Two famous Welsh invitation clubs – Crawshay’s Welsh and the Welsh Academicals - bring U18 sides to the area this week to play against the two most famous Welsh rugby schools writes Huw S Thomas.

Crawshay’s take on Christ College at Brecon this afternoon Wed Nov 26 (KO 2 15 pm) and Llandovery College face the Accies on Tredegar Close (KO 2 30 pm).

Much to the delight of WRU schools hub officer Tomas Marks, Ysgol Bro Dinewr, Llandeilo have three players in the showpiece games -scrum half Aron Hemmings and prop Tom Fulcher for Crawshay’s and Steffan Roberts for the Accies.

Marks who took up his appointment at Bro Dinefwr in September said:

“It is a recognition that we are on the right development track when we get boys selected for both Crawshay’s and the Accies.”

“Aron, Tom and Steffan who has been outstanding as captain have been shining recently but we are very hopeful that we get a few more boys in the frame before the end of the season.”

The two invitation clubs continue with their work of introducing promising young players into the environment of representative rugby, players who have often been ignored by regional and national selectors.

Crawshay’s – founded in 1922 by Capt Geoffrey Crawshay- have included three Welsh Exiles in their squad at Brecon and these include Kirkham GS full back Tom Carleton, son of the former Orrell, England and Lions wing John Carleton.

The Preston school are unbeaten this season, recently taking the big scalp of Sedbergh and Carleton has been one of the stars of an exciting back line.

The Welsh Academicals were founded back in 1927 by Mountain Ash’s Jimmy Austin and like Crawshay’s have been equally dedicated to giving young and promising Welsh players the chance to develop their game in sides sworn to play open rugby.

Last year the Lilywhites won the annual game 27-17 and have been in good form this term, lying in second position in the Welsh Colleges Elite League table.

Led by outstanding flanker Stephen Leonard and with six other players in the provisional Wales U18 squad – including leading points score full back Jac Evans - they will face the Accies full of confidence..