Wales have named their 26-man squad for the U18 Six Nations Festival and the team for their opening game of the Festival against England at 12.10pm on Saturday.
They will be without Hartpury College winger Louis Rees-Zammit for the game against England, hosted at Hartpury’s Gillman’s Ground at 12.10pm and live on FreeSports, as he has been selected on the bench for Gloucester in their Gallagher Premiership fixture against Bath this weekend. One man who will be playing on home turf if he comes on though is Tommy Matthews, the Hartpury College man starts this one from the bench.
Head Coach Chris Horsman does have a further six players currently at school in England in his squad though, with three named in his starting fifteen.
Whitgift’s Harry Breeze starts at number 8 with his schoolmate Ed Dunford at fly half after he guided Whitgift to U18 Schools Cup victory last month with a magnificent performance. Clifton College’s Ioan Lloyd is at full back and can be expected to link well with Dunford.
On the bench Eastbourne College’s Theo Bevacqua, Sedbergh’s giant Carwyn Tuipulotu, and Millfield’s Dan John are all available. Tuipulotu and John could be facing schoolmates, with Sedbergh’s Tom Curtis at fly half for England and Millfield’s Ewan Richards on the bench
Elsewhere in the Wales side Ethan Lloyd is alongside Dunford, starting at scrum half. While on Dunford’s outside is Ospreys’ Bradley Roderick, who captains the side.
Roderick is alongside Mason Crady in the midfield, while Dragons pair Morgan Richards and Carrick McDonough are the wings.
Up front Llandovery College’s Sam O’Connor is at loosehead, despite his school being in Wales he is actually a product of the Welsh Exiles. Alongside him in the front row are Ospreys’ Oliver Burrows and Cardiff Blues’ Iestyn Haskins.
Rhys Anstey and Ben Carter line up in the second row, while either side of Breeze in the back row are Harri Deaves and Ethan Fackrell.
Following Saturday’s games at Gillman’s Ground, the second round of fixtures at the U18 Six Nations Festival takes place on Wednesday at Sixways Stadium, where Wales will face Scotland at 4.10pm. The final round of games is on Sunday 21st April, with Wales taking on Italy at 4.10pm.
Speaking to www.wru.wales ahead of the game, Chris Horsman said:
“I can’t wait, we had an excellent win against France in March, maybe not the best performance – but I’m really excited about the opportunities for player development in this tournament.”
Wales U18 XV v England – Saturday, 12.10pm, Gillman’s Ground, Hartpury College (Live on FreeSports):
15 Ioan Lloyd (Clifton College & Bristol Bears)
14 Carrick McDonough (Dragons)
13 Mason Grady (Cardiff Blues)
12 Bradley Roderick (Ospreys, captain)
11 Morgan Richards (Dragons)
10 Ed Dunford (Whitgift & Exiles)
9 Ethan Lloyd (Cardiff Blues)
1 Sam O’Connor (Llandovery College & Scarlets)
2 Oliver Burrows (Ospreys)
3 Iestyn Haskins (Cardiff Blues)
4 Rhys Anstey (Cardiff Blues)
5 Ben Carter (Dragons)
6 Harri Deaves (Ospreys)
7 Ethan Fackrell (Cardiff Blues)
8 Harry Breeze (Whitgift & Scarlets)
Replacements: 16 Rhodri King (Scarlets), 17 Theo Bevacqua (Eastbourne College & Exiles), 18 Lewys Jones (Ospreys), 19 James Fender (Ospreys), 20 Carwyn Tuipulotu (Sedbergh & Scarlets), 21 Alex Mann (Cardiff Blues), 22 Tom Mathews (Hartpury College & Exiles), 23 Dan John (Millfield & Exiles), 24 Dylan Davies (Dragons), 25 Ioan Evans (Cardiff Blues).
26 Louis Rees-Zammit (Hartpury College & Gloucester) – Playing for Gloucester.
U18 6 Nations Festival Fixtures (all live on FreeSports):
Matchday 1 – Saturday 13th April, Gillman’s Ground, Hartpury College
England v Wales – 12.10pm
Ireland v France – 2.40pm
Scotland v Italy – 5.10pm
Matchday 2 – Wednesday 17th April, Sixways, Worcester Warriors
France v Italy – 11.10am
Ireland v England – 1.40pm
Wales v Scotland – 4.10pm
Matchday 3 – Sunday 21st April, Kingsholm, Gloucester
Scotland v Ireland – 11.10am
England v France – 1.40pm
Italy v Wales – 4.10pm
