Athletic youngsters represent BCOW
BRIDGEND Athletic is proud that six of its current youth side, who top Division A of the Ospreys League, have represented the Boys Clubs of Wales U19 or U16 sides.
Last month, hooker Cameron Thomas, scrumhalf Dan James and outside-half Luke Bevan played against the Scottish Exiles, while second row Tom Seldon, flanker Ben Davies and No 8 Luke Williams have also had representative honours with the BCOW.
All six have also turned out for the Athletic first team this season.
Dan James has made 11 first team appearances while Luke Bevan has made eight appearances.
James has played with the Athletic since he was six years old and played for Bridgend & District U12 and U13, also Ospreys U16, Bridgend College, West Wales and Blue Bulls rugby league and represented BCOW on four occasions.
Luke Bevan played in the minis then Cowbridge Juniors, Brynteg CS, Ospreys U16, Bridgend College and BCOW twice.
Cameron Thomas played for Bridgend & District U11 and captained U15, Ospreys U16 &U18, East Wales rugby league U13 and U14 and BCOW twice.
Tom Seldon played with the Athletic since he was 13, Bridgend & District U14 and U15, Ospreys U16 & U18 and has five BCOW representations. He is the current youth captain.
Ben Davies has played since he was six for the Athletic and has made six appearances for the BCOW.
Luke Williams joined the Athletic from Bridgend Sports aged 15 and has won many Athletic age group MOM and player of the year awards. He was POY in his first youth season. He played for Bridgend & District at all age groups between 11 and 15, represented Ospreys & Wales U16, vice-captained BCOW U16, captained Brynteg in years 9, 10 and 11 as well as captaining Bridgend County Youth. He was selected for Ospreys U18 team and represented Welsh Academicals twice.
All the players will be seniors next season and it is hoped the Athletic can eventually build their senior team around these talented players as well as others from the highly successful current youth side.
Hopefully some may eventually emulate Rhys Webb, Scott Baldwin, Matthew Morgan and Lee Byrne who were all products of the Athletic youth set-up.
As well as the highly successful Ospreys A Youth side coached by Athletic stalwarts Lee Grabham and John Do- herty, the club also run a Youth Rags team from last season’s U16 team with Kevin Gamble, Mark Phillips and Keith Hobby in charge of the coaching set-up.
This team will ensure a smooth transition with Youth rugby experience behind them when most of the current A side moves to senior rugby next season.