The Welsh Academicals

Welsh Academicals is the WRU affiliated team where students have represented Wales in tournaments such as the Hong Kong 7's, and toured countries as distant as South Africa.

The international and overseas experience has assisted students to stay on the elite player pathway, despite their education commitments, with 171 players developing into senior internationals, 60 of whom have also progressed to become British Lions.

The mission statement of the Welsh Academicals is to promote, foster and develop the playing of rugby union by current and former Welsh students, to play in a sporting spirit and maintain an association of former members of the club.

The current Welsh Academicals coaching and management staff have achieved victories over student national teams of Australia, England, and Scotland, as well as a successful tour of Portugal, which saw the team amass over 100 points against the student and senior national teams of the reigning European Nations Champions. The senior fixture was part of Portugals preparations towards the Rugby World Cup 2007.

After 80 seasons of rugby, the Welsh Academicals this year returned home to its roots in the Cynon Valley and replayed the historic original game at Mountain Ash.