Medals handed to wannabe Dragons (From Free Press Series)

Medals handed to wannabe Dragons

3:25pm Wednesday 1st July 2009

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TWO 15-year-old Dragons hopefuls are not giving up on their dream.

Rhys Blackshaw and Rhys Cox, both pupils at Ysgol Gyfun Gwynllyw, were overlooked in the recent selection for the Dragons’ under-16 squad. But coaches at the Llantarnam Centre of Developing Excellence are pledging to do all they can to keep the pair in the Academy frame.

Spokesman for the Cwmbran-based centre, Tony Clarke, said: "We were surprised Rhys and Rhys were not selected but we want to help them develop with their clubs. They’ll play Centre of Exellence fixtures and for their clubs and maybe we can push them through to the Dragons later on?"

One boy who was selected, along with 11 others from Pontypool’s under-15s, was Conor Imms from Abersychan Comprehensive.

Clarke, 52, said: "He now steps up to the Dragons' under-16s and then in three years it’s a short step to a development contract."

Imms was handed the National Sevens medal at Ruck and Maul last week having starred in the tournament in Llandovery. Sponsor Graham Smith, 49, also gave him and his peers some free sports kit for their efforts.

Blackshaw picked up the Dennis Haines memorial shield for his loyalty to Pontypool Schools’ under-15 intermediate squad. His honour was all the more special having been voted for by his Dewar Shield competition rivals.

Clarke said: "He did his part not only on the field but he conducted himself well off the field too. We hope he’ll move onto the Dragons’ Academy in years to come."

Cox won the Morgan Griffiths medal, having been voted player of the trophy competition.

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