They qualified for the Elite Group on the back of their 26-12 victory over Italy last month, and will also play either Ireland or hosts France the following Saturday at Tarbes.
Head coach Gruff Rees has made two changes and one positional following the side’s 45-29 win over Scotland in a warm-up match last Sunday, due largely to the injury sustained to influential centre Thomas Pascoe in that game.
Wales Under 20 wing Harry Robinson has been brought back into the squad for this weekend’s game and starts in place of Owen Jenkins on the right flank with Cory Allen moving from full back to centre. Jordan Williams, who played 25 minutes at full back last weekend after replacing Pascoe, comes into the starting line-up at full back, with the pack unchanged.
Team manager Gethin Watts said, “With 28 participating teams from all over Europe, this tournament is one of the biggest international rugby competitions ever to be staged, and as we are based in Lourdes over the Easter period, it is no doubt going to be a fantastic experience for the players, both from a rugby point of view and culturally too.
“The whole group is looking forward to the challenge of facing England on Sunday. We have it all to do, but we have confidence in the abilities of the side if they play to their potential.”
Wales Under 18 v England (Auch, Sunday 17 April, 5pm):
Jordan Williams (Scarlets); Harry Robinson (Blues), Ryan E Evans (Blues), Cory Allen (Blues), Jake Randall (Scarlets); Sam Davies (Ospreys), Rhodri Williams (Scarlets); Thomas Davies (Blues), Jack Dando (Blues), Bradley Thyer (Blues), Jack Jones (Ospreys), Rhodri Hughes (Ospreys), Ellis Jenkins (capt, Blues), Daniel Thomas (Scarlets), Ieuan Jones (Dragons).
Replacements: Evan Yardley (Ospreys), Calum Lewis (Blues), Daniel Suter (Ospreys), Sion Bennett (Scarlets), Lewis Young (Blues), Alex Schwarz (RGC), Rhys Patchell (Blues), Owen Jenkins (Blues)
