The only regional age grade U16 game taking place tonight sees a feisty local derby take place as Blues South take on Blues North. (KO 7.15pm)
The two sides from the Cardiff region meet at Canton RFC with local bragging rights at stake. Both sides have had successful seasons so far and go into the game in first and second place.
Unbeaten in all five of their games so far this season, Blues North lead the table with the South just behind them in second place. The two side’s league positions show the strength of rugby in the region. Combined, the two teams have played 10 league fixtures so far this season, nine of them ending in wins for the Cardiff regions.
On the back of such a successful run, tonight’s game promises to be more than competitive with Blues Performance Manager Richard Hodges looking forward to the clash.
“We can’t lose sight of the fact that the whole emphasis of the regional age grade championship is on the identification of young talent,” he said.
"Having said that it’s going to be a right royal battle for 70 minutes tonight between the best 30 players in the region at this age group.
“The players and staff have put a lot of time and effort into this and there has been plenty of banter flying about so we’ll see what happens.
“We’re obviously looking towards the pre-academy groups for next year and games like this are an ideal opportunity to impress.”
Blues South: 15 Jesse Lipetz Robic 14 Josh Rodgers 13 Teri Gee 12 Nick Griffiths 11 James Walsh 10 Luke Fish 9 Myles Churcher, 1 Sam Brinkworth 2 Aldi Coverdale 3 Joel Ringer 4 Cengizhan Ziyaeddin 5 Tom Hayward 6 Sid Blackmore (c) 7 Dan Holder 8 Joe Gaughan.
Replacements: Will Haines, Matt Holder, Rhys Forse, Aaron Bowman, Cameron James, Harry Goodfellow, Alex Guard, Jon Hunt.
Blues North: 15 Curtis Povey 14 Jarrad Evans 13 Callum Morris 12 Carl Lewis 11 Kurtis Williams 10 Callum Hall 9 Liam Jones, 1 David Harries 2 Gerwyn Coleman 3 Kieran Assarratti 4 Callum Hagget 5 Hywel Thomas 6 Lloyd James 7 Aled Evans (c) 8 Morgan Sniewaski.
Replacements: Dewi Morris, Ben Stephens, Jarred Almond Roberts, Harvey Connolly, Leon Rogers, Jack Owen, Jacob Lloyd, Joshua Wylass.