Scarlets U18s will prepare for their first regional age-grade matches when they take on Saracens at the Parc y Scarlets training pitch on Friday, August 4 (2pm ko).
The squad will then face the Dragons in Llanelli (Aug 20), travel to play Cardiff at the Arms Park (Aug 23), before hosting the Ospreys at the end of the month (Aug 30).
This week, the squad trained in Carmarthen where they welcomed the region’s age-grade, youth and schools coaches to observe the session.
Head of Academy Scott Sneddon explained: “It is about aligning the pathway. We invited all our youth, club and schools coaches to have a look at what we do and how we coach. Hopefully they were able to take a couple of things away from the session that they can take into their own sessions.
“I know in my short time here at the Scarlets we are blessed with talented players, but it is also important to have regular touch points to make sure boys are developing and to make sure we build those trusting relationships so we can rely on people for good and honest feedback.
“If we can align better with our coaches, they have an idea and clarity about how we want to play the game at the Scarlets, how we want to grow the players and how we want to drive player development. The closer we get, the more clarity they get and the better end player we will get. That is only going to benefit their own clubs and hopefully we end up developing more Scarlets from it.”
Looking forward to the upcoming U18s games, Sneddon added: “We have a good group of boys who want to work hard and a good group at U17s who are pushing them. We have some talented players, it is about developing them in terms of their skill fundamentals but also how we can help them in terms of their leadership and communication.
“We are in camp next week in West Wales which will be a great time together with a bit of off-field activities planned so by the end of that, leading into the game against Saracens and the RAG block, we should be in a good spot.”
The Scarlets U17s also have matches in August when they play Holland at Llandovery College on Tuesday, August 22 and Amman Valley 1st XV at Ammanford RFC on Wednesday, August 30.
U18s fixtures: (block 1)
Fri, August 4: Scarlets v Saracens (Parc y Scarlets training pitch; 2pm)
Sun, August 20: Scarlets v Dragons (Parc y Scarlets training pitch; 2.30pm)
Wed, August 23: Cardiff v Scarlets (Cardiff Arms Park; 7.15pm)
Wed, August 30 – Scarlets v Ospreys (Parc y Scarlets Training Pitch; 7.15pm)
(Block 2)
Wed, January 17: Cardiff v Scarlets (Cardiff Arms Park; 7.15pm)
Wed, January 24: Scarlets v Dragons (Parc y Scarlets; 7.15pm)
Sun, January 28 Scarlets v RGC (Parc y Scarlets; 1.30pm)
Wed, February 7: Ospreys v Scarlets (TBC; 7.15pm)