It's Academical
By Paul French
March 11 2005
With seemingly most of Wales migrating to Scotland for the weekend, news on the home front is certainly that of the positive kind, with plans for four partly EU funded funded regional academies. At the same time Llanelli Scarlets have signed a Tongan, and re-signed a prop.
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ACADEMY PLANS UNVEILED
Will Wales be producing even more talent?
With a fairly vibrant sage grade regional structure implemented this season in the shape of the Reebok
Championships', the introduction of a fully fledged academy system would appear fairly obvious. Considering every Zurich Premiership side has
had an academy for several years, such a move has been a long time coming. Wales under 21 captain James Merriman is a product of Gloucester'
academy.
Academies are more than just training facilities, the development of rugby players educationally, and as professional individuals is essential
when so many are likely to fall by the wayside as they chase the dream of having a career in pro rugby.
In terms of funding, half of the 3.3 million pounds needed will come from objective one funding with academies located at tertiary collages
across South and West Wales at Coleg Gwent, Coleg Glan Hafren in Cardiff, Neath Port Talbot College and Coleg Sir Gar in Carmarthenshire,
offering 250 bursars and 20 new coaching posts.
Other age grade rugby news sees Wales under 21's look to maintain their unbeaten Six nations run in Aberdeen tonight against their Scottish
counterparts. Newport scrum half James Ireland makes his first start of the championships. Ospreys and Neath centre Andrew Bishop also returns
in place of Pontypridd centre Tom Riley.
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WALES U21 TEAM vs Scotland
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| 15 |
Ricky WILLIAMS- Newport |
1 |
Scott ROBERTS - Bridgend |
| 14 |
Aled BREW - Ospreys / Neath |
2 |
Duane GOODFIELD - Pontypridd |
| 13 |
Andrew BISHOP - Ospreys / Neath |
3 |
Cai GRIFFITHS - Neath / Ospreys |
| 12 |
Gavin EVANS - Scarlets |
4 |
Alun WYN-JONES - Swansea |
| 11 |
Chris CZEKAJ - Blues / Cardiff |
5 |
Ian EVANS - Neath |
| 10 |
Matthew JONES - Ospreys |
6 |
Chris DAVIES - Bridgend |
| 9 |
James IRELAND - Newport |
7 |
James MERRIMAN - Gloucester |
| |
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8 |
Jonathan MILLS - Scarlets |
| BENCH - Rhys
James (UWIC), Phillip Osbourne (Cardiff), Ben Thomson (Newport), Tom Smith (Neath), Aled Thomas (Carmarthen Quins), Dafydd Hewitt (Cardiff),
Wayne Evans (Carmarthen Quins). |
Despite all the good news in terms of developing home grown talent, Llanelli Scarlets have
added a Tongan to their ranks, in the shape national team captain Inoke Afeaki.
Lock Afeaki who has Super 12 experience with Wellington Hurricanes has signed a two-year
contract, with Adam Jones and Bryn Griffiths going in the opposite direction out of the Stradey Park exit.
Welsh loose head Iestyn Thomas has also agreed a
new contract to remain with the Scarlets for another three years.
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Editor
Paul French - paulfrench_2002@hotmail.com
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