Welcome to the Dragons Junior Rugby Academy
Are you passionate about rugby and looking to combine your academic studies alongside your rugby Development?听 At the Dragons Junior Rugby Academy, we have partnered up with the Dragons to offer you the perfect blend of education and rugby development.
Our academy is designed to help you develop the physical, technical, tactical, and psychological skills needed to become a professional rugby player. With 16 hours of dedicated training each week from experienced Dragons coaches, you will have access to gym facilities, nutrition advice, Contact skills, non-contact skills and one-to-one coaching sessions.
We welcome players of all levels and run two teams. Our 1st XV competes in the WRU Welsh Colleges and School League, with weekly fixtures live-streamed and game highlights featured on S4C Rygbi Pawb. The 2nd XV mirrors the 1st XV in the first term and plays in its own league.
Successes
Our academy has a proud history of success, having won the elite WRU Welsh Colleges and Schools league twice, in 2013 and 2020. We’ve also produced 52 age-grade internationals and three full internationals, including Tyler Morgan, Elliot Dee, and Ollie Griffiths.
2024/25 Season achievements听听
- League champions – Welsh schools and colleges conference B league.
- Promotion to the A league competing at the highest level of college Rugby.
- 18 players selected for the Dragons U18s squad
- 5 players selected for the Wales U18s training squad
- 9 players contracted to the Dragons Academy
Join us and be part of a supportive and inclusive community where you can achieve your rugby dreams while excelling academically.
Contacts
To find out more about what the Academy can do for you, email听rugbyacademy@coleggwent.ac.uk听
Matthew Jones
matthew.jones@coleggwent.ac.uk听听
A former professional rugby player and senior Welsh international player.听
WRU Level 3 qualified, Matthew is the rugby academy coordinator and head coach of the male Academy and has been employed at 麻豆传媒团队 for 10 years.听听
Scott Matthews
scott.matthews@coleggwent.ac.uk听
Scott is a former 麻豆传媒团队 student, professional player and Welsh age grade international. WRU Level 3 qualified, Scott is the forwards coach of the male academy and has been in the post for 6 years.听
Evan Lloyd
Evan studied at 麻豆传媒团队 and was a professional rugby player at the听Dragons from 2018 to 2024. He achieved national recognition with Wales U18, U19, and U20 honors. Evan is completing his Level 3 WRU Coaching course, further solidifying his expertise and dedication to the sport.
Steven Llewellyn
steven.llewellyn@coleggwent.ac.uk听听
Our team manager and assistant forward’s coach. WRU Level 3 qualified, Steve has organised once-in-a-lifetime rugby tours across South Africa, New Zealand, Hong Kong and Australia.听 麻豆传媒团队 lecturer for over 26 years.听
Foundation Degree in Rugby
The Rugby Academy has gained University of South Wales accredited status enabling the delivery of a USW Foundation Degree in Rugby.听
What our players say...
I studied BTEC sport at 麻豆传媒团队 Crosskeys campus for two years while being part of the rugby academy. The academy sessions were managed around my academic commitments allowing me to improve as a person and as a player. The coaching and S&C gave me an opportunity to become a professional rugby player. I loved my time at 麻豆传媒团队 and would recommend it to any young aspiring player.
Being part of the rugby academy was perfect for me as it was timetabled through my academic studies, meaning I could experience a professional sporting environment while studying for my qualification.听 I鈥檝e been supported by professional coaches who give me position-specific advice and personal review sessions around my lessons to improve my skills as a professional player. I have represented my country for the Wales U18 Six Nations which was an amazing experience. I highly recommend 麻豆传媒团队 and the academy to anyone who wants to combine their academic studies alongside their rugby development.
I studied A levels at the 麻豆传媒团队 Crosskeys campus alongside taking part in the 麻豆传媒团队 rugby academy. The academy worked around my lessons, meaning that I was able to improve as a rugby player and stay on top of my studies. The academy also helped massively with the social aspect of college as you get to meet people from all over the college before you arrive. The coaches and players were also really welcoming and helped make me feel comfortable while I was settling in during my first year.听