Wales U18 head to Scotland

Wales drew 29-29 with the French Academies in a non-capped match earlier in the season and then had two close clashes against England and England A before opening their Test match account with a victory over Italy at Ebbw Vale.

Now coach Simon King is looking to his players to muster all their skill and experience to mount the strongest possible challenge in the tournament. After the French they meet England at Hughenden on Wednesday April 11th (kick-off 5.00pm) and then Scotland at the same venue on Saturday April 14th (kick-off 3.00pm).

“The players have worked very hard as a group and we will be taking a fully fit, and well prepared, squad to Scotland. All 26 players will get a starting place in one of the three games and the competition will be a huge showcase for them,” said King.

“We’ve told them all that this could be the start of some long international careers and it really is up to them to fulfil their obvious potential in Glasgow. They have competed exceptionally well in all our warm-up games for this tournament, but now it is for real.

“We know the French are going to be very physical up front and England will have the strongest depth of all the squads but we are ready to show what we are made of and I’m looking forward to these players giving a good account of themselves.”

WALES U18 SQUAD

Fullbacks
James Loxton (Llandaff/Blues)
Jason Tovey (Newport/Dragons)

Wings
Ryan Bayliss (Pelenna/Ospreys)
Tomos Rees (Llandybie/Scarlets)

Centres
Adam Hughes (Croesyceiliog/Dragons)
Jason Harries (Carmarthen Quins/Scarlets)
Ashley Beck (Neath/Ospreys)

Fly Halves
Dan Biggar (Gowerton/Ospreys)
Joe Deacon (Rumney/Blues)

Scrum Halves
Rhys Downes (Rhydyfelin/Blues)
Lloyd Williams (Llandaff/Blues)

Props
Scott Andrews (Llantrisant/Blues)
Tom Price (Builth Wells/Blues)
Aaron Coundley (Blackwood/Dragons)
Stewart Maguire (Chepstow/Dragons)

Hookers
Ricky Guest (Llanelli/Scarlets)
Rhys Williams (Blues)

Locks
Dan Partridge (Llantwit Major/Blues)
Ashley Sweet (Pontypool United/Dragons)
Lee Bray (Blackwood/Dragons)

Back Row
Kristian Dacey (Merthyr/Blues)
Jake Thomas (Ynysybwl/Blues)
Jack Shaw (Bridgend Athletic/Ospreys)
Justin Tipuric (Trebanos/Ospreys)
Rory Pitman (Ospreys)
Lewis Mills (Rumney/Blues)