Charvis offers youngsters pep-talk (From Free Press Series)

Charvis offers youngsters pep-talk

10:58am Wednesday 3rd June 2009

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TEENAGERS wanting to break into the Dragons have been told to shine in the Dewar Shield.

Youngsters often juggled positions in multiple youth sides but last week the Dragons Academy confirmed they will next year be looking for talent in the Dewar Shield schools competition – in which Pontypool Schools has often excelled.

The announcement was made at Rodney Parade, the launch attended by members of the Royal Navy and Marines who this year have been working with Pontypool Schools’ under-15s players in Cwmbran.

Academy manager Will Thomas said: "The Dewar Shield offers the best development and player identification opportunities for this age group. The Dragons Academy is now in a position to offer our full support to the school districts in our region.

"All of our best players should be playing in this competition. This will now be seen to be the primary route into regional rugby at under-16 level.

"This is where our future academy and senior professional players will be initially identified."

The Dewar Shield features sides from Newport, Pontypool, Blaenau Gwent and Caerphilly as well as schools across the other three WRU regions.

Tony Clarke, spokesman for Pontypool Schools, said: "If we can do well in the Dewar Shield, we know our boys will be looked at for the Dragons. And we know our boys are among the fittest thanks to our involvement with the Navy."

Thomas continued: "At the moment the boys are playing schools district, club district, schools and club rugby. What we’re doing is making sure there’s a proper structure at under-15s level.

"And what the Dewar Shield does is allow me to take a look at a scrum half from Pontypool, for example, and see how he fares against someone from the Blues region?"

At Thursday’s launch, the under-15s were treated to a military-style drill session, and a pep-talk from the Dragons’ Colin Charvis and Mark Schterbina on professionalism.

The Navy’s Lieutenant Mike Connelly and Chief Petty Officer Val Branagan also offered a recruitment presentation with the Marines’ English national boxer Greg Wellings and Southampton FC’s Shay Saunders emphasising other sports the military has to offer.

Newbridge-born Lt Connelly, in charge of the Royal Navy’s rugby squad, said: "We’re making the guys aware that if they don’t make a professional career out of rugby, there’s other options available to them."

Thomas added: "It’s good having the Navy here along with Colin and Mark – a lot of the skills required to be in the Navy are similar as those of a rugby professional."

The Navy are also supporting a Gwent-wide Challenge Trophy to be contested by Gwent’s four schools sides in the summer, part of the players’ off-season conditioning before the Dewar Shield kicks off in the autumn.

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