Player Pathway U11-U16

Following a review of the pathway at the conclusion of the 2009/10 season, changes were made to the WRU pathway. This section gives you an overview of how a player climbs through the WRU Player Pathway, where he and she have the opportunity to play representative rugby and how this sits alongside school and club rugby.

If you have any queries in relation to the Pathway then please contact your local Development Officer, you will find their details in the 'Meet the Team' section.

Under 11

All inter school, club and festival games to be played to the WRU Pathway rules as of September 2011 with no exception.
DC Thomas rugby at this age group is run by the Welsh Schools Junior Rugby Union. All details on this tournament are sent direct to PE co-ordinators within Primary Schools across Wales by the WSRU.

Under 12 and 13

All inter school, club and festival games to be played to the WRU Pathway rules as of September 2011 with no exception.
WRU Player Development Officers will schedule, organise and run the following per season:

2 x School Festivals (Year 7) - 1 in October and 1 in April
2 x Club Festivals (U12) - 1 in October and 1 in April

Alongside these tournaments (no winners and losers) will be a school and club skills curriculum pathway for all players and coaches to follow.

In the October half term and again in the Easter holidays, the WRU will run Skills Development Days for all children to attend in each district across Wales. At these we will register their height and weight only and introduce and up-skill them on many on and off field issues within the game.

Under 14

All inter school, club and festival games to be played to the WRU Pathway rules as of September 2011 with no exception.
WRU Player Development Officers will schedule, organise and run the following per season:

1 x School Festival (Year 9) in October
1 x Club Festival (U14) in October

Alongside these tournaments (no winners and losers) will be a school and club skills curriculum pathway for all players and coaches to follow.

In the January of the U14 season, WRU Development Officers will select 60 players to undertake a 10-week rugby development programme. These players will have been monitored in all school and club games for two and a half years from U12 level upwards.

This 10 week programme (delivered weekly) will cover all on field technical areas of the game including attack, defence, contact area, kicking and set piece as well as off field holistic issues like, for example, drug awareness, nutrition, lifestyle management and principles of recovery.

At the conclusion of the 10-week programme there will be 3 inter regional fixtures where each of the 60 players will start 1 of the 3 games. These games will take place midweek in March and April.

Under 15

All inter school, club and festival games to be played to the WRU Pathway rules as of September 2011 with no exception.

The U15 Schools Dewar Shield competition takes place from September onwards with each team playing 16 fixtures and one 7s competition with the final taking place at Principality Stadium in April/May.

Following the 3 fixtures at the end of the U14 season, squads will be selected by WRU Development Officers and School Dewar Shield staff and undertake a pre season programme prior to the games starting in September.

Inter school and club games will continue alongside Dewar Shield games.

Under 16

All inter school, club and festival games to be played to the WRU Pathway rules as of September 2011 with no exception.

Following the completion of the Dewar Shield competition, WRU staff for the Dragons, Blues North, Blues South, Ospreys, Scarlets and Gogledd Cymru regions will select U16 Regional Age Grade squads.

Underpinning these squads will be Development XV's selected by WRU staff.

All these squads will play 8-10 games per season and act as selection for Wales U16.

Inter school and club games will continue alongside Regional Age Grade games.