They were denied a ticket to the home of Welsh rugby last season when they were beaten in the semi-final of the Vase competition by Bro Myrddin. Fast forward to the 2024-25 campaign and the two teams will meet again in a classic ‘East v West’ shoot-out.
Both teams won their respective league titles to make it to the Welsh capital and now they meet to decide which half of Wales can take the bragging rights.
Bro Myrddin carried off the Vase title last year with current captain Tomos Lewis taking the starring role with 15 of his side’s points in an epic 20-19 triumph over Bro Dinefwr. Joining him will be another half-a-dozen teammates from that great day.
“We last won the Champion of Champions title back in 2017 when we had Scarlets lock Jac Price and another Wales U20 cap in centre Osian Knott, who spent time with both the Scarlets and Ospreys, in our side,” said Bro Myrddin coach Adrian Williams.
“That was one of the most talented teams we’ve had, and they won everything – the cup, the league and the ‘champion of champions’ title. But this team is a special one as well and they have picked up four titles through the age groups from Year 11 to Year 13 and are now targeting a fifth one to finish on a high.
“We met Cwm Rhymni in the semi-final of the Vase competition last year and beat them at home, but we know they will be coming into this game with something to prove and as the best team in their half of the country.
“Our lads were singing and dancing in the dressing room after last year’s Vase triumph and we are hoping to be able to do the same against this season.”
Williams and fellow coaches Richard Davies and John Norgrove have seen their side beat off the challenge from six other schools – Haverfordwest, Gwyr, Maes y Gwendraeth, Dyffryn Taf, Ysgol Y Strade and Bro Dinefwr – to reach the final and represent West Wales.
But when they lost their second league game in Pembrokeshire to Haverfordwest HS by 46-17 a trip to the final seemed a long way off.
“We had to re-evaluate our goals after that game and the target became a home semi-final rather than winning the league. We managed to do that and ended up drawn against Gwyr,” added Williams.
“We had only just squeezed past them in our earlier meeting, 16-13, and did the same on our own field 16-12. That set-up a re-match with Haverfordwest in the West Wales final and we won that one 19-15.”
YSGOL BRO MYRDDIN ROUTE TO FINAL
Bro Myrddin 55 – 12 Dyffryn Taf
Haverfordwest 46 – 17 Bro Myrddin
Ysgol Y Strade 0 – 32 Bro Myrddin
Gwyr 13 – 16 Bro Myrddin
Bro Myrddin 26 – 23 Maes y Gwendraeth
Bro Myrddin 50 – 28 Bro Dinefwr
Semi Final: Bro Myrddin 16 – 12 Gwyr
Final: Haverfordwest 15 – 19 Bro Myrddin
Cwm Rhymni, whose most famous sporting products are footballers Aaron Ramsey and Tasha Harding, also had a tough route to the final as they beat off the challenge of nine other schools in East Wales – Bro Morgannwg, Cardiff HS, Crickhowell HS, Stanwell, Brynteg CS, Bro Edern, Llanishen and Merthyr Tydfil College.
Like Bro Myrddin, they played eight games en route to Principality Stadium and lost only once. That single defeat came in a real cliffhanger at Cardiff HS, where the home side won 21-20
“We had a couple of tight games on the way, but the players have shown great commitment and character throughout,” said coach Garan Hill.
“When we met Bro Myrddin last, we had a tough time against them in the Vase semi-final last year, so we feel we owe them one this time. We reached the final of the Champion of Champions Plate back in 2019, when we met Bro Dinefwr.
“Our captain Will Thomas drives the team and the standards from No 8 and prop Tobie Cribb is in the Dragons junior academy. Full back Finn Reynolds is an excellent all-round athlete, and Kavan Phillips has played age grade rugby for Wales Rugby league.
“Ioan Duggan picked up Wales U18 honours a few seasons ago and is now in the Dragons academy, while Jack Condy, who played for the Scarlets, is another of our more prominent rugby alumni. Aaron Ramsey played quite a bit of rugby for us when he was at school.”
YSGOL CWM RHYMNI ROUTE TO FINAL
Cwm Rhymni 34 – 26 Crickhowell HS
Brynteg 31 – 38 Cwm Rhymni
Cwm Rhymni 58 – 7 Llanishen
Bro Morgannwg 31 – 42 Cwm Rhymni
Merthyr Tydfil College 5 – 37 Cwm Rhymni
Cardiff HS 21 – 20 Cwm Rhymni
Stanwell 22 – 38 Cwm Rhymni
Cwm Rhymni 47 – 0 Bro Edern
Bro Myrddin: Rhys Jones; Meilyr Thomas, Gwion Evans, Dylan (Jeff) Davies, Harry Wrigglesworth; Tomos Lewis (captain), Ioan Thomas; Josh Cramb, Tomos Axford, Daniel Evans, Gruff Ellis-Jones, Sior Porter, Gwion Williams, Tomos Parry, Gruff Owen
Reps: Dafydd Solway, Tomos Jones, Garan Phillips, Tomos Charles, Elis Davies, Thomas Williams, Rhodri Rees, Ellis Jones, Dion James, Guto BishopCwm Rhymni: Fin Reynolds; Rhydian Jones, Max Marshall, Kavan Phillips, Dylan Cole; Iestyn Ashman, Joseph Wooley;Tobie Cribb, Dylan Greening, Harry Price, Ben Brown, Jake Bishop, Dylan Taylor-Wood, Max Lundregan, Will Thomas (captain)
Reps: Ashton Bates, Liam Lawlor, Efan Betts, Elis Rees, Griff Williams, Ashton Harvard, Charlie Hughes, Josh Knobs, Ellis Watkins, Gethin Ashman
