Following last week’s encouraging 31-24 victory over Scotland, Pugh has freshened up his squad, introducing an entirely new front row and two new back rows while Kenzie Jenkins switches from back row to second row.
Cardiff Rugby scrum half Owain Paskell and Bristol wing Aidan Boshoff are the two changes to the backline from the side which started against Scotland.
“Off the back of last week’s good performance, we’ve made a few changes because there are still players we want to see before our 26-man selection for the Six Nations,” explained Pugh.
“We’ve moved Kenzie Jenkins up to second row and Keanu Evans comes in to start after a strong performance from the bench last week. Hopefully, he’ll give us a physical edge which we will need against a bigger English pack and then we have Evan Minto at No 8 who has been performing well for Hartpury, winning the ACE championship with them.
“We’ve brought in Owain Paskell off the bench from last week and we get an opportunity to look at Carwyn Edwards from Sale and Wrexham who is on the bench at nine – we’re looking forward to see how he goes along with Elijah Evans who gets an opportunity from the bench after his strong performances with CAVC in the colleges league and Cardiff Rugby.
“We are up against a stronger and slightly older England team that narrowly missed out to France last week. We know they are always strong at this age group, and it is going to be a challenge but it’s the next step of the boys exposure for development.”
Wales U18 men v England U18 men, Swansea RFC, Sunday 26 March, 1pm
15 Tom Bowen (Cardiff Rugby, Clifton College)
14 Harry Rees-Weldon (Dragons, Coleg Gwent)
13 Osian Roberts (Sale Sharks, Kirkham Grammar School)
12 Steffan Emanuel (Cardiff Rugby, Millfield School)
11 Aidan Boshoff (Bristol, Clifton)
10 Harri Wilde (Cardiff Rugby, Ysgol Glantaf)
9 Owain Paskell (Cardiff Rugby, Whitchurch High School)
1 Cameron Tyler-Grocott (Cardiff & Vale College)
2 Saul Hurley (Cardiff Rugby, Cardiff & Vale College)
3 Owain James (Cardiff Rugby, Cardiff & Vale College)
4 Nick Thomas (Dragons RFC, Hartpury College)
5 Kenzie Jenkins (Bristol Bears, Coleg y Cymoedd)
6 Keanu Evans (Scarlets, Strade)
7 Harry Beddall (Captain – Cardiff Rugby, Hartpury College)
8 Evan Minto (Dragons, Hartpury)
Replacements:
16 Evan Wood (Cardiff Rugby, Coleg y Cymoedd)
17 Max Bignell (Cardiff Rugby, Whitchurch High School)
18 Sam Scott (Wasps, City of Oxford College)
19 Ollie Close (Scarlets, Bryanston)
20 Kyle Harris (Ospreys, Coleg y Cymoedd)
21 Carwyn Edwards (Sale, Wrexham)
22 Jack Woods (Dragons RFC, Monmouth School for Boys)
23 Elijah Evans (Cardiff Rugby, Cardiff & Vale College)
24 Jaden Wilkins (Cardiff Rugby, Cardiff & Vale College)
Wales U18s men vs England U18s, Sunday 26 March – KO 1pm at Swansea RFC (St. Helen’s ground)
Tickets will be available on the gate (public gates open from midday). £5 for adults, children under 16 free. Ticket on the day only. Tickets on the gate are cash only, if spectators need to pay by card they need to go to the main reception area on Bryn Road.
