The WRU are committed to the continual pursuit of excellence – our mission is ‘To develop more and better players for the game and for Wales through life enriching experiences’ to achieve this we strive to develop inspiring, competitive clubs and national teams while retaining and growing the number of active participants in our game.
Rugby is a complex sport that requires a broad range of skills, qualities, and attributes for a player to develop and reach their full potential. While every player’s journey is unique to them, there are some common features, experiences, and requirements for impactful development that adds value to every individual while enabling a small few to go onto professional careers in the game and pull on the red shirt.
Watch the following video the Rise of the Dragon – The Men and Boys Player Pathway in Ways
In 2023 the Welsh rugby union, as part of the talent pathway reform in Wales, introduced the emerging player program for boys aged 14 to 16 years old.
The Emerging player program is a two-year journey that involves players attending locally delivered skill centres in year 1 before participating in the Dewar shield competition in year 2 before progressing to regional age grade rugby.
The EPP is designed to engage 1,500 players (20% of registered players in the district) aged 14 (U15) – 16 (U16). It is a development-led programme whose purpose is to develop player readiness for their next stage whether that be within the Regional Academy, local Club, College, or School.
As a key component of the Welsh Rugby Union’s strategic reform of the player pathway to create ‘more and better players’ for the professional and community game in Wales, the prestigious Dewar Shield has now been formally integrated into the regional pathway, meaning it is now contested at U16 (Year 11) level.
The revamp means there is now a 22-month programme of development for emerging players between 14 and 16 years old (U15 and U16) and as part of the wider ongoing player pathway reform, the newly introduced Emerging Player Programme (EPP) is being led by the regions, supported by the WRU, and delivered locally across 24 schools districts in Wales.
