The SRC is proving to be a fertile breeding ground for young talent
11:56, 02 Apr 2026
Harri Ackerman of Newport(Image: Huw Evans Picture Agency Ltd)
Super Rygbi Cymru is in its second season and is already proving to be a fertile breeding ground for future professional players.
Better aligned with the player pathway than the old Welsh Premiership, the competition is beginning to show its value and there is growing optimism it will continue to strengthen in the years ahead. With Cardiff, Dragons, Ospreys and Scarlets all working within tight budgets, the regions are increasingly looking to the SRC as a key stepping stone for players making the jump into the professional game.
Here are seven players who have impressed in the SRC and could make a mark on the professional game over the next couple of seasons.
Lewis Edwards
The Wales U20s full-back has been outstanding for Swansea and will undoubtedly develop into a key player for the Ospreys in the years to come.
Edwards is near the top of the SRC charts for offloads, tackles and metres made.
He is strong under the high ball and in defence, and his positional play is very good.
Edwards is also a dangerous broken-field runner who can unpick defences with his running angles. He is physically imposing and excellent under the high ball.
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Kian Hire
Big things are expected of the former Wales U20s tighthead, who has been learning the ropes with Swansea and training with the Ospreys.
Hire is a powerful player and the Ospreys and Wales age-grade coaches are confident he will develop into a destructive scrummager at professional level.
The Ospreys could really use Hire kicking on next season, with 35-year-old Tom Botha approaching the end of his career.
Harri Ackerman
The 21-year-old centre is a former Wales U20s captain and would be further ahead in his development had he not suffered a horrific double leg fracture back in 2024.
Ackerman has been outstanding for Newport RFC and has already made a handful of appearances for the Dragons.
He is a powerful centre who carries well and distributes the ball effectively. He is also a smart defender.
Expect Ackerman to get more game time for the Dragons over the next couple of seasons.
Will Evans
At 6ft 5in and 18st 5lb, Evans is a real physical specimen who has the size and power to make a genuine impact on the professional game in the future.
Evans is an old-fashioned lock in that he does the unglamorous and unseen dirty work that allows others to thrive.
He is also a powerful carrier in the tight exchanges, capable of making significant post-contact metres.
The 20-year-old would likely have already seen game time for the Scarlets in the United Rugby Championship this season were it not for injury, which also ruled him out of the U20s Six Nations, but Evans is very highly rated.
With Jake Ball and Sam Lousi approaching the end of their careers, the Scarlets could really use Evans kicking on next season.
Elijah Evans
The 20-year-old centre has been outstanding for Cardiff in the SRC this season and looks destined for great things.
Evans is a product of Pentyrch RFC and played for Cardiff Met in BUCS Super Rugby last season.
The rising Cardiff star is a very powerful runner who tends to hit good angles, and you can almost guarantee at least a couple of clean line breaks a game.
He is also a very physical player who can get over the gain line, while he reads the game well defensively and his distribution skills are also very good.
Harri Wilde
The former Wales U20s outside-half is a very talented footballer and big things are expected of him.
Wilde has been learning his trade for Cardiff RFC in the SRC, but he is someone with a very high ceiling.
Rewinding the clock to March 2025, Wilde was outstanding as he guided Wales U20s to a famous victory over England U20s at the Arms Park.
Wilde has a tremendous passing game, plays flat to the line and has tons of peripheral vision.
He is a triple-threat player who can get others into the game, while his game management has been improving.
Callum Sheedy is the first-choice outside-half for Cardiff, who are also interested in bringing Jarrod Evans back to the Arms Park, but it looks like Ioan Lloyd is being considered as a utility back rather than an out-and-out number 10.
Wilde has enough talent to enjoy a successful professional career.
Harri Wilde of Cardiff kicks a goal(Image: Huw Evans Picture Agency)
Callum Woolley
The 20-year-old is still very raw, but the 6ft 4in wing is athletically gifted and is somebody the Scarlets coaching team wants to develop over the next couple of seasons.
Woolley has performed well for Carmarthen Quins and is a potent finisher, although he does need to improve other areas of his game.
“His athletic potential is through the roof,” former Scarlets academy and pathway manager Gareth Williams told WalesOnline in September 2024.
“It looked at one time that we had missed out on him as he was recruited to City of Oxford College just over two years ago. It took some persuasion, but I was determined to see him back in the region.
“I’ve watched him play football in the South Ceredigion Junior Leagues and always thought he could be fantastic on a rugby pitch. I am really excited about his potential.”
Woolley has also represented the Great Britain 7s team.
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