WRU PRESS RELEASE
Issued: 29 December 2009
WRU U18 COACH TO SELECT SQUAD
Wales Under 18 head coach Simon King will select his 26 man squad for the international season after today (Wednesday)'s WRU Under 18 Regional Championship final between the Blues and the Scarlets (Aberavon, 2pm).
King said, "A number of places in the national squad are still up for grabs so today's game is a trial in many ways. The Scarlets and Blues have performed consistently well in this season's excellent WRU Under 18 Regional Championship so I'm looking forward to a competitive and entertaining game.
"Nine of the squad that played against Australian Schools earlier this month are still available to us but we also have a number of young players who have cut their teeth in this Championship and are pushing for places. The game against Australia was a good exercise for us, the players gave a good account of themselves and fell short of a victory due to an element of naivety but the players would have got a lot out of the game.
"There was an excellent crowd at the game - over 2500 - and I hope the games against France at Cross Keys and England at Aberavon will also be well supported.
"We have a good record against France in recent years, and it would be great to build on last year's win on French soil with a home victory.
"England are always tough but it is important we build towards our home Six Nations festival in April.
Once we have selected our squad, we will play Leicester Tigers academy home and away in training exercises in preparation for the French Test in February.
"Wales Under 18 is very much the first rung on the international ladder but it is an important one if these players are to take the next step towards professional rugby."
Blues Under 18s:
H Thomson; H Robinson, C Driscoll, S Campbell, E Jones; J Griffin, L Jones; D Harris, J Dando, W John, C Hill, M Screech, E Jenkins, T Young (capt), O Sheppeard
Replacements: J Elley, B Thyer, R Tucker, C Thomas, A Meades, L Williams, T Pascoe
Scarlets U18s:
J Russell; T Ellis-Williams, I Evans, R James, G Hunter; L Treharne, A Davies; N Bowen, K Myhill, S Lee, J Gardiner, L Hamilton (capt), R Blomfield, O Powell, C Morris
Replacements: R Evans, O Lloyd, J Kaijaks, D Colman, L Morris, R Williams, J Williams, P Rushesha
For media accreditation or for further information, contact Liz Jones tel 07736 056669 / lizjones@wru.co.uk
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