With the Youth season getting underway this Saturday, September 5, and the Super Rygbi Cymru season getting underway in a week’s time, September 12, Carmarthen Quins Director of Rugby Steff Thomas says the future is looking bright for the town club.
It was less than 12 months ago that a 17-year-old Carwyn Leggatt-Jones made his senior debut for the Quins, at Carmarthen Park, in a victory over Newport.
Injuries within the Scarlets squad saw Leggatt-Jones go on to make his senior Scarlets URC debut just a day after his 18th birthday. He enjoyed a breakthrough campaign in the professional game, making nine senior appearances, starting four matches in the No.10 jersey and starring for Wales U20s in the Six Nations and Junior World Championships.
Looking back at what was a phenomenal season for the young outside half, Thomas said: “Caz is a fantastic talent as we’ve all seen, we just gave him the opportunity and he went out there and expressed himself.
“Selfishly, we were disappointed as a team that we didn’t see more of him but he’s destined for bigger and better things.
“Hopefully, we can continue to play a little part in his development again this year. We do see that the end game for Caz is going to be in the pro game. Maybe he’ll be the first from the SRC to go right the way through to get a Welsh cap!”
Quins are once again gearing up for a season of nurturing some exciting young talent, with Super Rygbi Cymru created with exactly that practice in mind.
The three pre-season friendlies have handed the coaching group an opportunity to see these young players in action. Five of Quins’ starting backline against Birmingham Moseley Rugby at Carmarthen Park, Saturday, August 22, were still in their teens. Tomos Lewis (19), Jayden Brown (18), Ashton Owen (18), Madoc Evans (17) and Alfie Luger (18).
Alfie and Madoc who are currently spending the summer training full-time with the Scarlets first-team squad, and came through the pathway at Tenby United made their Quins debuts against their home club in the opening game of the summer.
Thomas went on to say: “The under 18s pathway is working really well for us and there’s an untapped area down west.
“We haven’t got much competition for the players and the pathway leads in to us. There is some fantastic talent coming through and I’m really excited about seeing Alfie Luger, Madoc Evans, Jaydon Brown, and Hudson Nevin to name a few.
“They are really exciting talents and I’m really looking forward to getting them into the mix this year.”
The next generation of Quins seniors get their season underway this Saturday, September 5. To see Carmarthen Quins Youth’s full fixture list, click here
