Hot on the heels of their 44-24 win over Coleg Sir Gar in the Welsh Colleges Cup final at the Principality Stadium, Cymoedd turned on the style to become the first team this year to beat Welsh coach Warren Gatland’s old alma mater, Hamilton Boys’ High School.
Hamilton Boys HS has earned a considerable reputation as one of the major production lines of top quality players in New Zealand and won the Sanix World Rugby Youth International tournament in 2010, 2011 and 2014.
They were 1st XV National Champions in New Zealand in 2008, 2009, 2013 and 2014 and were 1st XV Super 8 Champions in the North Island in 2013, 2014 and 2015. They came on tour to Ireland and Wales proudly bearing the title of being one of the best schools team in the world.
They backed up their big reputation by beating all four opponents before arriving at Sardis Rod to face the Welsh champions. Before leaving New Zealand they warmed-up with a 44-14 win over Marist U21s and a 31-12 victory over Eastern Suburbs U21.
Coached by former All Black Todd Miller, they left New Zealand on 12 April and kicked-off their tour with a 26-7 win over the Royal Belfast Academical Institution three days later. They then thumped an Ulster Select Schools U19 teams 41-5 before heading south to Dublin, where they hit back in the end to beat a Blackrock RFC President’s XV 26-22.
They had an eight day break before their next game, in Llanelli against Welsh College Cup finalists Coleg Sir Gar. They won that one 39-19 to take an unbeaten record into their final fixture on 28 April at Sardis Road.
This time the tourists ran into a team that was able to match them up front and use their possession wisely. In the end, Cymoedd ran out rather convincing winners, 44-8, to underline their status as Welsh champions.
“The match was a great opportunity for our boys to play a visiting team of this calibre and the determination of both teams to play attacking rugby made it a highly entertaining game for the supporters. I’m proud of the lads, they played as a team and Hamilton had no answer to our strong performance,” said Cymoedd Coach, Clive Jones.
And Jones had even more to smile about this week as his side added even more silverware to their collection when they retained the British Colleges Cup by beating Seevic College, based in Benfleet, Essex, 36-3, at Southend rugby club.
Coleg y Cymoedd hosts the Cardiff Blues (North) Academy and the team has grown in strength and numbers over the past six years. It has already produced 34 international players at Under 18 and Under 20 levels.
