Squads released for Junior Origin matches on Saturday


East Wales and West Wales have both announced their full squads for this year’s Junior Origin Series, with the first matches taking place this Saturday at the Centre of Sporting Excellence in Ystrad Mynach.

The U14s take to the pitch for an 11am kick-off with the U16s playing at 2.30pm. There will be girls training sessions in between matches. Admission is just £5 for adults and £3 concessions.

Many of the U16 players will get an opportunity to join the WRL National Development Squad at Coleg y Cymoedd next September, which is partnered with Salford Red Devils in Super League.

Bridgend Blue Bulls provide 27 players out of the 44 named in the two West Wales sides. Cynon Valley Cavaliers (five players), Aberavon Fighting Irish (one) and Black Dragons of Banwen (one) also contribute. There are also ten schools players who haven’t yet registered for a community club.

For East Wales, there are 20 players from Aber Valley Wolves, 15 from Torfaen Tigers, six from Rhondda Outlaws and five from Cardiff Blue Dragons.

WRL General Manager Mark Jones said: “After the resounding success of the Origin 2021/22 programme, Wales Rugby League are looking forward to the first test matches of this academic year. With record numbers participating in the first Junior Origin eight-week block, the squads are looking to showcase their talent in front of a capacity crowd in Ystrad Mynach on Saturday. With the Wales U16’s staff and Salford representatives present, we will be sure to see some exciting Rugby League.”

Richard Lewis, the head of the West Wales programme, adds: “The numbers and standard shown is down to all the positive work that’s being done to promote rugby league on the back of the recent World Cup. It gives young people another opportunity to pursue a professional career in sport.

“We also held girls sessions which was a great success. Numbers grew weekly and they really bought into the process and enjoyed themselves.

“Plans are in place to get fixtures next year and with the next World Cup in 2025 we may see of them involved.

“West Wales would like the thank St Joseph’s Comprehensive School and Sixth Form for use of the facilities and their continuing support in making the school a Rugby League hub for the future.”

Timothy Scarfe, for East Wales Origin, adds: “This game comes on the back of an incredibly successful training block in the East, where week in week out we’ve been averaging massive numbers, thanks in no small part to the success of last years programme and the success of Wales Under 16s over the summer.

“We’ve been incredibly lucky to not only have Wayne Ponting heading up the development programme, but this year we have also welcomed Gareth Groves into the coaching set-up and newly appointed Wales Under 16s Team Manager Antony Day into the East Origin programme. This year we have a diverse range of players playing across the community clubs and in bringing these players together we have seen a huge improvement in upskilled development. The growth of the game is clearly evident as is the attention we are receiving across South East Wales in general, it’s an incredibly exciting time to be a part of Wales Rugby League as we see the game becoming far more prevalent.

“The spectacle that is the East vs West Origin is a fantastic platform to see the vast amount of talent that is on display, so it is little wonder that both Super League clubs and development coaches come to view the games with an eye on all the players taking part.”

East Wales U14 (from):

Gethin Ashman Aber Valley Wolves Ysgol Gyfun Cwm Rhymni
Cerrig Day Aber Valley Wolves Ysgol Gyfun Cwm Rhymni
Josh Harding Aber Valley Wolves Blackwood Comprehensive
Alfie James Aber Valley Wolves Bedwas High School
Max Marshall Aber Valley Wolves Ysgol Gyfun Cwm Rhymni
Cian McGee Aber Valley Wolves Cardinal Newman Catholic School
Mason Plummer Aber Valley Wolves St Martin’s Coprehensive School
Miles Plummer Aber Valley Wolves St Martin’s Coprehensive School
Ellis Rees Aber Valley Wolves Ysgol Gyfun Cwm Rhymni
Ryan Williams (C) Aber Valley Wolves Risca Comprehensive School
Rhys Wood Aber Valley Wolves Heolddu Comprehensive School
Drew Foley Cardiff Blue Dragons Bassaleg High School
Alex Harkin Cardiff Blue Dragons Whitmore High School
 Jake Niblett Cardiff Blue Dragons Pencoedtre High School
Evan Baker Rhondda Outlaws Bryn Celynnog Comprehensive School
Jacob Broadley Rhondda Outlaws Ysgol Gyfun Garth Olwg
Keilan Harris Rhondda Outlaws Ysgol Gyfun Garth Olwg
Regan Jones Rhondda Outlaws Pontypridd High School
Gethin Owen Rhondda Outlaws Ysgol Gyfun Cwm Rhondda
Alfie Pitman Rhondda Outlaws Ysgol Gyfun Cwm Rhymni
Noah Appleby Torfaen Tigers Ysgol Gyfun Gwynllyw
Cole Luca Pelopida Torfaen Tigers Cwmbran High School
Jayden Stebbings Torfaen Tigers Islwyn High School
Evan Williams (VC) Torfaen Tigers King Henry VIII School

East Wales U16 (from):

Cai Atkins Aber Valley Wolves Ebbw Fawr Learning Community
Tobie Cribb Aber Valley Wolves Ysgol Gyfun Cwm Rhymni
Nathaniel Hagland Aber Valley Wolves Ysgol Glantaf
Morgan Marozzelli Aber Valley Wolves Blackwood Comprehensive
Henry Parker Aber Valley Wolves Llanishen High School
Ethan Patterson Aber Valley Wolves Islwyn High School
Kavan Phillips Aber Valley Wolves Ysgol Gyfun Cwm Rhymni
Evan Rowlands Aber Valley Wolves Ysgol Gyfun Cwm Rhymni Gelli Haf
Aneurin Williams Aber Valley Wolves King Henry VIII School Abergavenny
Sion Hill Cardiff Blue Dragons Ysgol Pasmawr
Finlay Walker Cardiff Blue Dragons Y Pant
Dewi Bainton Torfaen Tigers Ysgol Gymraeg Gwynllyw
Charlie Bennett Torfaen Tigers Ebbw Fawr Learning Community
Cerith Davies Torfaen Tigers Cyfartha High School
George Groves Torfaen Tigers Croesyceiliog High School
Jax Kirwan Torfaen Tigers Brynmawr Foundation School
Reuben Malson Torfaen Tigers West Monmouth Comprehensive School
Connor McIlwee Torfaen Tigers Newbridge Comprehensive
Keian Rance Torfaen Tigers Cyfartha High School
Jake Sheppard Torfaen Tigers Islwyn High School
Logan Snell Torfaen Tigers Monmouth Comprehensive
Kade Woodward Torfaen Tigers Ysgol Gymraeg Gwynllyw

West Wales U14 (from):

Ben Whitlock Aberavon Fighting Irish St Josephs School
Morgan Everton Bridgend Blue Bulls Cynfig Comprehensive School
Tom Hayden Bridgend Blue Bulls Ysgol Cwm Brombil
Regan John Bridgend Blue Bulls Cynfig Comprehensive School
Hari Nevin Bridgend Blue Bulls Llandovery College
Josh Reekie Bridgend Blue Bulls Coleg Cymyndol Y Dderwen
Stan Stephens Bridgend Blue Bulls
Ellis Thomas Bridgend Blue Bulls Ysgol Gyfun Bro Dur
Osian Thomas (Captain) Bridgend Blue Bulls Ysgol Dyffryn Amman
Mason Wood Bridgend Blue Bulls Cynfig Comprehensive School
Oliver Andrews Cynon Valley Cavaliers Rhydywaun School
Alfie Archer Cynon Valley Cavaliers St John’s Baptist High School
Noah Brennan Cynon Valley Cavaliers St John’s Baptist High School
Jack Davies Cynon Valley Cavaliers Rhydywaun School
Jack Field Cynon Valley Cavaliers Rhydywaun School
Jay Bullingham Unattached Cynfig Comprehensive School
Joey Davies-John Unattached Cefn Saeson Comprehensive School
William Harnett-Jones Unattached Llandovery College
Owain Harris Unattached Cynfig Comprehensive School
Zac Nottingham Unattached Ysgol Dyffryn Amman
Griff Rees Unattached Ysgol Dyffryn Amman
Lewis Thomas Unattached Coleg Cymyndol Y Dderwen

West Wales U16 (from):

Ethan Morris Black Dragons Maes Y Gwendraeth
Ryan Blyth Bridgend Blue Bulls Gowerton Comprehensive School
Leo Bonham Bridgend Blue Bulls Pontarddulais Comprehensive
Nathan Devonald Bridgend Blue Bulls Ysgol Bae Baglan
Harper Donagh Bridgend Blue Bulls Coleg Cymyndol Y Dderwen
Rogue Donagh Bridgend Blue Bulls Coleg Cymyndol Y Dderwen
Josh Gabrielsen Bridgend Blue Bulls Brynteg School (Bridgend)
Alex Green Bridgend Blue Bulls Ystalyfera School
Leland Grey Bridgend Blue Bulls Gowerton Comprehensive School
Lucas Hart Bridgend Blue Bulls Birchgrove School
Oliver Jenkins Bridgend Blue Bulls Dwr Y Felin School
Jacob Jones Bridgend Blue Bulls Ysgol Strade
Oscar Jones Bridgend Blue Bulls Ysgol Gyfun Gwyr
Juris Kesans Bridgend Blue Bulls Ysgol Bryntawe (Swansea)
Owain Martin Bridgend Blue Bulls Ysgol Bryntawe (Swansea)
Hudson Nevin Bridgend Blue Bulls Llandovery College
Jake Nottingham (Captain) Bridgend Blue Bulls Ysgol Dyffryn Amman
Albie Redpath Bridgend Blue Bulls Queen Elizabeth High School
Jacob Wallace Bridgend Blue Bulls Ysgol Gyfun Gwyr
Ruben Ghat Unattached St Josephs School
Caelan Hurley Unattached St Richard Gwyn High School
Cian Rees-Owen Unattached Ysgol Dyffryn Amman