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 |
