Emerging talent given chance to shine on big stage

PLANS to broadcast the WRU Colleges League throughout season 2012/13 have been announced in a partnership between the Welsh Rugby Union and S4C.

Sixteen games will be broadcast to achieve the most extensive TV coverage of non-international junior rugby in the history of the game in Wales. It will feature the eight WRU Colleges League teams involving Under 18 players in further education.

All the teams involved are Welsh sixth form colleges except for the independent school Llandovery College. More colleges or school teams could potentially join the league in future seasons.

Senior international players such as George North, Leigh Halfpenny and Alun Wyn Jones have all played rugby at this level while developing their careers through the WRU academy and age grade international rugby structure.

Under the broadcast plan cameras will cover one game live each week during the progress of the league. The selected match will be webcast live during the afternoon on the S4C website and then screened in its entirety on the Welsh language television channel the same night from 10.30pm.

Highlights from other Colleges League games will also be screened on S4C during the evening programmes.

The first game to be screened is Coleg Morgannwg v Coleg Gwent on Wednesday 3 October (2.30pm) with newcomers Llandovery College hosting the next live webcast on October 10 when they welcome Neath Port Talbot College to their ground.

Six games will be shown during October and November with a further ten scheduled for output later early in 2013 during February and March.

WRU Performance Manager Gethin Watts said: “This is an important breakthrough for us and signals our intention to reflect the true value of this level of the game to the WRU.

“It is a great boost for the players to know their matches are being broadcast and it is bound to give an added edge to the competition for success in the league. This in turn will help us improve the quality of the league and ultimately produce more players capable of competing for regional and ultimately national recognition.

“Throughout the season our cameras will get around all the teams so the public will be able to follow the progress of the competition closely and really get to know the teams.

“Age Grade rugby and especially the 16 to 18 yrs group is a valuable element of our pathway structure and this initiative proves that we are working hard to develop depth in our performance pathway as well as encouraging the development of rugby for all young players who are willing to work hard to fulfil their potential.”

The coverage plans include proposals to screen the second and third place play-off match and then the final which will reveal the league champions.

WRU Head of Communications John Williams added: “This initiative is clear evidence of how the WRU is determined to raise the profile of schools and college rugby in Wales.

“We are extremely grateful to S4C for committing a significant space in their output schedule for this exciting project. By webcasting sixteen games live and then showing those matches later and in full on the S4C broadcast channel they are proving their commitment to rugby.

“Age Grade rugby has proved a great broadcast success in other nations and it is vital that Wales places the same level of focus on our young players.”

Geraint Rowlands, S4C’s Head of Broadcasting and Sports and Events Commissioner said: “We are looking forward to working closely with the Welsh Rugby Union to give rugby at this level the platform it deserves. We have had a great response to our broadcasts in the spring. The coverage reached a new, young audience on-line while also delighting our traditional rugby audience in Wales and the UK.”

Each of the live games will be filmed in a three-camera outside broadcast delivered by Sports Media Services of Bridgend who are the contracted WRU video and broadcast providers.

WRU Colleges League 2012/13
 
3 October 2012

Coleg Morgannwg v Coleg Gwent (live match - Taffs Well RFC, 2.30pm)
Coleg Sir Gar v Bridgend College
Neath/Port Talbot College v Gower College
Coleg Sir Benfro v Llandovery College