Wales U18 to tour SA
Wales Under-18 head coach Allan Lewis will take a development squad to South Africa in August in a new initiative to further enhance rugby development in Wales.
The side will play South Africa, England and France over an eight-day period in what will be the first such tour for Wales Under-18 since the side was created when the Welsh Rugby Union amalgamated the Wales Youth and Welsh Schools U18 set-ups in 2004.
Lewis has selected a 34-man training squad which will be reduced next month after a period of training sessions.
The decision to travel to South Africa and play these games was taken, in part as a result of the review undertaken following last year’s Junior World Championship in Italy when Wales lost 92-0 to New Zealand and also lost to Fiji.
Lewis said: “This festival of rugby will be a fantastic experience for this group of players.
"Not only will they gain from the training and preparation period leading up to selection in the first place, but those selected will get to play the likes of South Africa, France and England away from home in the southern hemisphere, benefiting from the whole experience both on and off the field.
“It will doubtless aid their development towards their potential inclusion in the Junior World Championship squad for next season and / or the following season as it will give the players a first, real taste of global rugby.
“Along with South Africa, France and England are two of the strongest teams in the world at age grade level, but the fact that we are playing these teams in South Africa itself will make it even more valuable, and potentially something we would like to organise on an annual basis.”
The squad leaves for South Africa on Monday, 6 August and returns on Sunday, 19 August with games in Wellington, Stellenbosch and George.
Fixtures:
Friday, 10 August:
Wales Under-18 Development XV vs England at Boland Rugby Stadium, Wellington
Tuesday, 14 August:
Wales Under-18 Development XV vs South Africa at Outeniqua Park, George
Saturday, 18 August:
Wales Under-18 Development XV vs France at Paul Roos Gymnasium, Stellenbosch
Wales Under-18 Development XV training squad:
Forwards: Callum Jay Lewis (Blues), Nicky Smith (Ospreys), Nicky Thomas (Ospreys), Jack Dunning (Blues), Rhodri Evans (RGC 1404), Alex Jeffries (Dragons), Elliot Dee (Dragons), Thomas Ball (Scarlets), Ethan Lewis (Blues), Joshua Helps (Scarlets), Lance Randell (Dragons), Sean O’Rourke (Ospreys), James Sheeky (Blues), Sion Bennett (Scarlets), Scott Matthews (Dragons), James Tomlin Reeves (Ospreys), James Benjamin (Dragons), Benjamin Roach (Blues), Scott Andrews (Dragons).
Backs: Connor Lloyd (Scarlets), Gareth Rees (Scarlets), Will Batcup (Ospreys), Jack Maynard (Scarlets), Ethan Davies (Dragons), Ryan Evans (Ospreys), Steffan Hughes (Scarlets), Ben Roberts (Ospreys), Craig Woodall (Scarlets), Dylan Morgan (Scarlets), Dafydd Wyn Howells (Ospreys), Lewis Hudd (Dragons), Jake Randell (Scarlets), Hallam Amos (Dragons), Dion Jones (Scarlets).
* NB. Gogledd Cymru is North Wales in Welsh. 1404 is the year in which Owain Glyndwr was crowned Prince Wales, the last Welshman to have the title.
