Ospreys Academy News

Along with assistants Paul Yardley and Gethin Watts, Jones announces an initial 31 man squad for the coming season.

Head Coach Phil John who is going into his sixth season with the under 18's will be assisted by former under 16 head coach Alex Evans and Ospreys back row forward Filo Tia Tia for the coming season..

The Young Osprey Age Grade teams at under 20, 18 and 16 are well into their summer training programme which started on Friday 30th May.

As standards improve at under 20 level and players are capable of moving up to Premiership and Regional A Grade a lot earlier, so the under 20 competition has to adapt.

Bridgend College will play host to the Japanese under 20 team which will be in Wales for the under 20 World Cup in June.

On Monday 2nd June the Young Ospreys under 18's return to training at Llandarcy Academy of Sport.

After a great deal of debate the selection panel with the Young Ospreys under 16's have selected a squad of 50 players who will start training at Llandarcy Academy of Sport on Monday 2nd June.

The management of the Young Ospreys have decided to delay announcing their under 16 summer training squad until Monday 12th May.

Future potential Young Ospreys for next seasons under 16's have already been taking part in development sessions but, it goes a stage further next week when they take part in the first of a series of trials for final squad selection.

Jason Larkman who came on board as a conditioning coach with the Young Osprey age grade teams last season has already set his sights on a fitter group of players for next season.

Despite topping the Reebok table on try count at the end of the season, the Young Ospreys were cast as outsiders for the actual title. Nevertheless, the group didn't see it that way and went into the contest quietly confident.

Head Coach Alex Evans and his assistants David Jones and Paul Yardley had the most difficult selection task of the season when they named their squad to face the Blues North in the Reebok Final at Sardis Road tomorrow night (Wednesday 5th) 7.15 kick off.

For as long as the Young Ospreys Academy has been in place they have had and continue to build on a working relationship with the British Army.

The Young Osprey under 16's qualified for the Final of the Reebok Championships with a hard fought win over the Blues North at Pontypridd RFC on Wednesday evening (27th).

Tonight (Wednesday 27th) the Young Ospreys under 18's take on the Blues in their last match of the season. With the Reebok Cup firmly tucked away at the Liberty Stadium, Head Coach Phil John looks to the future.

Tonight (Wednesday 27th) at Sardis Road, home of Pontypridd RFC, the Young Ospreys play for the right to meet their opponents (Blues North) in next weeks Reebok Final.

The Young Ospreys under 16's took advantage of the half term break to travel to Llanidloes RFC and played a friendly fixture with North Wales.

After clinching the Reebok title in December (picture of captain Ben Howe holding cup alongside team mates), coaches Phil John and Andrew Millward are tasked with developing a group of players to continue their success next season.

Because of pitch conditions at Llandarcy Academy of Sport the Young Ospreys under 18's have had to change venues for tomorrows (Wednesday 30th) fixture with the Scarlets and play at Kidwelly RFC, 7.30 kick off.

Everyone at St Helens last night (Wednesday 23rd) was amazed by the quality of the surface, considering the recent spate of wet weather. The result of such conditions was that the players went out and produced an exciting encounter which ended as a draw.

The inclement weather during January has certainly frustrated the Young Osprey under 16 management and players, as they have had their last two fixtures postponed on the afternoon of the match.

Unfortunately for the second week on a trot the inclement weather has caused the postponment of the Young Ospreys crucial fixture with the Blues North at Abercynon. Hopefully next Wednesday's fixture with the Blues South will go ahead at St Helens.

Tonights (Wednesday 9th) under 16 match against the Blues North has been postponed because of a waterlogged pitch; re-arrangements to play the game will be made at a later date.

The Young Ospreys under 16's game with the Blues North has been switched to Abercynon RFC because of pitch conditions at Pontypridd. For details of how to get to the ground go to www.abercynonrfc.co.uk or for sat. nav. CF45 4UY.

During the festive period the Young Ospreys were involved in 3 fixtures and a series of traing sessions.