Cardiff and Vale College’s Rugby Academy has made it to the finals of the Welsh Schools and Colleges League contest, having beaten Coleg y Cymoedd 27-14 in the semi-finals.
The Academy will now play in the final at the Principality Stadium on 8th December.
The match against Cymoedd didn’t start easily for the CAVC Rugby Academy, with both teams out for a win to see them through to the finals. Cymoedd initially scored two tries in quick succession, but CAVC’s Harper Chamberlain scored the College’s first try on the stroke of half time.
A yellow card for Cymoedd early in the second half offered an opportunity for CAVC’s First XV to build on the work done in the first half with a try from Harrison James and two from flying wing Will Hawker, gaining the Rugby Academy a place in the finals.
Cardiff and Vale College Director of Rugby Martyn Fowler said: “To reach a final with a Rugby Academy programme that, when compared to others, is still in its infancy is testament to the hours of unseen work this playing group and their coaching staff commit to on a daily basis. We all hope we can make everyone involved at CAVC proud on 8th December.”
CAVC Rugby Academy Year 12 Captain Saul Hurley said: “It’s been a big couple of weeks with all the boys and we’re all very excited, looking forward to the final of the Welsh Rugby Schools and Colleges League, topping our regional group and hopefully topping the national cup group. It’s a privilege to be one of the two Captains to lead our side onto the pitch and hopefully make history at Cardiff and Vale College.
“I had the opportunity to go to Hartpury, Brecon and Llandovery Colleges with scholarship opportunities offered but a meeting with Martyn and Yusuf solidified my choice to attend CAVC and I haven’t looked back since, with my A level studies and rugby development progressing as my family hoped.
“The CAVC Rugby Academy programme is an amazing opportunity to improve as a player and play a great standard of rugby, encouraging academics throughout. The Academy and coaching has given us the chance to play on the Principality Stadium and proudly represent the College in the final - and all in my first year.”