Wales head into their opening Under 18 Five Nations festival game against Ireland at Llandovery tomorrow determined to get their season back on track after a heavy reverse to England last Sunday.

Head coach Simon King has named all-new front row to start the game, while Scarlets academy scrum-half Aled Davies starts and replaces Jonathan Evans in the 26 man squad after making a return to fitness and form after injury. The other change in the starting line-up sees Blues centre Sam Campbell start the game with Luke Williams, scorer of the side’s only try against England starting on the wing in place of Eli Walker.

King said, “We can’t wait to get to Llandovery and take on Ireland. They are always a difficult side, they beat us at last year’s festival and also defeated Australian Schools in December. After the loss to England, it’s great that we have the chance to get straight back in the saddle with this international match to kick-off the Five Nations festival. We had a constructive review session earlier in the week, but since then, the whole squad has been really positive in our preparation for this game.

“Our front row had a tough time in the scrum on Sunday and in making a full change in that area, the new players have an opportunity to start this match and the players on the bench will no doubt want to make a good impression when they come on.

“Aled Davies has had a disruptive season through injury and was always going to be in with a shout if he came through rehab which he’s done. We are constantly looking at different combinations and Sam Campbell gets a chance to start in the centre with Luke Williams on the wing.

“We have had a really good level of support this season, both at Colwyn Bay for our game against Australian Schools and last weekend at Swansea so we are hoping home advantage will count with a good crowd tomorrow and against Italy a week on Saturday.”

Following Wales v Ireland at 2pm, Scotland take on the might of England at 4pm, also at Church Bank, Llandovery. Entry for all three Under 18 Five Nations festival match days is free for Under 16s and £10 for adults.

Wales Under 18 team v Ireland:
Tom Prydie (Ospreys); Harry Robinson (Blues), George North (Scarlets), Sam Campbell (Blues), Luke Williams (Scarlets); Matthew Morgan (Ospreys), Aled Davies (Scarlets); Rob Evans (Scarlets), Jack Dando (Blues), Samson Lee (Scarlets), Cory Hill (Blues), Luke Hamilton (Scarlets), Owen Sheppeard (Blues),Thomas Young (capt, Blues), Dan Baker (Ospreys)
Replacements from: Kirby Myhill (Scarlets), Darran Harris (Blues), Will Griff John (Blues), Matthew Screech (Blues), Ellis Jenkins (Blues), Calum Thomas (Blues), Tom Habberfield (Ospreys), Joseff Griffin (Blues), Leighton Bellamore (Dragons), Eli Walker (Ospreys), Harley Thompson (Blues)

Under 18 Five Nations festival fixtures (all games at Llandovery RFC):

Friday 2 April
Wales v Ireland 2pm
England v Scotland 4pm

Tuesday 6 April
England v Ireland 2pm
Scotland v Italy 4pm

Saturday 10 April
Wales v Italy 2pm
Scotland v Ireland 4pm