The game takes place on Wednesday, 25th January, 2012, kicking off at 2.00pm
A great afternoon's entertainment in store as Rydal take on Llandovery College at the neutral venue of Welshpool RFC - the game kicks off at 2.00pm on Wednesday, 25th January, 2012
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A report from Rydal's recent game against Shrewsbury Schools:
Saturday 14 January –
Rydal 1st XV 36 v Shrewsbury School 10
The fixture marked the first time in several years that the two teams had met, putting added pressure on the 1st XV to perform well.
In the 13th minute of the game Oliver Sharples capitalised on a break by Lewis Barker which was converted by Dion Jones. A lack of concentration saw the visitors score two minutes after the restart only for Dion to do exactly the same in reply to run in for a try to take the half time score to 17-7.
The second half saw some good passages of play, but as many scoring opportunities were squandered as they were scored.
Given the resolute defence of the 1st XV in the second half Shrewsbury rarely threatened. The game ended well for Rydal Penrhos, with further tries from Dion, a well taken individual try from Sam Stelmaszek, a strong drive by Rhodri Evans and a very well taken second try for Oliver.
The game ended with a score of 36-10 and an impressive win for Rydal Penrhos.
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Rugby at Rydal
Rugby is a well established sport at Rydal Penrhos School, the first fixture being played in 1923 against Colwyn Bay. Since then, the sport has gone from strength to strength thanks to a wonderful team of dedicated and well-qualified staff and wonderful facilities. Coaches Mike Leach and Phil Mather are both Level 3 WRU trained and Phil is now a WRU Coach Assessor. They are joined by coaches Ben Proudlove, Matthew Bennett, Tim Cashell and Julian Noad, as well as gap students with a keen interest in sports tuition.
We have recently become partners with the Welsh Rugby Union in the establishment of the North Wales Rugby Academy, which is based here at Rydal Penrhos. Talented and aspiring professional are encouraged to apply for a place in the Sixth form, where 14 lessons in the timetable will be allocated to rugby training with the remainder dedicated to the Sixth form curriculum.
Head coaches
Mr M Leach BSc, Level 3 WRU coach
Mr P Mather BEd, Level 3 WRU coach
Coaches
Mr M Bennet
Mr T Cashell
Mr J Noad
Mr B Proudlove
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Rydal Penrhos School has a justifiably proud reputation for rugby. Its traditional place as a breeding ground for outstanding club and international players was particularly remembered last year when one its most famous alumni, the incomparable Bleddyn Williams, the Prince of Welsh Centres, passed away.
Bleddyn attended Rydal School and remained closely linked to the school, opening the Sports Centre in 2003. How proud he would be that the school is about to embark on a joint project that will see North Wales rugby development take on a new dimension, equalling if not exceeding the support provided to their southern counterparts.
The recent trend of the region’s most exciting rugby youngsters being tempted across the border into England has been countered with the initiation of the North Wales Rugby Team’s foundation, RGC 1404. The senior team began competing in January 2010, playing ‘friendlies’ against clubs and regional representatives and are in the process of joining the league programme.
To complement the senior team, North Wales Rugby has launched an Academy programme, which will hopefully be the breeding ground for the senior team and Wales junior teams, as well as providing a compelling reason for the region’s best youth rugby players not to look outside the region for a rugby career.
The Academy will be based in Colwyn Bay and players in the 2010 cohort will be provided with state of the art training and coaching opportunities. Players will commit to the Academy by following a structured programme designed to ensure the region challenges for national representation. Based either at their home club and utilising ‘remote’ support or in Colwyn Bay, attending Llandrillo College, a key aspect to the support of the players is a continuing academic programme.
A third way, one being followed by seven members of the 2010 Academy, is to receive their education at Rydal Penrhos School. With the traditions of the school, two highly qualified senior coaches, Mike Leach and Phil Mather, outstanding facilities and a strong school fixture programme, the advantages are obvious. Patrick Lee-Browne, the Headmaster, said at the launch of the Academy that ‘Rydal Penrhos School was ideally placed to support further the development of rugby in North Wales. Three of our senior pupils were selected to play for Crawshays last season and we have two former pupils playing professionally in Italy and two, Andrew Fenby and Patrick Leach on the playing staff at the Scarlets and Dragons respectively. My hope is that our Academy players will have the opportunity, should they wish it, to remain in North Wales. At the moment the only way forward is to look at England, the south or beyond. Our commitment to the Academy will hopefully arrest this.’
Rydal Penrhos has already been closely linked to RGC 1404 with the senior team utilising their facilities this year. The Academy players will have tailored academic curriculums which will allow for rugby specific training. the current under 18 and under 16 North Wales teams train at the school and will attend training camps throughout the summer. Mark Roberts, Academy Director, believes the opportunity to create a fifth region can be met through the establishment of the Academy. ‘We are proud that many boys from North Wales do represent Wales. However, their participation usually is the precursor for the regional sides to tempt them away from home. If we can maintain our success against the other regions – we beat three of the them at under 16 last year – continue throughout into the national squads but retain the players to represent RGC at senior level, the aspiration of a fifth region will become a reality’.
For more information on the Academy at Rydal Penrhos School, please contact the school’s admissions officer, Jenny Marsden, on 01492 530155 or email her at JMarsden@rydal-penrhos.com A copy of the AS level option blocks for September 2010 can be downloaded.
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