The shoot-outs for some of Welsh rugby’s most precious silverware will begin on Saturday, 23 April with the National Youth Finals. The following day the seniors will take over, culminating in the Indigo Group Premiership Cup Final clash between Aberavon and Newport.
The Wizards are still seeking their first win in a major final at the home of Welsh rugby having three times reached the final of the WRU Challenge Cup – 1974, 1975, 2012 – while Newport’s last win in their six finals to date was back in 2001. The Black & Ambers are currently on top of the Indigo Group Premiership table and are chasing a first league and cup double.
TICKETED EVENTS
Sunday, 24 April – National Club Finals Day
Saturday, 30 April – WRU National Shield, Bowl, Plate Finals
Sunday, 1 May – Senior Women’s National Finals Day
£10 per Adult / £5 for U17s
Tickets on sale in early April
Online at wru.wales/tickets
On the day at WRU Ticket Office, Westgate Street
The action continues into the next week with the schools taking centre stage with no fewer than 15 thrilling finals for both boys and girls. Llandovery College, Christ College, Brecon, Ysgol Ystalyfera, Ysgol Preseli, Stanwell CS, Ysgol Bro Teifi, Ysgol Y Berwyn, Coleg Gwent, Coleg Sir Gar and Ysgol Plasmawr are just some of the schools and colleges who will be chasing glory on the ultimate rugby stage.
There is something for everyone across the nine days of competition with one of the highlights being the ‘Inclusion Day’ on Friday, 29 April, when 42 schools will take part in the Dragons Gateway Project before Swansea Gladiators take on MARIs in a mixed ability rugby showcase.
The men return on Saturday, 30 April for the WRU National Shield, Bowl and Plate finals. There are three exceptional games in store with four of the six sides still boasting unbeaten league records and the other two having only been beaten once each.Penallta last tasted success in the Plate Final in 2012 when they beat Ystalyfera on try count, while none of the other five teams has got this far before. Treorchy knocked-out the reigning Plate champions, Brecon, in the semi-finals last weekend.
The Girls will have the stadium all to themselves on the final day of the event, on Monday, 2 May, for the Natoinal Finals in the U15 and U18 age groups. The Stradey Sospans, the highly successful Chargers Cluster, from Caerphilly, Cardiff Quins, Nelson, Ceirw Nant, from Nant Conwy in north Wales, and the Tumble-based Merched Mynydd Mawr will all feature.
ROAD TO THE PRINCIPALITY FINALS
Saturday, 23 April – National Youth Finals
National Youth Bowl Final – Lampeter Town v Llandaff (11.00am)
National Youth Plate Final – Abergavenny v Cwmavon (1.15pm)
National Youth Cup Final – Bridgend Athletic v Builth Wells (3.30pm)
Sunday, 24 April – National Club Finals Day
WRU Championship Plate Final – Trebanos v Bedwas (1.00pm)
WRU Championship Cup Final – Bargoed v Neath (3.15pm)
Indigo Group Premiership Cup Final – Aberavon v Newport (5.35pm)
Monday, 25 April – WSRU Junior & Intermediate Group Schools Finals
Junior Group 10-a-side John Rees Cup Final – 11.30am
Intermediate Group Year 8 Cup Final – 12.45pm
Intermediate Group Year 9 Cup Final – 2.15pm
Girls U14 National Final (12 a side) – Ysgol Bro Teifi v TBC (4.00pm)
Tuesday, 26 April – WSRU Senior Schools & Colleges Group U18
Male Plate Final – Stanwell Comprehensive v Llandovery College (pending enquiry)
Male Circle IT Vase Final – Ysgol Preseli v Coleg Sir Gar II (1.35pm)
Female Celtic Camping Trophy Final (12 a side) – Llandovery College v Coleg Gwent (3.30pm)
Male Spirit of Youth Cup Final – Christ College, Brecon v Ysgol Ystalyfera (5.10pm)
Wednesday, 27 April – Junior Schools Group & Intermediate Group
U11 DC Thomas Bowl Final – 10.00am
U11 DC Thomas Plate Final – 11.10am
U11 DC Thomas Cup Final – 12.50pm
Intermediate Group: Lawrence Miller Bowl – Islwyn v Cardiff A (2pm)
Intermediate Group: Morgan Griffiths Plate – Newport v Rhymney Valley (3.50pm)
Girls National U16 Final (12 a side) – Ysgol Y Berwyn v Plasmawr (5.20pm)
Intermediate Group: Dewar Shield Final – Rhondda v Cardiff (7pm)
Friday, 29 April – Inclusion Day
Inclusion Festival: Dragons Gateway Project with 42 schools Yr 5/6 (10.30am – 4.30pm)
Mixed Ability Rugby Showcase – Swansea Gladiators v MARIs (6.30pm)
Saturday, 30 April – WRU National Shield, Bowl, Plate Finals
Shield Final – Crumlin v Tonna (1.00pm)
Bowl Final – Bryncethin v Llanharan (3.15pm)
Plate Final – Penallta v Treorchy (5.35pm)
Sunday 1st May – Senior Women’s Finals Day
North Wales Cup – Caernarfon v COBRA (1pm)
South Wales Plate Final – Blackwood v Lampeter Town (3:15pm)
South Wales Cup Final – Bonymaen v Llandaff North (5.35pm)
Monday, 2 May – Girls National Finals Day
U18 Plate Final – Stradey Sospans v Chargers (11.00am)
U18 National Cup Final – Ceirw Nant (Nant Conwy) v Cardiff Quins (1.10pm)
U15 National Plate Final – Merched Mynydd Mawr (Tumble) v Chargers (2.45pm)
U15 National Cup Final – Nelson v Cardiff Quins (4.40pm)
