International Round-Up: Men’s Intermediate Teams

A packed international window saw Cymru’s youth teams in action across the globe, headlined by the inaugural Cwpan Gary Speed tournament in North Wales. 

Alongside the historic competition, the Cymru MU19, MU18, and MU17 teams were also in action across Europe and Asia as preparations continue for upcoming UEFA competitions.

Here, we take a look back at an exciting month of international football.

A Valuable Mini-Tournament Against Elite Opposition

Craig Knight’s MU19 side returned to international action with a mini-tournament hosted in north Wales, where they faced elite opposition in the form of Austria and Belgium. The two matches provided vital preparation ahead of next summer’s UEFA U19 EURO finals, which Cymru will host. 

In the opening match, Cymru produced a strong performance to earn a 2-2 draw with Austria. Goals from Isaac Davies and Ollie Desbury gave Cymru a 2-1 lead heading into the closing stages, but Austria struck late to deny the win.

In their second match, Cymru faced a stern test against a talented Belgium side and fell to a 3-1 defeat at Colwyn Bay, despite a hard-fought contest. Henry Kasvosve scored the only goal for Cymru in what was a competitive outing against one of Europe’s top youth teams.

A Productive Tour of Japan

Elsewhere, the Cymru MU18 squad, led by Jon Grey, travelled to Japan for a productive overseas camp that saw them take on Japan, Australia, and a Niigata select XI. The tour began with an impressive 1-0 victory over the hosts, thanks to a second-half strike from Cardiff City’s Jack Sykes. 

Cymru followed that result up with a narrow 2-1 defeat against Australia, where Leicester City’s Alfie Dignum scored a late consolation goal.

The camp concluded on a high as Cymru earned a 2-1 win over Niigata Select, with goals from Kaven Bloniarczyk and Oli Newman sealing a positive end to the trip. The experience in Japan offered invaluable development against non-European opposition in a challenging but rewarding environment.

Double Delight in Estonia

Meanwhile, Chris Gunter’s MU17 side enjoyed a successful double-header in Estonia as they began preparations for the 2025-26 UEFA U17 EURO qualifiers. Both matches were held at the TNTK Stadium in Tallinn and resulted in victories for Cymru. 

The opening fixture saw the sides go into the break goalless before Cymru erupted in the second half to claim a 4-1 win. Goals came from Leon Scarlett, Lennon Moss, and a brace from Ollie Salter in an impressive attacking display. 

In the second game, Cymru continued their form with a 2-1 victory, as Scarlett scored again alongside Theo Pitt. A late missed penalty from the hosts preserved the win, rounding off a highly promising camp for Gunter’s team. 

Cymru will now look ahead to their UEFA qualifying group in November, where they will face Portugal, Slovenia, and Liechtenstein.

Inaugural Cwpan Gary Speed Tournament

The standout moment of the international window came with the launch of the Cwpan Gary Speed in August, a four-team tournament paying tribute to the late, great Cymru legend. 

Hosted across North Wales, the competition welcomed Northern Ireland, Japan and Gibraltar. Following a week of entertaining and closely contested matches, the tournament came down to a winner-takes-all clash between Cymru and Northern Ireland at Colwyn Bay on the final day. 

Cymru entered the game with four points, while Northern Ireland had taken maximum points from their opening two matches. A tightly fought contest saw Bobby Lewis give Cymru the lead with his third goal in as many games, converting a low cross from Ralphie Beckwith. However, Northern Ireland responded with two late goals from Daniel McCarron and Harry Hughes to snatch a 2-1 win and the title. 

Elsewhere, Japan cruised to a 5-0 win over Gibraltar in Ruthin on the same day to secure an eventual second placed finish. Despite the heartbreak for Cymru, the tournament served a greater purpose, celebrating Speed’s life and legacy while inspiring the next generation. 

The week drew strong support from local communities, with Speed’s mother, Carol, attending every Cymru match and joining the team on the pitch before kick-off. The opening ceremony featured Men’s National Team Head Coach Craig Bellamy, alongside Chief Football Officer Dr. David Adams, and former Cymru international Kevin Ratcliffe, national youth coaches, and several of Speed’s former teammates and school friends.

Reflecting on the international break, Dr. Adams said: “Our aim is to create a diverse and challenging games programme to prepare players for transition to our Men’s National Team.

“Evidence suggest across Europe that 30 youth caps enables successful transition to senior international football and our recent success with six players under 21 in our Men’s National Team highlights the significance of our development pathways and games programme to prepare for the future.”