With the big kick-off in the WRU Academies U18 Championship only a couple of weeks away (16 August) all four regions have had their squads in camp throughout July.
The friendlies begin this week as the preparations step-up and first into action will be the Scarlets. They face Ulster U18 at Bristol Grammar School on Thursday 30 July.
A day later, Friday 31 July, the Scarlets U17 side will face the Dragons at Llandovery’s Church Bank ground (2.00pm). Next week the Scarlets U17s will U17s will once again take on the cream of English rugby’s Academies at the Malvern Festival (Thursday 6 August).
The Scarlets take on Ealing U18 at Church Bank on Friday 7 August, Llandovery. Last year the sides fought out a thrilling draw at New Dock Stars.
Back-to-back Academies champions, the Ospreys, kick-off the defence of their title on Sunday 16 August with a west Wales derby against the Scarlets at The Gnoll, Neath. They then hit the road a week later to take on the team they beat in the last two finals, Cardiff Rugby, at the Arms Park.
Cardiff will play four games in a row before having a bye in Round 5. After that the programme breaks to enable the WSC U18 tournament to take place involving the top schools and colleges teams across the country.
The final five rounds re-start on Sunday 3 January 2027 and run through the month before the league programme is completed on 31 January. The Finals then take place on Thursday 4 February.
The Dragons host Cardiff in an East Wales derby in their opening round fiture at Ystrad Mynach. RGC have a bye in Round 1 before opening their account against the Scarlets in Llandovery on 23 August.
WRU REGIONAL ACADEMY U18 CHAMPIONSHIPS – PHASE 1
Round 1 – Sunday 16 August
DRAGONS v CARDIFF – Ystrad Mynach 2.30 pm
OSPREYS v SCARLETS – The Gnoll 2.30 pm
BYE: RGC
Round 2 – Sunday 23 August
SCARLETS v RGC – Llandovery 2.30 pm
CARDIFF v OSPREYS – Arms Park 2.30 pm
BYE: Dragons
Round 3 – Sunday 30 August
RGC v CARDIFF – Parc Eirias 2.30 pm
OSPREYS v DRAGONS – The Gnoll 2.30 pm
BYE: Scarlets
Round 4 – Sunday 6 September
DRAGONS v RGC – Ystrad Mynach 2.30 pm
CARDIFF v SCARLETS – Arms Park 2.30 pm
BYE: Ospreys
Round 5 – Sunday 13 September
RGC v OSPREYS – Parc Eirias 2.30 pm
SCARLETS v DRAGONS – Llandovery 2.30 pm
BYE: Cardiff
FINALS -Thursday 4 February