Richie Pugh has picked his Wales Under-18 men’s squad to face Ireland, Georgia and Italy in the Under-18 Six Nations Festival in Vichy, France - and he names seven Dragons in the touring squad.
Dragons RFC ace Cerrig Smith captains the squad and he is joined by club team-mates Tiehi Chatham, Tiaan Hall,
Rhys Cole, Brogan Leary, Noah Morgan and Carter Pritchard.
The 26-strong squad kick-off their campaign with a clash with an Irish side that warmed-up with an 22-17 triumph over England last week – having been 17-0 behind at half-time.
They then meet Georgia, who qualified for the first time last season and made a statement by beating France, before ending up with a revenge mission against an Italian side that beat them 15-7 in appalling conditions in L’Aquila last weekend.
Wales beat Scotland before heading to Italy and Pugh and his coaching team were able to run the rule over a big group of players before making his final selection. The 26-man squad comprises eight players from Cardiff, seven from the Dragons, six from Welsh Exiles, three from Scarlets and o two from the WRU Academies U18 champions the Ospreys.
“We’re happy with how the boys are going and there were some tough selections. There has been good competition within the group and we now want to see what they have learned from the two warm-up games,” said Pugh.
“International rugby is completely new for these boys and this programme exposes them to this level of the game. They learn good lessons and it is great we will get the chance to play Italy again at the end of the Festival.
“Ireland are always well coached and conditioned and they had a good win over England last week. The Festival starts tough and stays that way all the way through.
“Georgia beat France and pushed England all the way last year and we all know the physical edge they will bring to their games. It will be three big tests for the boys.
“There is real potential within this group and the whole purpose of this programme is to expose players to different environments, styles and challenges.”
Dragons back row man Cerrig Smith will captain the side and Llandovery College and Scarlets outside half Carwyn Leggatt-Jones is returning for a second Festival. Last year Wales were beaten 36-35 by England, who went through the tournament unbeaten, beat Portugal 35-10 and then went down 43-33 in their final outing against France.
WALES U18 SQUAD FOR SIX NATIONS FESTIVAL
Forwards (14)
Dylan Barratt (Cardiff Rugby), Morgan Crew (Yorkshire Academy), Tiehi Chatham (Dragons RFC), Nathan Davies (Scarlets), Tiaan Hall (Dragons RFC), Tom Howe (Cardiff Rugby), Kai Jones (Scarlets), George Leyland (Bristol Bears), Jayden Maybank (Ospreys), Alfie Prygodzicz (Cardiff Rugby), Cerrig Smith (Dragons RFC, captain), Gabe Williams (Cardiff Rugby), Noah Williams (Bristol Bears), Osian Williams (Bristol Bears)
Backs (12)
Rhys Cole (Dragons RFC), Ben Coomer (Cardiff Rugby), Rhys Cummings (Cardiff Rugby), Bailey Cutts (Cardiff Rugby), Jack Harrison (Bath), Jack Hoskins (Ospreys), Carwyn Leggatt-Jones (Scarlets), Brogan Leary (Dragons RFC), Lloyd Lucas (Cardiff Rugby), Noah Morgan (Dragons RFC), Carter Pritchard (Dragons RFC), Luca Woodyatt (Gloucester)
