Alex Ballinger’s Cardiff Rugby U18 side will be hoping to continue their winning ways and make it three wins out of three in the WRU Academy U18 Championship when they head north to Colwyn Bay to meet RGC U18 at Parc Eirias (2.30pm).
The young Blue & Blacks have already beaten Dragons (53-38) and Ospreys (43-5) in an impressive start to this season’s competition and will be looking to stay at the top of the table as they chase a third successive final.
Wales U18 squad flanker Ffredi Easterby comes into a pack that includes the powerful Glantaf tight head prop Isaac Jones. Owen Leiws, son of former Wales back row man Geraint Lewis, was man of the match in the big win over the Ospreys last time out.
The champion Ospreys kicked-off with a west Wales derby win over the Scarlets before conceding seven tries at the Arms Park. They host the Dragons at The Gnoll today, where the visitors will be seeking their first win.
TEAMS
RGC U18: TBC
Cardiff U18: Gethin Evans; Devon Morris, Iestyn Stephens, Owen Lewis, Theo Poole; Max Phillips, Cian McGee; Jacob Allen, Evan Hughes, Isaac Jones, Harri Lewis, Zach Payne, Alex Ballinger (captain), Ffredi Easterby, Liam Williams
Reps: Gray Shannahan, Cian Sterio, Will Creed-King, Beau Cantwell, Ieuan Taylor, Jack Roberts, Cooper-White, Ellis Cambourne
Ospreys U18: Dylan Quin; Jenson Phillips, Ioan Price, Cai Davies, Jaidyn Ryan-Young; Harrison Hook, Cody Tymkiv; Mason James, Jonah Ratti, Jayden Underhill, Joel Wallace, Will Carroll, Jacob Jones, Harison Watkin, Evan Trott
Reps: Ashton Maybank, Charlie O’Brien, Lewys Morse, George Eyre, Finn Lewis, Will Kerslake, Logan Ireland, Sam Richards
Dragons U18: Elis Anderson; Rhys Dyer, George Bradbury, Jack Williams, Dylan Cole; Liam Lawlor, Isaac Williams; Logan Leonard, Morgan Suller, Yi Sheng Chi, Olly Beynon, Gethin Clarke, Gethin Tudball (captain), Jake Leighton, Troy Raymond
Reps: Jimmy Sargent, Harry Price, Gabe Pugh, Tom Vizard, Zac Little, Josh Johnson, Louis Morgan, Ottis Mighten
WRU ACADEMY U18 CHAMPIONSHIP – PHASE 1
Round 1 – Sunday 16 August
DRAGONS 38 – 53 CARDIFF
OSPREYS 33 – 19 SCARLETS
BYE: RGC
Round 2 – Sunday 23 August
SCARLETS 31 – 14 RGC
CARDIFF 43 – 5 OSPREYS
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
RAG / Academy U18 Champions 2005-2026
2026: Ospreys: 2025: Ospreys: 2024: Scarlets; 2023: Ospreys; 2022: Dragons: 2021: No competition (COVID); 2020: Cardiff Blues; 2019: Dragons: 2018: Scarlets: 2017: Ospreys; 2016: Cardiff Blues; 2015: Ospreys; 2014: Cardiff Blues: 2013: Scarlets; 2012: Cardiff Blues; 2011: Cardiff Blues; 2010: Cardiff Blues; 2009: Ospreys; 2008: Ospreys; 2007: Ospreys; 2006: Ospreys; 2005: Scarlets Champions: Ospreys 9, Cardiff 6, Scarlets 5, Dragons 1