Wales Rugby League are inviting players in school years 8,9, 10 and 11 to trial for the East Wales and West Wales Origin sides, who will train during the autumn and winter.
Players must have taken part in the WRL Junior Leagues during the 2026 season.
Training will be in two areas of South Wales weekly, starting on Saturday, 3 October, with East Wales v West Wales matches proposed for Saturday, 28 November 2026 and Saturday, 6 March 2027.
Click here for more information on dates and how to apply.
The Origin programme directly leads into the Wales U16 side, who have won 12 matches in a row over the last four years, winning the Four Nations title every time since 2023.
Tom Marsh, Wales U16s Head Coach, said: “Over the past three years, we have used the Origin programme as a key scouting and player-identification tool when selecting our Wales U16 squad, and it has become an important part of our pathway.
“The programme allows the coaching staff and I to track players’ development throughout each training block, while the competitive fixtures at the end of those blocks give us another vital opportunity to assess them in a game environment.
“I’m extremely excited to see the Origin programme get underway again and to continue watching the growth and development of Rugby League across South Wales.
“On Saturday, 12 September, we held our annual coach induction at Cwmbran RFC, bringing coaches from across the programme together ahead of the new season.
“It was fantastic to see such a strong turnout, including several new faces keen to get involved in coaching. We were also delighted to welcome former U16 players who are now looking to give back to the game through coaching, while continuing their own playing development through the U18 pathway and towards the senior men’s team.
“The commitment from our coaches, players and everyone involved in the pathway is hugely encouraging. Programmes such as Origin have a vital role to play in developing the next generation of Wales players and strengthening Rugby League across South Wales.”
