The Championships aim to provide players from the WRU National Leagues in Wales with a competitive environment surplus to that provided by their league club, showcasing the untapped talent within the community game and enabling certain players to make the step up to a higher level of performance.
The two form teams of this season’s campaign, the Scarlets Clubs XV and Dragons Clubs XV, meet each other in the third and final round with glory awaiting the victor. The teams are tied at the top of the Championship table, with the Dragons just taking the top spot due to one extra try scored in their try count.
With each team having recorded high-scoring victories in their previous two matches (the Scarlets defeated the Blues 37-20 and the Ospreys 35-7 whilst the Dragons notched 33-0 and 30-16 victories over the Ospreys and Blues respectively), this winner-takes-all clash promises to be an explosive encounter.
Following defeats at the hands of the top two teams, the result of the match between the Blues Clubs XV and Ospreys Clubs XV on Thursday evening may be academic, but it is a chance for each team to gain initial points of the championship.
Whilst all four regions are aiming for a successful conclusion of the season, this third and final round of the Regional Clubs XV Championships also provide the final opportunity for players to impress the Wales Clubs XV selectors ahead of selection for this season’s national squad.
The recently established Wales Clubs XV represents Wales’s community clubs against other international community or amateur sides.
Blues Clubs XV v Ospreys Clubs XV
Thursday November 22nd, Cardiff Arms Park (kick-off 7:15pm)
Dragons Clubs v Scarlets Clubs XV
Friday November 23rd, Pontypool Park (kick-off 7:30pm)
BLUES SQUAD:
BACKS: Tom Botwood (Llantrisant), Craig Allen (Llantrisant), Gethin Davies (Brecon), Matt Lewis (Builth Wells -Capt), Rhys King (Llantrisant), Huw Lougher (Llantrisant), Mike Thomas (Llantwit Fardre), Ross Lucas (Rhydyfelin), Glen Holloway (Llantrisant), Lee Scarf (Rhydyfelin)
FORWARDS: Geraint George (Llantwit Fardre), James Walby (St Josephs), Andrew Evans (Llantwit Fardre), James Huntley (Rhiwbina), Dafydd Davies (Ynysybwl), Jon Burke (Llantwit Fardre), Jon Bickell (Rhiwbina), Luke Brennan (Aberdare), Pat Howell (Rhiwbina), Justin Benfield (Old Ilts), Mark Berridge (Old Ilts), Marcus Caudle (Llantwit Fardre), Dave Hefford (Abercynon)
OSPREYS SQUAD:
Sean Donavan (Pencoed), Mike White (Loughor), Will Blaydon (Mumbles), Daniel Webb (Cwmavon), Kyle Coulter (Bridgend Athletic), Ian Thomas (Neath Athletic), Rhys Andrews (Cwmavon), Jonathan Phillips (Loughor), Aled Lewis (Mumbles), Josh (Mumbles), Andrew Mead (Llangennech), Mark Fender (Cwmavon), Rhodri Milsom (Corus (PT)), Andrew Penhale (Trebanos), Daniel Blethyn (Baglan), Simon Stonham (Gorseinon), Matthew Stonham (Gorseinon), Adam Williams (South Wales Police), David Jones (Nantymoel), Mike Joseph (Aberavon Green Stars), Gareth Hopkins (South Wales Police), Steve Morgan (Nantymoel)
DRAGONS SQUAD:
Matthew Petit (Caerphilly), Rhys Buckley (Caldicot), Jamie Cross (Pontypool), Jamie Noble (Tredegar), Lee Williams (Newport Saracens), Lee Edwards (Unattached – Capt), Andrew Packer (Newport Saracens), David Brake (Pontypool), Ross Turner (Tredegar), Owen Biddescombe (Newport Saracens), Gary Wilks (Fleur de Lys), Shaun Powell (Penallta), Phil Price (Pontypool), Wes Cunliffe (Newport Saracens), Darren Pearce (Pontypool), Huw Moses (Pill Harriers), Chris Jones (Unattached), Ieaun Morris (Fleur de Lys), Greg Callow (Penallta), Ross Palmer (Newport Saracens), A.N. Other, A.N. Other
SCARLETS TEAM:
Matthew John (Whitland); Matthew Davies (Narberth), Steve Martin (Narberth), Paul Stubbs (Aberystwyth), Tom Bonnell (Narberth); Emyr Williams (Whitland), Andrew Davies (Narberth); Paul Griffiths (Pontyberem), Graham Jenkins (Haverfordwest), Tom Slater (Narberth), Arwel Lloyd (Aberystwyth), Matthew Harbut (Pontyberem), Shaun Miles (Ammanford), Aaron Shingler (Hendy), Andrew Davies (Narberth)
Replacements: Steffan Jones (Pontyberem), Gareth Jones (Pembroke), Richard Catchpole (Hendy), Llewellin Evans (Aberystwyth), Colin Davies (Cardigan), Richard Davies (Narberth), Matthew Fisher (Ammanford)
