Glantaf from Cardiff to go to London final once again

Cardiff-based school Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Glantaf are in the Champion Schools Final in London for the second year in a row.

Last year, they faced and beat Widnes-based school Wade Deacon in the Year 7 Final at Wembley Stadium. Now, the same sets of pupils from both schools, will face each other again in the Year 8 Final.

The game will be played at a London-based ground on the day before the Challenge Cup Final at Wembley. Both sets of players will be at Wembley the next day and win or lose, will lap the Wembley pitch with all the other finalists from the other school years.

Glantaf beat Saddleworth School 50-12 in the semi-final this week with Wade Deacon overcoming Malet Lambert from Hull 18-8.

This result means that after two seasons, most if not all of the Glantaf players have still never lost a rugby league game in their lives.

Last year their coach Rhydian Garner said that “it’s far more difficult to defend a trophy that win it”. Their resilience will be tested to the full in London on Friday 26th August.

Champions Schools Finals (Welsh Apperances)

15th May 2004 Year 7 Final – Wade Deacon 32 Whitchurch High 10
27th August 2005 Year 7 Final – Brynteg 40 Castleford High 4
25th August 2006 Year 8 Final – Castleford High 16 Brynteg 14
26th August 2011 Year 8 Final – St Joseph’s 38 Temple Moor 28
23rd August 2012 Year 10 Final – Outwood Grange 44 Ystalyfera 6
28th August 2015 Year 8 Final – St Peters Wigan 46 Ystalyfera 0
29th August 2015 Year 7 Final – Glantaf 40 Wade Deacon 6

29th August 2016 Year 7 Final – Glantaf v Wade Deacon