Julian Ferrari, WRU Development Officer for North East Wales and Secretary of the North Wales Junior Association explains
For several months now the WRU and a player development focus group have been reviewing the current elite junior player development pathway across Wales.
News has recently been released following considerable consideration and debate by the focus group as to how elite junior player development may be improved and developed nationwide, in order to produce more world class stars for the future.
This will affect the North East (and all other areas) as follows:
It has been agreed that players within the Under 12 and Under 13 age groups will now no longer play competitive fixtures as provincial teams. Instead players will be invited to attend Provincial Player Development Skill Days which will be held throughout the season. The regularity and focus of these events has yet to be decided but will take place on the last Sunday of the month.
At Under 14s a similar format is to be used up to Christmas after which the players at this age group will be selected for a provincial team. From January until the end of May this team will play regular fixtures (last Sunday of the month) to prepare them for selection into a North East Under 15s and for some an Under 15s Dewar shield Team.
The Dewar Shield is an established school based competition throughout Wales. Currently we have permission to field a combined North Wales team in the event as opposed to a school side in order for us to develop as a region. This competition offers players the very best level of rugby at Junior level. Moving forward into next season we have applied to enter at least two teams with our ambition being to enter three; one from each province. If the proposal is accepted all efforts will be put into making these teams the most competitive our provinces will allow. Should two teams be permitted then both would play as North Wales combined squads. If three teams are allowed then the NE provincial team will represent at Dewar Shild level, if two teams are permitted to enter then provincial teams will act as development squads for the Dewar Shield teams. Regardless there will be a North East Provincial squad at U15s next season and they will continue playing competitive fixtures throughout the year.
I hope this information is of interest and of use to you.
I will continue to keep you informed as events progress.
Regards,
Julian
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