The Conwy U16 International Rugby Festival starts on Sunday, taking place from April 3-9, with teams from far and wide coming to Colwyn Bay in the hope of taking the crown.

The tournament is a replacement for the Wellington Festival, which was held for a number of years at Wellington College in Berkshire, but has now changed towards a premiership academy competition.

There will be a total of eight U16 teams competing, including two from France (France U16 West and France U16 East) and a pair of sides from Italy (Italy U17 and Italy U17 ‘A’).

In addition there are two teams from Scotland making the journey (Scotland ‘Red’ and Scotland ‘Blue’), and Wales will be represented by the Academicals and home side RGC 1404.

Visiting teams will be training at Rydal Penrhos’ facilities throughout the event, in addition to staying at the school’s numerous boarding houses.

Rydal Penrhos School Director of Sport Allen Boyd, said:

“Due to the change in format there are now a number of international teams who need playing opportunities so I am delighted to work with the WRU to bring them to Colwyn Bay. I coached the RFU North U16s side at Wellington a number of years ago and it is a very impressive and prestigious festival.”

“The sides have full use of our international standard training facilities while they are with us and to have Eirias Park as a playing venue next to the school will make it quite special. We currently have five of our senior squad at Rydal Penrhos involved with the WRU teams who will be playing in the tournament, which should be a fantastic experience for them.”

There will be three game days which run from 11am-5pm, with four matches per day and 12 in total.

Matches will take place on Sunday, April 3, Wednesday 6 and Saturday 9, and will be held at Parc Eirias. Tickets are priced at £3 per day or £5 for all three days.

Conwy U16 International Festival Schedule:

3^rd April – 11.00, Wales Academicals v Scotland Red

3^rd April – 12.30, France U16 West v Italy U17

3^rd April – 14.00, France U16 East v Italy U17 A

3^rd April – 15.30, Wales RGC v Scotland Blue

6^th April – 11.00, Italy U17 v Welsh Academicals

6^th April – 12.30, Scotland Red v France East

6^th April – 14.00 Wales RGC v Italy U17 ‘A’

6^th April – 15.30, France U16 West v Scotland Blue

9^th April – 11.00 Scotland Blue v Wales Academicals

9^th April – 12.30, Scotland Red v Wales RGC

9^th April – 14.00 Italy U17 v France East

9^th April – 15.30, Italy U17 ‘A’ v France U16 West