The Ospreys Cup competition gets underway this weekend, bigger and better than ever before, as the Community Development Team attempts to tackle the ever-constant issue of player retention at U15 and U16 level.
Twenty teams from right across the region have been drawn into four pools of five at U15 level, with the first round of fixtures taking place this Sunday, while at U16 level there are 16 teams competing in four pools, with the fixtures getting underway in October.
WRU/Ospreys Regional Community Manager Ben Rose said:
“Across the region, and Wales as a whole, there are player retention issues at U15 and U16 age groups and so in an attempt to maintain and stimulate numbers at these particular age groups we are continuing to promote this cross-District competition which is allowing clubs and players to test themselves against unfamiliar competition while playing under the Ospreylian banner.
“With more teams entering this year, I’m sure that the Ospreys Cup will once again prove to be a success, with competition high, helping our clubs to retain players at this difficult age-grade.”
For the younger age groups at U12 to U14, the Community team will be organising local festivals that offer more age appropriate playing opportunities. These will be on a District-by-District basis and be organised by the Junior District Association in conjunction with the relevant Ospreys development officer for that District.
The groups have been drawn as follows:
U16 GROUPS
|
Group A |
|
Waunarlwydd |
|
Pencoed |
|
Abercrave |
|
Nantyfyllon |
|
|
|
Group B |
|
Porthcawl |
|
Pellena |
|
Bridgend Athletic |
|
Morriston |
|
|
|
Group C |
|
South Wales Police |
|
Mumbles |
|
Tonna |
|
Gorseinon |
|
|
|
Group D |
|
Swansea Uplands |
|
Dunvant |
|
Tondu |
|
Aberavon Quins |
U15 GROUPS
|
Group A |
|
Bridgend Sports |
|
Bonymaen |
|
Gowerton |
|
Morriston |
|
Tondu |
|
|
|
|
|
Group B |
|
|
|
Maesteg Welsh |
|
Pellena |
|
Bridgend Athletic |
|
Waunarlwydd |
|
Pontarddulais |
|
|
|
|
|
Group C |
|
Ystradgynlais |
|
Mumbles |
|
Uplands |
|
Glynneath |
|
Porthcawl |
|
|
|
Group D |
|
|
|
Abercrave |
|
Aberavon Green stars |
|
Nantyfyllon |
|
Pencoed |
|
Corus |
All fixtures are listed on the Ospreys Cup website, www.ospreyscup.webs.com