Newport Gwent Dragons have announced the Under 18 squad for the coming season.
For the first time, there will be both a development squad alongside the Under 18 squad which will be made up for the most part of Under 17 players in preparation for next season’s Under 18 side.
“We wanted to bridge the gap between Under 16 and Under 18 level,” said Dragons Academy Manager Will Thomas. “It’s vital that players do not slip through the net and they continue to receive regional standard coaching and support if they are not ready to make the jump from Under 16 to Under 18 level.
“Although these are the initial squads, we will be retaining fluidity between the two which will ensure that we have good cover for any injuries or loss of form. It also enables those selected for the Development squad to work towards breaking into the full side.
“The new system also provides an opportunity for coaching development, giving potential future age-grade coaches the opportunity to cut their teeth and be assessed and supported through the process in a low-pressure environment.”
The Under 18 coaching team includes former Welsh-International Matthew Back, whilst Llyr Lane will be bringing his international Sevens experience to the both squads as Skills Coach.
Newport Gwent Dragons Under 18 Squad
Backs
Sam Bevan, (Bassaleg Comp, Newport Sarries), Alek Cooper, (Caerleon Comp, Caerleon RFC), Rhys Davies, (Llandovery College, Not Attatched), Joshua Davies, (Llandovery College, Not Attatched), Jonathan Evans, (Lewis Boys, Bargoed RFC), Bradley Hill, (St Cenydd Comp, Caerphilly RFC), Sion Jones, (Cwm Rhymni Comp, Bargoed RFC), Rhodri Lloyd, (Cwm Rhymni Comp, Penallta RFC), Steffan Morgan, (Llantarnam Comp, Risca RFC), Danny Newlands, (Llandovery College, Amersham RFC), Mathew O`Brien, (Caerleon Comp, Caerleon RFC),
Josh Prosser, (Rhymney Comp, Abertysswg RFC), Elliot Wheaton, (Caerleon Comp, N.H.S.O.B)
Forwards
Leon Burgess, (Basseleg Comp, Pill Harriers RFC), Alex Herbert, (Apprentiship, Bargoed RFC), Jamie Sollis, (St Cenydd Comp, Caerphilly RFC), Kyle Tayler, (Lliswerry High Sch, Caerleon RFC), Cameron Regan, (Ysgol Gufun Gwynllyw, Rtb Ebbw Vale), Ross Mathews, (Ystrad Mynach Coll, Nelson RFC), Harrison Lewis, (Filton College, Not Attatched), Alex Hughes, (Hartpury College,), Ollie Roberts, (Kennet School, Newbury RFC), Gareth Kemp, (Filton College, Bargoed RFC), Lewis Bacon, (Croesyceiliog Sch, Panteg RFC),
Kyle Griffiths, (Abertillery Comp, Abertillery RFC), Dafydd Morgan, (Rhymney Comp, Merthyr RFC), John Lavender, (Duffryn High Sch, Newport Sarries), Tom Rusga, (Llandovery College, Not Attatched), Luke Jones, (Filton College, Newbridge RFC),
Under 18 Development Squad
Backs
Thomas Ashmead, (Abertillery Comp, Abertillery RFC), Leighton Bellamore, (Caerleon Comp, Caerleon RFC), Steven Brown, (Tredegar Comp, Rtb Ebbw Vale), Micheal Davies, (Croesyceiliog Comp, Cwmbran RFC), Joeseph Gadd, (Filton College, Weston Hornets), Rhys Gittings, (Chepstow Comp, Caldicot RFC), Daniel Haile, (Abertillery Comp, Abertillery RFC), Jonny Morgan, (Ferrers College, Northants Scouts), Jordan Purcell, (Cardinal Newman, Caerphilly RFC), Luke Smalley, (Lewis Boys, Nelson RFC), Garin Vivian, (Lewis Boys, Caerphilly RFC), Jacob Wright, (Cwm Rhymni Comp, Caerphilly RFC),
Forwards
Joseph Bartlett, (Cwmcarn High School, Risca RFC), Louis Blacker, (Basseleg Comp, N.H.S.O.B), Lloyd Bridges, (Lewis Boys, Penallta RFC), Chris Francis, (Filton College, Weston Hornets), William Jarvis, (Felsted School, Chelmsford RFC), Ieuan Jones, (Lewis Boys, Merthyr Tydfil RFC), Robert Jones, (Rhichard Hale Sch, Hertford RFC), Daniel Maguire, (St Joes Newport, N.H.S.O.B), Thomas Moss, (Blackwood Comp, Blackwood RFC), Craig Owen, (Heolddu Comp, Penallta RFC), Rhys Stephens, (Heolddu Comp, Penallta RFC), Joshua Thomas, (Blackwood Comp, Blackwood RFC), Mathew Thomas, (Caerleon Comp, Caerleon RFC), Jack Williams, (Basseleg Comp, N.H.S.O.B), Rhys Williams, (Cwmcarn High School, Caerphilly RFC),
Coaching Teams
Rugby Manager Billy Vivian
Team Support Dai Jones, Huw Evans
Skills Coach Llyr Lane
Under 18 Coaching Team
Head Coach Matthew Back
Forwards Coach James Chapron
Under 18 Development Coaching Team
Head Coach Nigel Smith
Forwards Coach Jeremy Rogers
For the first time, there will be both a development squad alongside the Under 18 squad which will be made up for the most part of Under 17 players in preparation for next season’s Under 18 side.
“We wanted to bridge the gap between Under 16 and Under 18 level,” said Dragons Academy Manager Will Thomas. “It’s vital that players do not slip through the net and they continue to receive regional standard coaching and support if they are not ready to make the jump from Under 16 to Under 18 level.
“Although these are the initial squads, we will be retaining fluidity between the two which will ensure that we have good cover for any injuries or loss of form. It also enables those selected for the Development squad to work towards breaking into the full side.
“The new system also provides an opportunity for coaching development, giving potential future age-grade coaches the opportunity to cut their teeth and be assessed and supported through the process in a low-pressure environment.”
The Under 18 coaching team includes former Welsh-International Matthew Back, whilst Llyr Lane will be bringing his international Sevens experience to the both squads as Skills Coach.
Newport Gwent Dragons Under 18 Squad
Backs
Sam Bevan, (Bassaleg Comp, Newport Sarries), Alek Cooper, (Caerleon Comp, Caerleon RFC), Rhys Davies, (Llandovery College, Not Attatched), Joshua Davies, (Llandovery College, Not Attatched), Jonathan Evans, (Lewis Boys, Bargoed RFC), Bradley Hill, (St Cenydd Comp, Caerphilly RFC), Sion Jones, (Cwm Rhymni Comp, Bargoed RFC), Rhodri Lloyd, (Cwm Rhymni Comp, Penallta RFC), Steffan Morgan, (Llantarnam Comp, Risca RFC), Danny Newlands, (Llandovery College, Amersham RFC), Mathew O`Brien, (Caerleon Comp, Caerleon RFC),
Josh Prosser, (Rhymney Comp, Abertysswg RFC), Elliot Wheaton, (Caerleon Comp, N.H.S.O.B)
Forwards
Leon Burgess, (Basseleg Comp, Pill Harriers RFC), Alex Herbert, (Apprentiship, Bargoed RFC), Jamie Sollis, (St Cenydd Comp, Caerphilly RFC), Kyle Tayler, (Lliswerry High Sch, Caerleon RFC), Cameron Regan, (Ysgol Gufun Gwynllyw, Rtb Ebbw Vale), Ross Mathews, (Ystrad Mynach Coll, Nelson RFC), Harrison Lewis, (Filton College, Not Attatched), Alex Hughes, (Hartpury College,), Ollie Roberts, (Kennet School, Newbury RFC), Gareth Kemp, (Filton College, Bargoed RFC), Lewis Bacon, (Croesyceiliog Sch, Panteg RFC),
Kyle Griffiths, (Abertillery Comp, Abertillery RFC), Dafydd Morgan, (Rhymney Comp, Merthyr RFC), John Lavender, (Duffryn High Sch, Newport Sarries), Tom Rusga, (Llandovery College, Not Attatched), Luke Jones, (Filton College, Newbridge RFC),
Under 18 Development Squad
Backs
Thomas Ashmead, (Abertillery Comp, Abertillery RFC), Leighton Bellamore, (Caerleon Comp, Caerleon RFC), Steven Brown, (Tredegar Comp, Rtb Ebbw Vale), Micheal Davies, (Croesyceiliog Comp, Cwmbran RFC), Joeseph Gadd, (Filton College, Weston Hornets), Rhys Gittings, (Chepstow Comp, Caldicot RFC), Daniel Haile, (Abertillery Comp, Abertillery RFC), Jonny Morgan, (Ferrers College, Northants Scouts), Jordan Purcell, (Cardinal Newman, Caerphilly RFC), Luke Smalley, (Lewis Boys, Nelson RFC), Garin Vivian, (Lewis Boys, Caerphilly RFC), Jacob Wright, (Cwm Rhymni Comp, Caerphilly RFC),
Forwards
Joseph Bartlett, (Cwmcarn High School, Risca RFC), Louis Blacker, (Basseleg Comp, N.H.S.O.B), Lloyd Bridges, (Lewis Boys, Penallta RFC), Chris Francis, (Filton College, Weston Hornets), William Jarvis, (Felsted School, Chelmsford RFC), Ieuan Jones, (Lewis Boys, Merthyr Tydfil RFC), Robert Jones, (Rhichard Hale Sch, Hertford RFC), Daniel Maguire, (St Joes Newport, N.H.S.O.B), Thomas Moss, (Blackwood Comp, Blackwood RFC), Craig Owen, (Heolddu Comp, Penallta RFC), Rhys Stephens, (Heolddu Comp, Penallta RFC), Joshua Thomas, (Blackwood Comp, Blackwood RFC), Mathew Thomas, (Caerleon Comp, Caerleon RFC), Jack Williams, (Basseleg Comp, N.H.S.O.B), Rhys Williams, (Cwmcarn High School, Caerphilly RFC),
Coaching Teams
Rugby Manager Billy Vivian
Team Support Dai Jones, Huw Evans
Skills Coach Llyr Lane
Under 18 Coaching Team
Head Coach Matthew Back
Forwards Coach James Chapron
Under 18 Development Coaching Team
Head Coach Nigel Smith
Forwards Coach Jeremy Rogers
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