2015/16 U18 squad announced

Ospreys U18 Head Coach, Ben Rose, has today named a 36-man squad for the WRU Regional Age Grade campaign, which kicks off next month.

• 36 man-squad named to compete in the WRU Regional Age Grade Championship that commences next month
• 19 different clubs represented in the squad
• Selection follows 'pro week' when an extended training squad came together at Llandarcy
• “Regional Age Grade U18s selection is a great opportunity for a player but it isn’t the golden ticket to success; hard work and dedication is" - Ben Rose
• First game is away to Scarlets on Monday 21st December

The rigorous talent identification and selection process culminated during the half-term period at the end of October when an extended training squad of 50 came together for ‘pro week’, where the young hopefuls were given a hands on taste of life as a pro rugby player.

Offering his congratulations to the players named in the squad today, Rose was quick to emphasise the level of hard work still ahead of the boys before they will be able to call themselves Ospreys, as well as reassuring those who missed out that they still have opportunities on the development pathway.

“As a coaching group we are really happy with the balance of the squad that has been selected the boys. There is a good mix of first and second years, all of who have worked hard to earn their place in the squad” he said.

“What is particularly pleasing is that a few boys have shown up from outside of the summer training squad, impressing the Ospreys talent ID team with their clubs, schools or colleges, so it shows the door is always open for those with talent and the right attitude.

“Selection for the Eyasses is a wonderful opportunity, and these boys will have the full support of the systems and structures in place as they pursue their goal of becoming fully fledged Ospreys.

“In the selection process it is clear that we were looking at three kinds of players in the U18 age grade; Players in the squad who will take the opportunity, work hard and kick on to the next level, the likes of Keelan Giles and Phil Jones, who are still eligible for the squad but are hungry to take the next step on the development pathway; Players in the squad who think that the work is done because they are representing the Ospreys, they stop working and we never see them again; Players outside of the squad who really want to kick on as rugby players to prove to themselves that they are capable of being better

“We want to ensure that rugby is strong right across the region at all levels, and will support those who are in the squad and those who missed out on selection as we want to see them all flourish in the rugby environment.

“I’ll be meeting all of the players outside of the squad to make sure they understand that the pathway remains open to them if they continue to put the hard work in, that the Ospreys understand that people develop at different ages and purposely keep an eye out for the late developer. You need look no further than our own Scott Baldwin, who played no part at Regional Age Grade level but has now gone on to establish himself as a senior Ospreys player and Wales regular.

“RAG U18s is a great opportunity for a player but it isn’t the golden ticket to success; hard work and dedication is.”

OSPREYS U18 SQUAD 2015/16