The Ospreys have confirmed the make-up of their initial U18 squad for next season, as well as naming the coaching team that will lead them through the 2011/12 campaign.
The players named have come through a lengthy selection process that took into account both their performance and attitude in training, and will now take part in a series of training sessions and workshops over the coming months in preparation for next season.
It should be stressed that this is an initial squad selection in an on-going process. There will be further opportunities for players who were not selected this time to press their case for selection in the near future. There is an opportunity for players who did not make the squad to receive feedback from the coaches on Monday evening at Llandarcy Academy of Sport between 7pm and 8pm.
U18 squad for 2011/12:
Backs
Ashley Evans (FB)
Rhys Thomas (FB)
Dafydd Howells (W)
Rhys Williams (W)
Daniel Howells (W)
Ben Roberts (C)
Ryan Evans (C)
Scott Govan (C)
Liam Popham (10/12/15)
Sam Davies (OH)
Josh White (OH)
John Preddy (SH)
George Rees (SH)
Daniel Brooks (SH)
Forwards
Nicky Smith (LH)
Marcus Davies (LH/TH)
Evan Yardley (H)
Tomas Owen (H)
Scott Otten (H)
Sean McD Roberts (TH)
Paul Sherwood (TH)
Rhodri Hughes (SR)
Adam Williams (SR)
Dewi Parry (SR)
Rob Dudley Jones (BS)
Rhys Leonard (BS)
Lloyd Wilson (OS)
Joseph Tomlin Reeves (OS)
Matthew Jenkins (No8)
Calum Davies (No8)
The following players have been named as development players, who will train with the Ospreys U18’s but will go back to their District sides to play:
Dominic Carroll (FB) Matthew Burnell (C), Graham Hale (W), David Skone (W), Tom Maggs (SH), Adam Rowlands (W/FB), Daniel Owens (TH), Scott Boobier (TH/LH), Lewys Jonathan (LH), Rhys Morgan (SR), Tom Lewis (SR), Jamie Davies (BS/No8) Jordan Collier (BS/No8), Carl Leyshon (O/S).
All the players named will participate in a weekly series of training sessions and workshops at Llandarcy Academy of Sport between now and the end of the season, starting on Monday 7th March, between 5pm and 7pm. All parents are also invited and will have an opportunity to participate in workshops covering the same topics, which will help to prepare them, and their children, for next season.
Meanwhile, the coaching team has also been confirmed, with U18 Head Coach and Backs Coach, Phil John and Alex Evans retaining their posts. Forwwards Coach Paul Yardley, Conditioning Coach Ian Rowlands, Scrum Coach Alun Wyn Davies and the attached coach from the Ospreys squad, Ian Gough, all step up from this year’s U16’s set-up. John Davies also remains as the U18’s Team Manager, along with Ian Kirkham as Physio.
U18s Not Selected i.e. this seasons U16s and 1st Year Youth players, please note the following information:
• Testing day on Wednesday 20th April from 9am – 1pm at Llandarcy Academy of Sport.
• Nominations will be asked for from school / club 16s / youth / college coaches.
• Potential to get in to the Ospreys U18s / Ospreys U18s Development Squads.