AN Amman Valley school has been chosen to provide an academy for the WRU and join its elite schools and colleges league.

Ysgol Dyffryn Aman – which boasts a proud rugby history, with former pupils including current Wales Women’s captain Hannah Jones, Wales Women’s coach Ioan Cunningham, former Wales and British and Irish Lions winger Shane Williams, Wales Women’s international Ffion Lewis and Caitlin Lewis, current Wales international Jac Morgan and England Women’s international Lucy Packer – has joined the WRU National Schools & Colleges League.

The school has been given a five-year licence which will see them enter Conference B and compete in the league which also includes Coleg Sir Gar, Llandovery College and Coleg Gwent. Highlights and live matches will be televised on Rygi Pawb.

The programme will also see the school’s 6th form students given a chance to improve their rugby skills with a dedicated timetable of rugby – with strength and conditioning, dietary and nutrition support, physiotherapy and rehabilitation, pool recovery, performance analysis and 1-2-1 skill and tactical coaching.

This will be alongside their studies and they will be coached by experienced former players such as Shane Williams and Daniel Evans.

South Wales Guardian: Former pupil Shane Williams will provide his expertise to the pupils involved in the rugby programme.Former pupil Shane Williams will provide his expertise to the pupils involved in the rugby programme. (Image: David Davies/PA Wire)

Ysgol Dyffryn Aman headteacher James Durbridge said: “Ysgol Dyffryn Aman is thrilled to announce that we have joined the prestigious WRU National Schools & Colleges League. Following a rigorous application process, we have been awarded with a five-year licence to enter Conference B and compete in this elite league, with highlights and live matches televised on Rygbi Pawb.

“This programme will provide Ysgol Dyffryn Aman 6th Form students with an opportunity to pursue academic excellence within our extensive curriculum offer, along with 12 hours each week of; timetabled rugby provision, strength and conditioning, dietary and nutrition support, physiotherapy and rehabilitation sessions, pool recovery, performance analysis, 1:1 skill and tactical coaching.

“Students and the community will also benefit from having direct access to new, state of the art facilities, that are currently under construction at Ysgol Dyffryn Aman. These include a brand-new 2G all-weather pitch, a floodlit 3G pitch, synthetic running track and external changing facilities – due to be completed October 23.”

The initiative will be coordinated by Tom Hancock, head of rugby, and Phil Bowen, head of PE.

An experienced team of coaches will be supporting them, including Swansea RFC’s Gareth Rees (strength and conditioning), Garan Williams, forwards coach (Swansea RFC, Mynydd Mawr and Dinefwr), former Ospreys, Wales and British and Irish Lions winger Shane Williams who will help with attack coaching, former Ospreys and Wales back Daniel Evans who will assist as backs coach, Allan Lewis (Wales, Newport, Llanelli) as coaching advisor and Dyfrig Dafis (WRU Hub officer, Aberaeron RFC head coach) as coach.