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Welsh Rugby Union
  • 26/09/2024
Transcript
00:00In 2023, the Welsh Rugby Union, as part of the Talent Pathway Reform in Wales, introduced
00:07the Emerging Player Programme for boys aged 14 to 16 years old.
00:13The Emerging Player Programme is a two-year journey that involves players attending locally
00:17delivered skills centres in year one, before participating in the Dewar Shield competition
00:22in year two, before then progressing to regional age-grade rugby.
00:27In 2023, over 1,700 players attended under-15 skills centres delivered in their district.
00:34The skills centres engaged over 60% of the registered under-15s players in Wales.
00:40Players within these skills centres participated in 30 playing opportunities nationally over
00:45the course of the season.
00:47Welsh Rugby Union National Hub officers delivered over 1,200 sessions in year one of the Emerging
00:52Player Programme, amounting to over £17,000 of time resource.
00:57The newly introduced Year 10 National Schools Cup had over 170 schools participating, culminating
01:04with a final being played at the 2023 Road to Principality.
01:09Within the same year, 26 districts competed across 91 games in the under-16s Dewar Shield
01:15competition, which was officiated by 25 Level 3 match officials.
01:21Over 800 players participated in the under-16s Dewar Shield competition, with over 300 progressing
01:27to regional age-grade rugby.
01:29132 volunteers were engaged in delivering the programme nationally and were assisted
01:35by WRU staff, regional academy staff and WRU National Hub officers.
01:41The Welsh Rugby Union would like to thank all the players, coaches, referees and administrators
01:46who have contributed to the success of the programme in its first year of delivery.
01:51We are striving to develop and support all of those engaged to make our game great.
01:55Diolch yn fawr.