Students are being offered the chance to combine their studies with playing for college in the Welsh Schools & Colleges National Conference – the highest level outside of regional rugby for the 16-18 age group.
The academy, which is also open to students from Coleg Meirion-Dwyfor in Dolgellau and Pwllheli, will provide a link between college and the Player Development Centre (PDC) at Eirias Park, creating a pathway to progress to playing for Rygbi Gogledd Cymru (RGC) and potentially for Wales U18.
Players will receive technical, tactical and positional coaching, as well as strength and conditioning sessions in the academy gym at Coleg Llandrillo in Rhos-on-Sea. The academy is looking for more players ahead of the first game of the season against Cardiff& Vale College at Eirias Park on 18 September.
Already signed up are Leah Stewart, Begw Ffransis Roberts and Saran Griffiths, who all play for RGC U18 and made their debuts for Wales at that level last season.
Stewart, from Rhydwyn on Anglesey, studies Level 3 Sport and Exercise Science at Coleg Menai and plays on the wing for both club and country.
“It’s been really good. We’re focusing more on our skills and the way we do things more than putting 100% into it straight away, so that we can grow and develop our strength before the season starts, she said.
“I was lucky enough to play for Wales in the U18 Six Nations and it was a great experience. It was crazy, I didn’t expect to get there, especially after starting rugby in lockdown.
“I just developed from there, playing for Môn Stars, RGC and now college. I started with my sister for the fun of it and then got really into it.
“I play wing and I’m looking to play centre now as well, so I can get more opportunities in the game. I think we’ll have more opportunities, more game time, and it will be good to play against different teams in the college side.
“It will be a good opportunity for the girls, even if they don’t play for RGC, to get more game time and benefit from the coaching.”
Ffransis Roberts is taking a Level 3 Sports Coaching course at Coleg Menai and plays in the back row for RGC and Wales U18. She’s loving being a part of the academy and benefiting from expert coaching and superb facilities.
“Being part of the academy and the girls’ team will 100% benefit our rugby. At the moment we’re looking in depth and in detail at skill development, she said.
“We train with the PDC on a Monday night and a Friday night, but we’re here Monday and Friday so it gives me more time to train and to focus on my development and goals.
“We’re lucky to have such good gym and pitch facilities. Most people don’t have the opportunity to train in facilities like these, we’re lucky to have them at the college and with RGC.”
Lucy Brown is an assistant coach of Grŵp Llandrillo Menai and doubles as the WRU Player Development Centre Lead for North Wales.
“One of the big things we’ve found here in North Wales is we needed that performance pathway programme for 16-18-year-olds. We’re grateful that the college have come forward and want to take this on,” said Brown
“Combined with the Player Development Centre this is definitely going to enhance the opportunities for players here in North Wales. There is alignment throughout the pathway which will help the players in the college and with RGC.
“For me, as the player development centre lead, I see the college as being one of those stepping-stones into the pathway. The players are training three times a week, getting gym provision and they are only going to become more robust, stronger, fitter, faster, which in terms of selection is going to put you forward into the shop window.
“When we’re looking for players to then go on to play for Wales U18, this league is predominantly where we’ll see players coming from. We’ll know the players have had that provision in terms of physical development, analysis and performance installed at an earlier age.
“Hopefully in the next six months to a year’s time we’ll have more players here wearing that Wales shirt.”
If you want to join Grŵp Llandrillo Menai’s girls’ rugby academy, then contact Academy Co-ordinator Andrew Williams on willia18a@gllm.ac.uk to find out more
