Having played amongst themselves to date this season, the new development teams at the regions will now get tested against Irish opposition in a full round of cross-border competition. For Scarlets coach Richard Kelly to see his side build on their narrow defeat to the Ospreys last weekend.
Ulster are starting eight academy players in the game, with former Wales Under 16 cap Iwan Hughes figuring at full back. Born and bred in Bristol, the 19-year-old Hughes has Welsh parents and has also played for England Under 18.
He is now in the Irish system thanks to a grandmother from Kerry. He was captured by the Irish Exiles IQ programme and is now setting his sights on making the grade as a professional in Belfast.
The Ospreys host Munster A at St Helen’s, the Dragons entertain Connacht Eagles at Ystrad Mynach, while Cardiff Blues head to Dublin to meet Leinster A. Former Wales wing Tom James plays for the Blues with Liam Belcher leading the side from the middle of the front row.
The Blues opened with a five try triumph over the Dragons at Rodney Parade and head coach Richie Rees is looking to carry on the good work in the Irish capital.
“We’re glad to be able to keep the spine of the squad that featured at Rodney Parade, but there are some really good additions as well,” said Rees.
“Tom James’ experience will be massive for us and Ben Jones, Max Llewellyn, Ben Thomas and Ioan Davies will only benefit from playing and training alongside experienced players like him.
“We’re looking to carry momentum into this game and, if we can get the performance right, hopefully that will have a positive effect on the result. The real aim is to qualify for the final and the boys are really hungry to take that chance.”
Celtic Cup – Round 2
Friday, 14 September
Ulster A v Scarlets (Shaw’s Bridge, Instonians – 7.00pm)
Ulster A: Iwan Hughes; Robert Baloucoune, Jack Owens, James Hume, Aaron Sexton, Michael Lowry (captain), Graham Curtis; Peter Cooper, Peter Cromie, Paul McGookin, Matthew Dalton, Bradley Luney, Clive Ross, Matthew Agnew, Joe Dunleavy
Reps: Claytan Milligan, Tommy O’Hagan, Michael Cromie, Jack Regan, Marcus Rea, Aaron Hall, Michael Stronge, Bruce Houston
Scarlets: Morgan Williams; Tomi Lewis, Corey Baldwin, Steffan Hughes (captain), Steff Evans; Angus O’Brien, Kieran Hardy; Rhys Fawcett, Marc Jones, Simon Gardiner, Josh Helps, Lewis Rawlins, Lewis Ellis-Jones, Shaun Evans, Tom Phillips
Reps: Jamie Hughes, Dafydd Hughes, Javan Sebastian, Morgan Jones, Chris Long, Declan Smith, Ethan Davies, Ryan Conbeer, Jac Price
Saturday, 15 September
Leinster A v Cardiff Blues (Donnybrook – 2.00pm)
Leinster A: Jack Kelly (captain); Adam Byrne, Hugo Keenan, Conor O’Brien, Michael Silvester; Harry Byrne, Patrick Patterson; Michael Milne, Ronan Kelleher, Vakh Abdaladze, Mick Kearney, Ian Nagle, Oisín Dowling, Scott Penny, Ronan Foley
Reps: Dan Sheehan, Giuseppe Coyne, Jack Aungier, Jack Dunne, Josh Murphy, Cormac Foley, David Hawkshaw, Peter Maher
Cardiff Blues: Dan Fish; Tom Williams, Max Llewellyn, Steven Shingler, Tom James; Ben Jones, Lewis Jones; Corey Domachowski, Liam Belcher (captain), Keiron Assiratti, Alun Lawrence, James Down, Shane Lewis-Hughes, Sion Bennett, Cai Devine
Reps: Iestyn Harris, Fraser Young, Will Davies King, Ioan Rhys Davies, Luke Crocker, Dane Blacker, Ben Thomas, Ioan Davies
Ospreys v Munster A (St Helen’s, Swansea – 2.00pm)
Ospreys: Dylan Moss; Dewi Cross, Callum Carson, Kieran Williams, Joe Jenkins; Josh Thomas, Harri Morgan (captain); Rhys Davies, Dewi Lake, Mitchell Walsh, Matt Donnelly, Will Griffiths, Jack Pope, Joe Grabham, Charlie Davies
Reps: Garin Lloyd, Jake Woodward, Garyn Daniels, Ed Cousins, Mike Connor, Iwan Temblett, Ben Cambriani, Frankie Jones
Munster A: Stephen Fitzgerald; Alan Tynan, Matt More, Alex McHenry, Calvin Nash; Bill Johnston (captain), Jack Stafford; Jeremy Loughman, Diarmuid Barron, Brian Scott, Fineen Wycherley, Sean O’Connor, Jack Daly, John Hodnett, Gavin Coombes
Reps: Billy Scannell, Josh Wycherley, Ciaran Parker, Darragh O’Grady, Dan Walsh, John Poland, Ben Healy, Sean French
Dragons v Connacht Eagles (Ystrad Mynach – 2.30pm)
Dragons: Carwyn Penny; Will Talbot-Davies, Connor Edwards (captain), Tiaan Loots, Jared Rosser; Jacob Botica, Dafydd Buckland; Gerard Ellis, Rhys Lawrence, Chris Coleman, Joe Davies, Huw Taylor, Lennon Greggains, James Benjamin, Taine Basham
Reps: Zac Hewlett, Scott Evans, Luke Yendle, Max Williams, Ben Fry, Dan Babos, Joe Goodchild, Calvin Wellington
Connacht Eagles: Darragh Leader; Rory Scholes, Sean O’Brien, Kieran Joyce, Colm de Buitléar; Conor Fitzgerald, Conor McKeon; Matthew Burke, Tom McCartney (captain), Conor Carey, Peter Claffey, Joe Maksymiw, Cillian Gallagher, Cian Huxford, Robin Copeland
Reps: Jonny Murphy, Jordan Duggan, Conor Kenny, Cormac Daly, Neal Moylett, James Mitchell, Conor Dean, Conor Hayes
Round 1 Results
Friday, 7 September
Ospreys 41 – 36 Scarlets
Dragons 21 – 37 Cardiff Blues
Ulster A 28 – 43 Leinster A
Munster A 24 – 16 Connacht Eagles
