Wales have named their side for the final game of the U18 5 Nations Festival.
Tomorrow’s 19.30 kick off at St Helens sees Wales take on England, the second game of a double header that first sees England U17 play Italy.
Wales and England both head into the game with two wins from two, Wales having beaten Scotland 31-30 and Italy 24-9, while England beat Ireland 15-12 and were also victorious against Scotland, 45-24.
The two sides have already met this season, with England just stealing victory at the death thanks to a drop goal with the last kick from Moulton College’s James Grayson, so this game is expected to be tight again.
There is plenty of interest from schools on the English side of the border in this Welsh side, Hartpury College have two representatives in the side, Morgan Morris at number 8 and Jordan Liney at hooker while Millfield’s Rhys Davies is in the second row, and Sedbergh openside Jim Botham waits in the wings on the bench.
Speaking ahead of the game, Wales Head Coach Geraint Lewis said:
“So far we’ve been happy with not only the level of performance but also the level of application and attitude from the boys – we’ve had a large turnover since the last international campaign but it’s been great to have more boys exposed at this level and they have all put their hands up for selection.”
“They (England) are a very strong side with some very good individuals, they are very good with ball in hand and we’ll have to be careful not to give them any loose ball as they punish any errors – they won all their games in the Five Nations and there’s no doubt they pose our stiffest challenge yet.”
“Saying that, the last time we played them England won the game with the last kick of the game. We’ll go into the game with lots of confidence as we pushed them hard in that game and the boys have played and trained really well over the past couple of weeks so we’ll go in with the mindset that we are capable of winning and desperate for the win.”
Wales U18 v England U18 – Wednesday 6th April, 19.30, St Helens, Swansea
Wales U18 XV
15 Leon Randell (Coleg Sir Gar)
14 Joe Goodchild (Coleg Gwent)
13 Corey Baldwin (Llandovery College)
12 Ben Thomas (Cardiff & Vale College)
11 Ryan Conbeer (Coleg Sir Gar)
10 Ben Jones (Coleg y Cymoedd)
9 Dane Blacker (Coleg y Comoedd)
1 Rhys Carre (Cowbridge Comprehensive)
2 Jordan Liney (Hartpury College)
3 Christian Coleman (Newport High School)
4 Rhys Davies (Millfield)
5 Will Griffiths (Gowerton Comprehensive)
6 Lloyd Pike (Coleg Sir Gar)
7 Will Jones (Gower College, captain)
8 Morgan Morris (Hartpury College)
Replacements:
16 Iestyn Harris (Ysgol y Cymer)
17 Josh Reynolds (Newport High School)
18 Harri Dobbs (Cowbrdige Comprehensive)
19 Ben Sier (Newport High School)
20 Jim Botham (Sedbergh)
21 Charlie Davies (Gowerton Comprehensive)
22 Connor Tantum (Porthcawl)
23 Gethin Gibby (Coleg Sir Gar)
U18 5 Nations Festival Schedule:
England 15-12 Ireland
Wales 31-30 Scotland
Ireland 43-0 Scotland
Wales 24-9 Italy
Italy 21-17 Ireland
England 45-24 Scotland
England A v Italy – St Helen’s, 6th April, 17.15
Wales v England – St Helen’s, 6th April, 19.30
