The board, made up of under-21-year-olds from around Wales, heard presentations from head of participation Ryan Jones, policy and integrity manager Jeremy Rogers and national women’s rugby manager Caroline Spanton, with Pro Rugby Wales CEO Mark Davies also on hand to hear the range of views aired and answer questions.
Jones revealed details of his strategic plan for increasing participation in the game in Wales, Rogers reported on the WRU’s anti-doping measures and the challenges presented to the sport in that area and Spanton talked about the recent successful launch of the new girls’ rugby clusters.
“We covered a lot of important questions, about participation, about the Women’s game and the uptake in the recent Women’s rugby cluster project,” said board member Calum Haggett, who is from Tonyrefal and a former Wales U18s captain.
“We talked about the transition between youth rugby and senior rugby and how we can get people to carry on playing the game after they finish with youth and how to improve that integration with the senior side at clubs.”
Hagget and fellow board member Jo Williams, who is from Treharris, both expressed how well received their appointments to the Youth Board had been in their own communities and both feel they can make a real difference to the future of Welsh rugby.
“We have such a positive influence on the people around us, in my community they want to know what we will be doing, how we will try to increase participation and how much of what we are discussing will actually affect young people throughout Wales,” said 18-year-old Williams, who plays rugby for the Dragons.
“You become an access point and people come up to you with suggestions and they feel that there is a genuine difference that can be made in these board meetings,” added Haggett.
“…and there is a difference we have a direct line to the head of participation and the chief executive of the WRU so you have a perfect point of contact there in order to be heard.”
CLICK HERE to view video
WRU Youth Board XV for 2016 – with biographical information (alphabetical):
Kay Davies, 18, Powys (f) – studying Sport Management at Cardiff Met University, Sport Cardiff coach, Trefeglwys
Dafydd Duggan, 17, Powys (m) – Llandidloes RFC, RGC Development programme. Ysgol Bro Hyddgen, Llanbrynmair
Dan Evans, 16, Pembrokeshire/Carmarthenshire (m) – Ysgol Dyffryn Taf, Whitland RFC, Pembrokeshire Colleges
Samuel Evans, 16, Neath (m) – Dulais Valley. Neath College. U7s coach, level 2. Llandarcy academy of sport. Llangatwg Community School
Calum Haggett, 19, Porth (m) – Coleg y Cymoedd, Nantgarw. Gilfach Goch RFC. Former Wales U18s captain. Tonyrefal
Ela Jones, 17, Denbigh (f) – Clwb Rugby Dinbych, Ysgol Glan Clwyd, Nant Conwy girls. Coach U10s, U14s.
Andrew Moule, 19, Port Talbot (m) – Glan Afan Comprehensive. Referee.
Johanna Penrose, 17, Machen (f) – Wyclif Christian School, Caerphilly. St John’s College Cardiff
Cameron Petrie, 17, Llandovery (m) – Llandovery College. Ospreys Academy
Thomas William George, 17, Pembrokeshire (m) – Ysgol Wdig, Fishguard RFC. Player, coach, ref.
Menna Preece, 18, (f) Powys – Ospreys academy, Seven Sisters
Bronwen Prosser, 19, Cardiff (f) – King’s College Taunton. Studying Engineering in Cardiff
Luke Rees, 19, Abertillery (m) – Youth Sport Trust, Sport Wales. University of South Wales. Abertillery RFC player and coach. Ball boy. Sport Wales ambassador.
Emily (Millie) Williams, 16, Wattstown (f) – Porth County Comprehensive School. Wattstown RFC. Blues. Wales U18s. U15s coach.
Jo Williams, 18, Newport (f) – Dragons Senior. Level 1 ref. Treharris
