With the first half of the WRU Academy U18 Championship completed, the second major stand of the teenage pathway kicks in this week (Wednesday 23 September) with the launch of the WSC U18 Rugby competition.
Reigning champions Glantaf have moved their opening game to the Arms Park (2.30pm), where they will welcome Llandovery College – back-to-back winners in the two seasons before.
It will be a clash of the two best schoolboy teams in Wales in recent years – and two of the best in the UK. Glantaf went on tour to South Africa in the summer and captured some major scalps, while Llandovery warmed-up for their trip to the Welsh capital by going to Millfield and making it back-to-back triumphs.
They were 28-17 victors’ at Llandovery’s Church Bank ground last year and triumphed 45-7 last week.
“We know Llandovery will be big and strong but our players will head into this year’s tournament full of confidence after seeing the school win the title at Principality Stadium last season,” said Glantaf’s head of rugby, Llywarch ap Dafydd.
“It was a massive boost for the school following in the footsteps of Llandovery College in winning the title. It has had a positive influence on every pupil in the school and this year’s cohort will have some very big shoes to step into.
“We’ve had 14 players involved with the Cardiff U18 squad and they’ve been back in with the rest of the players for the past 10 days. They all know the standards that are expected of them, and it will be great for them to start at the Arms Park.”
At the recent pre-season friendly between Scarlets and Dragons there were now fewer than nine ex-Llandovery College pupils in the Scarlets squad and a further eight in the U18 side. ON the Glantaf side, they have 10 players with senior contracts at various clubs and a host of more recent alumni in senior academies.
WSC U18 RUGBY – CONFERENCE A
ROUND 1 – 23 September (2.30pm)
Coleg Gwent v Whitchurch HS
Coleg Llandrillo v Coleg y Cymoedd
Coleg Sir Gar v Bridgend College
Glantaf v Llandovery CollegeWSC U18 RUGBY – CONFERENCE B
ROUND 1 – 23 September (2.30pm)
Cardiff & Vale College v Ystalyfera
Dyffryn Aman v Neath & Port Talbot College
Newport HS v Gower College
Having lost in the last two finals, Coleg Y Cymoedd will be hoping to go one better this year and add to the record equalling four titles they have already won. They head north to face Coleg Llandrillo, while Coleg Gwent host Whitchurch HS.
Coleg Sir Gar will have home advantage against newly promoted Bridgend College in the other game in Conference A. There are only six teams in Conference B this season following the withdrawal of Christ College, Brecon.
“We’ve seen good competition and high standards for the U18 players in the Academy Championship and now many of those players get the chance to take on the new challenge of WSC U18 Rugby,” said WRU technical director, Rhys Long.
“This is an important part of our pathway programme and one which sees many old rivals going up against each other. We want to build on that rivalry and tradition and make the competition even stronger.
“We kick off with two of the top rugby playing schools in the UK going head-to-head and every team will have one eye on a possible final appearance at Principality Stadium.
“The schools and colleges are helping to produce more and more professional players and are dovetailing well with the regional academies and clubs.”
PREVIOUS FINALS
2010/11: Coleg Sir Gar 20, Coleg Gwent 19
2011/12: Coleg Gwent 17, Coleg Sir Gar 16
2012/13: Coleg Sir Gar 18, Coleg Morgannwg 16
2013/14: Coleg Sir Gar 25, Coleg Y Cymoedd (formerly Morgannwg) 22,
2014/15: Coleg Y Cymoedd 13, Coleg Sir Gar 3
2015/16: Coleg Y Cymoedd 44, Coleg Sir Gar 24
2016/17: Coleg Sir Gar 27, Coleg Y Cymoedd 23
2017/18: Coleg Y Cymoedd 29, Coleg Sir Gar 10
2018/19: Coleg Y Cymoedd 28, Coleg Sir Gar 19
2019/20: Coleg Gwent 11, Coleg Y Cymoedd 8
2021/22: Cardiff & Vale College 23, Llandovery College 17
2022/23: Cardiff & Vale College 35, Coleg Sir Gar 30
2023/24: Llandovery College 28, Ysgol Glantaf 13
2024/25: Llandovery College 72, Coleg Y Cymoedd 19
2025/26: Ysgol Glantaf 28, Coleg y Cymoedd 26