The Welsh Schools Rugby Union Junior and Intermediate Finals range from U11-U16 and for one player it will be a chance to tread in the footsteps of his famous father.
Playing at full back for Ysgol Dyffryn Aman will be Carter Williams, whose father, Shane, knows all about scoring tries at Principality Stadium. Wales’ record try scorer, Shane, also went to Dyffryn Aman when it was known as Amman Valley School.
Monday, 24 April – WSRU JUNIOR & INTERMEDIATE CUP FINALS
U11 Junior Group John Rees Cup Final (11.30am): Model CIW School v Pontyclun PS
U14 Intermediate Group Year 8 Cup Final (12.45pm): Bro Morgannwg v Y Pant
U16 Intermediate Group Year 9 Cup Final (2.30pm): Ysgol Dyffryn Aman v Porthcawl CS
It is also the old school of current Wales Women’s team captain Hannah Jones, Ospreys and Wales back row man Jac Morgan and England Women’s team scrum half Lucy Packer.
The current crop of youngsters qualified for the Year 9 final by winning the Mynydd Mawr & Dinefwr District and then beat Pencoed CS (52-0), Rhydywaun (29-24), and then Y Pant (24-7).
First up on the hallowed turf will be the John Rees Cup Final for U12s in a 10-a-side game. Model Church in Wales School, from Carmarthen will take on Pontyclun Primary School, both having qualified via the Welsh Schools Rugby Union Junior Group National schools’ festival at Llandovery RFC.
Model CIW School are set for Principality Stadium
Each team had to qualify via their district to play at Church Bank and 16 schools turned up to play in four pools. The final two teams then earned their ticket to play at Principality Stadium to bid for a title that was won by Rhiw Syr Dafydd PS last year when they beat Ysgol Brynaman PS 45-15.
Ysgol Bro Morgannwg are back in the U14 final having carried off the title with a 31-19 win over Penweddig last year. This time they will meet Ysgol Y Pant, from Pontyclun
THE LINE-UPS
John Rees Cup Final (10-a-side)
Model Church in Wales School: Hari Caesar, Bobby Stephenson, Jayden Turton, Cai Powell, Steffan Herbert, Elis Pearce, Evan Davies (captain), Sean Fernandez, Oliver Evans, Daniel Davies, Alfie Tume
Coach: Rob Evans
Pontyclun Primary School: Hudson Bowen, Liam Jones, Logan Phillips, Jack Dean, Sonny Wheeler, Lucas Waters, Taylor Theaker, Reeve Tucker (captain), Alfie Loftus, Ruan Dyer, Archie Theaker, Luc Llewellyn
Year 8 U14 National Cup Final
Bro Morgannwg: Mabon ap Rhys; Jacob Hunter, Franki Jackson, Gruff Reynolds, Finley Burrows; Rhys Lewis, Ruthyn Griffiths; Sam Evans, Ellis Hudson, Rory Seekings, Zach Gregg, Oscar Thomas, Efan Mitchell, Dan Thomas, Liam Willliams
Reps: Alffi Hughes, Lloyd McKay, Twm Williams, Dylan Ghitti, Mefin Lovejoy, Ollie Guthrie, Twm Pierce, Dylan Gaffney
Y Pant: Macsen Berridge; MJ Cottrell, Sam Morgan-Richards, Jake Ayres, Gavin Williams; Jake Davies-Barclay, Oliver Mahoney; Morgan Protheroe, Archie Hancock, Evan Lomas, Seb George, Joseph Hawksworth, Oliver Cavanagh, Cameron Phillips, Harri Lewis
Reps: Oscar Campbell, Sam Atkins, Gethin Rahilly, Ben Stevenson, Josh Thompson, Sunnie Harrison, Ben Stevenson
Year 9 U16 National Cup Final
Ysgol Dyffryn Aman: Carter Williams; Kyle Swistun, William Garland-Griffiths, James Bentley, Oliver James; Tomos Bull, Iwan Bull; Kelston Fairhurst, Griff Rees (captain), Dai Thomas, Llyr Thomas, Kalvin Antonito, Ellis Griffiths, Osian Thomas, Cai Morris
Reps: Jac McEachran, Oliver Lyons, Josh Doorbar, Giovanni Coppola, Josh Ladd-Davies, Leon Woodley, Alfie McLeneghan, Rhys Jones, Hari Jones, Joshua Davies, Daniel Loynton, Flynn Ahearne
Coaches: Dyfrig Dafis, Tom Hancock, Talfan Davies
Porthcawl CS: Josh Sealey; Regan Kimpton, Aston Bevington, Alex Evans, Nate Conniff-Jenkins; Matthew Clatworthy, Rhys Evans; Lewis Hollenbach, Zak Sheriff, Joe Hall, Ethan Stone, Reuben Evans, Adam Willis, Corey C-McGinnley, Jack Davies
Reps: Tomos Dafydd Vaughan-Jones, Felix Wren-Owens, Louis Towell, Corin Walters, Euan Jenkins, Jude Brace, Matty Timms, Jack Parrott, Lucas Mundy
Coaches: Gregg Davies, Andrew Stradling
COMING UP LATER THIS WEEK ON ‘RTP 2023’ . . .
Tuesday, 25 April – GIRL’S NATIONAL FINALS DAY & MEN’S DISTRICTS CUP FINAL
Girl’s National Schools U12 Cup Final (10.30am): Ysgol Bro Dur v Ysgol Bro Pedr
Girl’s National Schools U14 Cup Final (12.30am): Ysgol Bro Dinefwr v Bryn Celynnog
Girl’s National Schools U16 Cup Final (2.30pm): Idris Davies School v Ysgol Bro Teifi
Girl’s National Schools & Colleges U18 Cup Final (4.30pm): Coleg Gwent v Llandovery College
WRU Senior Men’s District Cup Final (7.30pm): West Wales RU v Mid District
Wednesday, 26 April – WSRU JUNIOR & INTERMEDIATE GROUP REPRESENTATIVE FINALS
U11 DC Thomas Bowl Final (10.00am): Neath v Pembrokeshire
U11 DC Thomas Plate Final (11.30am): Cardiff v Bridgend
U11 DC Thomas Cup Final (1.00pm): Pontypridd v Islwyn
U15 Lawrence Miller Bowl (2.30pm): Islwyn v Pembrokeshire
U15 Morgan Griffiths Plate (4.30pm): Carmarthen v Swansea Valley
U15 Dewar Shield Final (6.30pm): Pontypridd v Swansea
Thursday, 27 April – INCLUSION DAY 1
Mixed Ability Game (6.30pm): Cardiff Chiefs v Llanelli Warriors
Friday, 28 April – INCLUSION DAY 2
Inclusion Festival (Ummul Girl’s Academy – 9.00-10.00am)
Schools Festival (10.15-11.45am)
SEN Group (12.00-1.30pm)
Walking Rugby Festival (1.45-3.30pm)
IGR Rugby Fixtures (3.45-5.45pm): Vikings, Dragons, Rhinos round robin
