On the big stage in Singapore, Academy flyer Callum Woolley made his Great Britain 7s debut in the third round of the HSBC SVNS Series.
The 20-year-old from Cardigan started against South Africa during the Saturday pool stages, then touched down in the play-off matches against Australia and Argentina on Sunday.
Against the Aussies, Callum showed his blistering pace to win the race to a kick through, then displayed the try-scoring instincts that have been seen in Carmarthen Quins colours this season, stepping inside from 25 metres out to score against Los Pumas.
The squad, which finished eighth in Singapore, will now head to Australia for the next leg of the series in Perth (Feb 7-8).
Academy players were very much in the spotlight this weekend with 18-year-old fly-half Carwyn Leggatt-Jones making his first URC start in the Scarlets’ 20-20 draw against Benetton. Full-back Jac Davies also started, while wing Iori Badham and prop Josh Morse came off the bench in the second half.
Despite the torrential rain hitting the WRU league programme hard, Llandovery and Carmarthen Quins were both in action.
Academy back-rower Tiaan Sparrow (pictured) was on the scoresheet as Llandovery enjoyed a convincing victory at Aberavon in the latest round of the Super Rygbi Cymru Cup.
Tiaan was one of three Academy players to play their part in the Drovers’ 43-12 win – prop Tom Phillips and second row Kai Jones were the others – along with senior prop Harri O’Connor.
Meanwhile, wing Thomas Williams continues to catch the eye for Carmarthen Quins. The speedster raced away for a length-of-the-field solo score in the Quins’ 17-17 drawn SRC clash with Bridgend at Carmarthen Park. Centre Gabe McDonald, hooker Keanu Evans and senior squad member Sam O’Connor, also featured for the Quins.
This coming weekend, all eyes turn to the Six Nations with a number of Scarlets set to be named in the Wales U20s side to face England at Northampton’s Franklin’s Gardens on Friday night.