caerphilly