The Ospreys Cup, the flagship age-grade club rugby tournament in the region, reaches its conclusion over the coming weeks as teams from across Ospreylia go head to head in the final stages of the competition.
The Ospreys Cup is a tournament played out at U16 and U15 level that is unique to the region, with clubs enjoying cross border competition against sides that they wouldn’t normally encounter. Teams from Bridgend, Neath Port Talbot and Swansea compete with everyone offered a chance to play for silverware via a Cup, Plate, Bowl, Shield and Challenge Cup format beyond the round robin pool stages.
The successful 2011/12 competition saw Pencoed secure the U15 crowd with a 13-10 win over Bonymaen, while Swansea Uplands took the honours at U16 level thanks to a 32-18 success against Abercrave.
This year’s competition has been the biggest and best yet, with more teams than ever involved. The first of the finals take place this Sunday with the Challenge Cup Finals being held at Neath RFC’s Gnoll ground. Aberavon Green Stars face Waunarlwydd at 2.00pm before Bridgend Sports play Neath Athletic at 3.15pm.
Ben Rose, WRU Rugby Development Manager for the Ospreys region, commented:
“The Ospreys Cup underpins everything that is important in the community, representing your local club and your local club being at the heart of the community. The WRU hope that through this competition players will value where they are from and continue to play into their adult life.
“The competition’s aim is to sustain participation into youth and senior rugby. Across Wales there is a drop-off at these ages and the introduction of this competition has proven to keep the club teams together. In just three years since its inception the Ospreys Cup has established itself as the competition that matters to clubs in the region at U15 and U16 level.”
Andrew Hore, Chief Operations Officer at the Ospreys, added:
“The way that the Ospreys Cup has grown in stature has been fantastic, Ben and his team have worked hard to make it such a great success, making it a showcase for junior rugby in the region. Playing together as a team helps to create mates for life, and we are helping to give these children memories that will last a lifetime.
“The Ospreys Cup is a perfect example of the Ospreys and the Union working in collaboration to grow the game at grassroots levels, which will help to create a sustainable long term future for rugby in the region. On behalf of the Ospreys I’d like to wish all teams involved the best of luck.”
THE ROAD TO THE FINALS
U15s Pools
Group A – Waunarlwydd, Mumbles, Glynneath, Kenfig Hill, Fall Bay
Group B – Neath Athletic, Pencoed, Pontarddulais, South Gower, Swansea Uplands
Group C – Dulais Valley, Nantyfyllon, Tonmawr, Aberavon Greenstars, Penclawdd,
Group D – Bryncoch, Cwmavon, Dunvant, Bridgend Sports, Bridgend Athletic, Ystalyfera
U15s Quarter Finals
Cup
Mumbles v Pencoed 5 v 5 away win, Penclawdd v Dunvant 12 v 5, Neath Ath v Glyneath 30 v 12, Bridgend Ath v Tonmawr 24 v 5
Bowl
Kenfig Hill v South Gower 44 v 3, Nantyffylon v Ystalyfera Home win, Pontardulias v Falls Bay 15 v 20, Cwmavon v Dulias Valley Lions 41 v 17
NOTE - The winners of the Quarter Finals will go into the Cup and Bowl with the losers in the Quarter Finals going to play in the Semi Final of the Plate and Shield.
U15s Semi Finals
Cup - March 3rd Pencoed 0 v Penclawdd 8, Neath Ath 25 v Bridgend Ath 24
Plate - March 3rd Mumbles 11 v Dunvant 15, Glyneath 17 v Tonmawr 12
Bowl - March 24th Kenfig hill 10 v Nantyfflon 24, Falls Bay 44 v Cwmavon 7
Shield - March 24th South Gower 3 v Ystalafera 15, Pontardulias v Dulias Valley Lions WON
U15s Finals
Cup at Bridgend RFC, Brewery Field 11.30am Kick Off Saturday 20th April
Penclawdd vs. Neath Athletic
Referee Adam HawkinsAR1 Anthony KavanaghAR2 Nathan Hughes
Plate at Aberavon RFC, Talbot Athletic Ground 1pm Kick Off Sunday 21st April
Dunvant vs. Glynneath
RefereeRichard Nuth AR1 Nathan Johns AR2 Dan Roberts
Bowl at Aberavon RFC, Talbot Athletic Group 3pm Kick Off Sunday 21st April
Nantyfyllon vs. Fall Bay
RefereeKeith Thomas AR1 Lloyd Hughes AR2 Tony Pickerell
Shield at Tonmawr RFC, 11am Kick Off Sunday 21st April
Ystalafera vs. Dulais Valley Lions
RefereeGary Price AR1 Matthew Hughes AR2 Ray Price
Challenge Cup at Neath RFC, The Gnoll 2pm Kick Off Sunday 14th April
Aberavon Green Stars vs. Waunarlwydd
U16s Pools
Group A – Tondu, South Gower, Abercrave, Pontarddulais, Aberavon Greenstars, Vardre
Group B – Waunarlwydd, Bridgend Athletic, Neath Athletic, Ystradgynlais, Nantyfyllon
Group C – Glynneath, Swansea Uplands, Pencoed, Bridgend Sports, Bonymaen
Group D – Mumbles, Loughor, Bryncethin, Tonmawr, Skewen
U16s Quarter Finals
Cup
South Gower v Bridgend Athletic, Pencoed v Bryncethin, Ystradgynlais v Pontardulias 22 v 21, Tonmawr v Bonymean
Bowl
Tondu v Nantyfflon 10 v 10 away winners, Glyneath v Loughor, Waunarllydd v Aberavon.G.Stars 18 v 10, Mumbles v Swansea uplands.
NOTE - The winners of the Quarter Finals will go into the Cup and Bowl with the losers in the Quarter Finals going to play in the Semi Final of the Plate and Shield.
U16s Semi Finals
Cup - March 10th Bridgend Athletic 8 v Pencoed 8, Ystradgynlais 18 v Bonymean 5
Plate - March 10th South Gower 9 v Bryncethin 14, Pontardullais 26 v Tonmawr 23
Bowl - March 17th Nantyfyllon 8 v Glynneath 31, Waunarllwydd 20 v Swansea uplands 13
Shield - March 17th Tondu 50 v Lougher 0, Aberavon Green Stars 25 v Mumbles 17
U16s Finals
Cup at Swansea RFC, St Helens 11.30am Kick Off Saturday 27th April
Pencoed vs. Ystradgynlais
RefereeJonathan EvansAR1 Keith Thomas AR2 Duncan Donovan
Plate at Neath RFC, Gnoll 12noon Kick Off Sunday 28th April
Bryncethin vs. Pontarddulais
Referee Mike Davies AR1Nathan Davies AR2Jonathan Evans
Bowl at Maesteg RFC, The Old Parish 11am Kick Off Sunday 28th April
Glynneath vs. Waunarlwydd
RefereeHuw Gingell AR1Tony Pickerell AR2Meirion Davies
Shield at Maesteg RFC, The Old Parish 1pm Kick Off Sunday 28th April
Tondu vs. Aberavon Greenstars
Referee Steve Richmond AR1 Mark Evans AR2 Ray Price
Challenge Cup at Neath RFC, The Gnoll 3.15pm Kick Off Sunday 14th April
Neath Ath. vs. Bridgend Sports