The new Ospreys U20 squad will face the North Wales Development Region at Maesteg RFC on Sunday, with a second fixture against the British Army at the same venue two weeks later.
The new U20 squad is part of an enhanced programme for the 2010/11 season that has already seen changes made to the development pathway in conjunction with the three District set-ups in the region, Afan Nedd, Bridgend and Swansea, aimed at increasing the number of teenagers and young adults actively involved in the game, and therefore, increasing the talent pool available to the Ospreys.
The Ospreys previously competed in the WRU Regional Age Grade Championships at U20 level, but that competition ended following the 2008/09 season. Now, the Ospreys are once again bucking the trend by relaunching the higher age-grade set-up to allow late developing players the opportunity to catch the eye, that under the existing system may have been lost to the region. The three Districts have already introduced U17 and U19 teams for the first time this season, with the latter feeding directly into the new Ospreys U20 set-up.
Fixture details
Ospreys U20s v North Wales - Sunday 17th of April 2.00pm KO at Maesteg RFC.
Ospreys U20s v Army - Sunday 1st of May 6.00pm KO at Maesteg RFC.
Training note
U20 players should note the following training arrangements:
13 April - Afan Lido at 19-30 - 21-00pm
15 April - Team Run at Llandarcy 19.00 - 20.00
17 April – North Wales match
25 April - Training at Llandarcy 10.00 - 11.00
29 April - Team Run at Llandarcy 10.00 - 11.00
1 May - Army match