Super six secure regional rugby spots

It may be a tough season for the seniors at Welshpool Rugby Club, but the club’s up-and-comers have shown there is plenty to be optimistic about for the future.

No less than SIX players have come through the rigorous selection system to make the final squad of 35 players for the RGC U16 squad, which consists of the best players from Mid and North Wales.

The sextet - Josh Williams, Matthew White, Chester White, Callum Emberton, Fin Kaye and Henry Ryder - came through a process that started with 250 players before being narrowed down to 70, and then the final 35.

“For a club of our size, to produce that number of elite players competing across Mid & North Wales is genuinely unbelievable and I’d put money on us being one of, if not the, most represented clubs in the RGC U16s setup,” said Robbie Williams, Josh’s father, who was clear where the praise should be directed.

“But, this doesn’t happen by accident. This is years of work, commitment, structure, and belief and starts with Fred White, whose two lads are amongst the six selected (pictured together, right).

“He’s taken these boys from tag rugby all the way to becoming some of the best U16s in the region, not just as players, but as young men.

“His time, his energy, the standards he sets, the environment he creates - it all shows. What he’s done for this age group is phenomenal and deserves huge recognition.”

From January onwards, the lads will compete in the WRU Regional Age Grade (RAG) competition against Cardiff, Scarlets East/West, Ospreys East/West, and Dragons.