Scarlets will meet reigning champions the Ospreys in Tenby, while the Arms Park will host the 2025 runners-up Cardiff Rugby taking on the Dragons.
The 2025-26 championship has been expanded to home and away games split into two groups of five matches – 17 August to 14 September and 11 January to 8 February. The champions will then be determined by a play-off between the top two teams.
“We’ve made a number of changes to the pathway in recent seasons and the Academy managers were all of the opinion their players needed more games at this age level. That’s why we have expanded the programme,” said John Alder, head of player development at the WRU.|
“The two blocks will come at either end of the nine week WSC U18 Rugby programme for the top 16 schools and colleges. We have also increased the opportunities for the best players to experience representative rugby this season with more uncapped U19 and U20 matches.
“The Academies U18 competition is a vital stepping stone for these players to earn their first taste of playing for Wales in the U18 Six Nations Festival. From there it is a short step to Wales U20 and, hopefully, full professional careers.
“With the four regions all operating under the new WRU Academy licence there is more money being invested into their production lines. There are also better resources and more coaches.
“The important thing for the players is to play in meaningful matches in a tournament that allows them to showcase their talent. We feel by expanding this tournament to home and away games the offering will improve all round.
“Richie Pugh took a Wales U18 Development squad to Italy last week for a training camp and they faced both Italy and Scotland in friendly fixtures at the end. The players who went on that trip will now return to action in the Academies U18 Championship.”
The former Wales and Ospreys prop Paul James is the head coach of the reigning champions and is joined in his coaching team by ex-internationals James Hook and Andrew Bishop. Gareth Williams, the former Wales U20, Wales Sevens, Wales assistant coach and Scarlets Pathway manager, has also joined the back room staff for this season at the Ospreys.
With two wins in his three seasons in charge to date, James has a big record to defend and can’t wait to get the competition up and running this weekend.
“I’ve really enjoyed my time coaching the youngsters and it’s great for them to have the likes of James and Andrew involved as well. We’ll have a lot of first years in our squad this season, but we still feel we can be very competitive,” said James.
“We’ve had the players in for about five weeks now and we went to the Malvern Festival, where drew one and lost another game against English Academies, and we’ve also played Leinster U18. They’ve all been great prep for this Sunday’s kick-off.”
WELSH ACADEMIES AT MALVERN U18 FESTIVAL
Cardiff Rugby: Beat Sale, drew with Gloucester
RGC: Lost to Harlequins, Lost to Exeter
Scarlets: Beat Bristol, Drew with Newcastle
Ospreys: Drew with Leicester, Lost to Saracens
Dragons RFC: Lost to Yorkshire, Lost to Leinster
Note: 35 minute matches
Scarlets U17: Beat Bath, Lost to Bristol, Exeter
RAG CHAMPIONS 2005-2025
2025: Ospreys; 2024: Scarlets; 2023: Ospreys; 2022: Dragons: 2021: No competition (COVID); 2020: Cardiff Blues; 2019: Dragons: 2018: Scarlets: 2017: Ospreys; 2016: Cardiff Blues; 2015: Ospreys; 2014: Cardiff Blues: 2013: Scarlets; 2012: Cardiff Blues; 2011: Cardiff Blues; 2010: Cardiff Blues; 2009: Ospreys; 2008: Ospreys; 2007: Ospreys; 2006: Ospreys; 2005: Scarlets
Champions: Ospreys 8, Cardiff 6, Scarlets 4, Dragons 2
WRU ACADEMIES U18 CHAMPIONSHIP 2025-26
Round 1 – Sunday 17 August
Cardiff v Dragons; Scarlets v Ospreys
Round 2 – Sunday 24 August
RGC v Scarlets; Ospreys v Cardiff
Round 3 – Sunday 31 August
Cardiff v RGC; Dragons v Ospreys
Round 4 – Sunday 7 September
RGC v Dragons; Scarlets v Cardiff
Round 5 – Sunday 14 September
Ospreys v RGC; Dragons v Scarlets
2026
Round 6 – Sunday 11 January
Scarlets v RGC; Cardiff v Ospreys
Round 7 – Sunday 18 January
RGC v Cardiff; Ospreys v Dragons
Round 8 – Sunday 25 January
Dragons v RGC; Cardiff v Scarlets
Round 9 – Sunday 25 January
RGC v Ospreys; Scarlets v Dragons
Round 10 – Sunday 8 February
Dragons v Cardiff; Ospreys v Scarlets
Academy U18 Finals – Thursday 12 February
2025-26 ACADEMY U18 SQUADS
Cardiff Rugby U18
Back Three: Rhys Wyatt, Archie Lavington, Will Adams, Harry Turner, Joe Fernandez, Trystan Coates, Harry Kinsey, Iestyn Stevens, Harvey Bryant, Josh Greyling, Max Evans, Calen Edwards
Centres: Oliver Northmore, Jack Evans, Bailey Cutts, Ioan Leyshon, Jack Jones, Owen Lewis, Cooper White
Outside halves: Ben Coomer, Issac Manning-Burke, Finlay Britton
Scrum halves: Dylan Sheers, George Thomas, Lucas Driscoll, Arthur Garfield
Hookers: Elgan Williams, Evan Ngassou-Evans, Evan Hughes, Tom Howe
Props: Zack Bowser, Adam Oaten, Cian Sterio, Issac Jones, Bryana Kamanga, Wojetek Kudelka, Jake Johnson, Vinnay Cleak, Jack Charmers, Jason Tusha
Second Rows: Sonny McCabe, Osian Howells, Harry Hamlett, Harri Lewis, Lucca Alexander-White, Sam Brooks, Samson Philpott
Flankers: Jack Mathieson, Alex Ballinger, Ffredi Easterby, Josh Davies, Alfie John, Caiden Harrigan
No8: Liam Williams, Will Watkins, Ioan Dacey
Dragons RFC U18
Back Three: Sam Morgan, Ellis Anderson, Devon Shorney, Ottis Mighten, Rhys Dyer, Danny Hutchinson, Logan Garrett
Centres: Rylie Probert, Max Marshall, Jack Cordy, Ryley Fussell, Brogan Leary, Charlie Gregory, George Bradbury, Tegwen Mahoney
Outside halves: Liam Lawlor, Louis Morgan, Elliot Young, Will Truckel
Scrum halves: Felix Preece-Jones, Isaac Williams, Jake Jenkins
Hookers: Cae Jones, Benson Ngoshi, Morgan Suller, Tiaan Hall
Props: Rudi Creel, Harry Price, Harrison Flowers, Jayden Llewellyn, Freddie Hicks, Oscar Friend, Scott Crewe
Second Rows: Ashton Swaine, Josh Bradley, Miles Chambers,
Flankers: Gethin Clarke, Hadley Worgan, Dylan Pennell, Gethin Tudball, Elliot Beavan, Ellis Stonelake, Jake Leighton
No8: Jake Sheppard, Troy Raymond
Ospreys U18
Back Three: Cian Evans, Evan Jones, Kaiden Brooks, Dylan Quinn, Ashton Crook, Oscar Jones
Centres: Aled Davies, Ethan Bolche, Thomas Thatcher-Wynn, Zac Mizen, Alfie Selbey, Zac Jones
Outside halves: George Loveday, Alex Evans, Cai Davies
Scrum halves: Rhodri Jones, Louis Cooper, Aled Evans, Codey Tymkiv
Hookers: Mckenzie Scales, Sam Watkins, Osian Oliver
Props: Mason James, Ashton Maybank, Bobbie Bennett, Charlie O’Brien, Josh Drew, Lewys Morse
Second Rows: Codi-Ray David, Luke Fender, Will Carroll, Ben Loosemore, Reuben Lacey
Flankers: Elis Cox, Austin Howells, Josh Gallivan, Ronan Hire
No 8: Freddie Millward, Sam Morgan
RGC U18: TBC
Scarlets U18: TBC
Impulse
Dean Elgar became the latest batsman to experience the anti-climactic feeling when he was dismissed for 199 during the first innings of the opening Test match against Bangladesh.
Predator
Australia’s Donald Bradman (The Don) is considered the greatest batsman of all time. He has an unmatched 99.94 Test batting average – the best performance among all other players in all sports. Many fans believe there will never be another player like him.